What Are the Effects of the Maca Plant?

History

The cultivation of the maca plant dates back more than 2,000 years in the central Andes of Peru. The maca plant is a turnip-shaped tuber belonging to the cruciferous family, which includes radish, that grows on the high plateaus of the Andes in Peru and Bolivia. Thriving in harsh climatic conditions, including low temperatures and high altitudes, maca is highly resilient. A sacred plant to the Incas, it was an important part of their diet and was eaten fresh or dried. Maca is still treasured by Andean communities, and its dried tubers can be stored for years. It is also known as 'Peruvian ginseng'.

According to indigenous accounts, maca possessed significant nutritional properties, including the ability to improve fertility. Until the end of the 17th century, women consumed maca to treat infertility. Today, maca is recognised as an adaptogen used to aid recovery, boost overall resilience, and enhance physical and mental performance.

Composition of Maca

The chemical composition of maca varies depending on growing conditions, the parts of the plant used, and post-harvest processing. It contains:

• Antioxidants, such as catechins, glucosinolates, polyphenols, and flavonoids

• Macamides and glucosinolates (rich in sulphur), which are chemical markers of Maca’s bioactivity

• Proteins

• Fibre

• Vitamins (B1, B2, B12, C, D, and E) and minerals (iron, calcium, copper, zinc, and potassium)

A Positive Effect on the Body’s Overall Resilience

The glucosinolates contained in maca, along with its macamides, possess antioxidant activity, helping to combat oxidative stress and cellular ageing. It has also been shown that maca has a positive effect on memory disorders and anxiety-related behaviours. It is also thought to be beneficial in cases of sensory impairment. Effects on physical endurance have also been demonstrated. Rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, maca is a natural antioxidant that helps the body resist bacteria and infections more effectively, thereby boosting the body’s overall resistance. Maca also regulates the pro-inflammatory mechanisms of the body’s immune system. Its high fibre content helps alleviate constipation.

Effects on Hormones and Neurotransmitters

Maca stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin. These hormones help manage stress and promote a sense of well-being. Studies suggest that maca exerts a hormone-balancing effect via the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal cortex. Maca supplementation has been shown to improve sperm motility, integrity, and morphology. Furthermore, an increase in sperm concentration has been observed. Macaïne, a substance found in maca, is thought to stimulate the production of sex hormones in women and thus support the body during menopause. However, there is currently insufficient clinical evidence to support the use of maca for menopause-related symptoms.

• Energising and Revitalising: The positive effects of the maca plant on energy metabolism are recognised, but the biochemical mechanisms have not yet been fully understood. A recent study (Ohran 2022) suggests that maca powder may increase endurance while preventing oxidative stress, due to its energy metabolism-regulating properties. Maca’s powerful antioxidant effects also play an important role in this process

• Reputed to Be an Aphrodisiac: The scientific evidence on this subject remains limited. Some studies confirm a small but significant effect of maca supplementation on improving sexual well-being in patients with mild erectile dysfunction. It is therefore thought to enhance sexual performance. At present, this use is based more on traditional, ancestral practice than on scientific evidence. As an aside: sexual performance appears to decline with altitude, in both men and animals. The inhabitants of the Andean highlands are said to have observed that feeding their livestock maca led to improved reproduction in their animals

• Reduces the Symptoms of Menopause: Maca particularly can treat anxiety and depression. However, maca also appears to have a positive effect on sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women (notably libido and sexual vitality)

Maca is considered a superfood. It has a mild, smooth and pleasant flavour and can easily be incorporated into all kinds of dishes: yoghurts, desserts, smoothies, and milkshakes. It comes in three forms:

1. Powder: The most common form; it is generally added to various foods and drinks to boost their nutritional value

2. Capsules or Tablets: The advantage of this dosage form is precise measurement. Maca should then be taken according to the manufacturer’s instructions

3. Liquid Extracts: These are less common; they are added to drinks or taken directly by mouth for rapid absorption

Organic Maca Powder

Maca helps support the body’s energy levels. As an adaptogen, it is traditionally used to support physical and mental performance. Rich in fibre, it also helps support normal digestion. Reputed to have aphrodisiac properties, maca has traditionally been used to support sexual function in both men and women.

Maca powder has a mild, pleasant flavour with a slight hint of caramel. Take 1 to 2 spoonfuls a day. It blends perfectly into yoghurt, porridge, and smoothies. Maca is not recommended for children, pregnant women, or breastfeeding women. If you have high blood pressure, seek advice from your doctor.

Maca Vital Active Ingredient

Maca root contains distinctive compounds, including macaenes and macamides, which may contribute to the cosmetic properties of this active ingredient. Renowned for helping to strengthen the hair and improve the resilience of hair follicles, it can be easily incorporated into formulations for shampoos, creams, and hair lotions.

It stimulates collagen synthesis and helps maintain skin tone. It is used as an ingredient in skincare formulations.

Energising Plants

Organic Guarana Powder

Naturally rich in caffeine, guarana powder provides a quick energy boost in cases of temporary fatigue. It is not recommended for children, pregnant, or breastfeeding women, or people who are sensitive to caffeine or suffer from cardiovascular conditions.

Guarana is not recommended for people suffering from insomnia, nervousness, or gastric or duodenal ulcers. Guarana has diuretic effects. Finally, guarana must not be combined with other substances that have stimulating effects (caffeine, ephedrine, etc.).

Ashwagandha

A powerful adaptogen, it improves the body’s resilience, boosts the body’s natural defences as well as libido and supports sexual function. It is also used by athletes to support endurance and promote muscle recovery. Not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Ashwagandha is not recommended for those with endocrine, thyroid, liver, or heart conditions, or for people taking medication that depresses the central nervous system.

Cosmetic Active Ingredients to Strengthen the Hair

White Vine Clematis (Clematis vitalba): Clematis is used in shampoos to strengthen fragile hair. Its regenerative properties are used to revitalise dry and damaged hair.

Provitamin B5

Strengthens the hair. It is particularly suitable for brittle, dull and split-ended hair. It gradually restores strength and shine without weighing the hair down or making it greasy.

Phytokeratin

This 100% plant-based active ingredient mimics the natural structure of the hair, which is 95% keratin. Its excellent affinity with the hair fibre enables it to repair and strengthen the hair. It gives the hair a boost of softness and shine.

It is recommended to start with small amounts of maca to allow the body to adapt gradually. Always stick to the recommended daily intake. Maca is not a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet.

The maca tuber is the edible part of the plant. Our understanding of its benefits stems from the traditional use of the tuber, while science has so far been unable to fully explain the mechanisms behind them. The same applies to the safety of maca. Toxicological studies in humans are limited. Overall, they indicate good tolerability, with no serious adverse effects reported. However, there is still limited evidence on the long-term safety of maca and its potential interactions with other substances, including medicines.

Research is therefore still ongoing to better understand the potential benefits of this tuber from the Andes.

Emilie is a biochemistry and natural active ingredients engineer. Emilie is also a naturopath, nutrition adviser and writer specialising in health, nutrition and wellbeing. She has worked for over 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry and in scientific communication, which gives her a comprehensive understanding of health and enables her to discuss the subject with authority and clarity. Science is her foundation; words are her tools. She advocates a more preventative, more reasoned, more scientific and, of course, more natural approach to health!