Benefits Of Maca For Women: 7 Key Benefits You Should Know

What’s Maca Root?

Maca comes from the root of a cruciferous plant grown mainly in the Andes Mountains. Other names that refer to maca include Peruvian ginseng and Lepidium meyenii. For over 2000 years, maca has been grown in the Andes Mountains of Peru for food and medicinal purposes.

The herb is a superfood with an exceptional profile, containing multiple ingredients, including vitamins, protein, carbs, and roughage. It has elevated amounts of iron, antioxidants, and vital amino acids. As an adaptogen, maca root can help the body adjust to stressful situations.

Indigenous communities prepared maca in various ways and used it for soups, brewed beverages, and jams. In the modern world, maca is prepared in powder form and added to various foods and drinks. You can also take the capsule form of the herb to boost your nutritional requirements.

What are the Key Benefits of maca for women?

In the traditional setup, maca root was used to boost fertility, support menses, enhance sexual drive, and promote vitality. These days, demand for the herb has increased, prompting the scientific community to study how maca root benefits women. Here are the key benefits of maca root for women:

1. Maca root for women's fertility

Does maca root help fertility?’ That’s the question that some individuals keep asking themselves.

Maca supports women’s fertility due to its multiple properties. Women trying to conceive often turn to this herb to promote the production of fertility hormones. Maca root helps fertility in women by supporting balanced levels of progesterone and estrogen. Further research is needed to confirm these claims.

The secretions of these hormones in a balanced version may relieve various issues related to menopause, menses, and perimenopause.

Alkaloid is an essential compound found in maca that has a bearing on women’s reproductive health. The alkaloids are vital in helping various female reproductive hormones by enhancing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and the hypophysis pituitary Gonad.

These hormone-producing glands are connected to multiple components of the endocrine and nervous systems. Their effective functioning may boost a woman's general health and, by extension, reproductive well-being. So, fertility-boosting is one of the benefits of maca for women who are trying to conceive.

Research on rats suggests that maca’s alkaloid helps women’s fertility by stimulating the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone is central to ovulation and proper reproductive function.

During menopause, maca can boost the production of various hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol. These hormones can relieve symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause.

Furthermore, maca's adaptogenic qualities may help women adjust to stressful conditions. Remember, stress is associated with fertility problems, and maca can help in this aspect.

Take a deeper dive into the subject with guidance from an industry expert in this video.

2. Support of mental health

The modern woman plays various roles, ranging from childbearing and challenging careers to leadership responsibilities. These roles need heavy brain energy, focus, and multitasking capabilities. While undertaking these roles, you might expose yourself to chronic stress, which might take a toll on your brain health.

Maca root contains various nutrients that support brain wellbeing. The essential fatty acids and antioxidants help various components of cognitive health. For example, fatty acids help smooth blood flow to the brain, which in turn supports cognitive roles.

Studies on animal models show that maca root enhances cognitive function and endurance abilities. The polysaccharides in this medicinal herb shield the brain by boosting antioxidant levels. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals and decrease the harm caused by them later.

3. Can Boost Libido

Modern lifestyles can take a toll on some women’s desire for sex. The good news is that you can take advantage of the benefits of maca for women to overcome the challenge.

For centuries, maca for female libido has attracted the interest of many people, including the scientific community. Here are the qualities of maca root that support sexual health:

• Women with low libido can leverage the herb’s adaptogenic properties to boost their sexual drive.
• Maca is backed with multiple ingredients like prostaglandins and sterols with aphrodisiac qualities. These ingredients boost testosterone levels.
• Also, maca supports the secretion of chemicals like luteinizing hormones, which are essential in women's sexual desire.
• The herb has essential vitamins, fatty acids, and zinc that boost sexual drive.

A systematic review of research showed that maca improved sexual function in healthy menopausal women. This indicates that women can rekindle their sexual desire even after menopause.

Women who take antidepressants can also reap the benefits of maca. The supplement can reignite sexual interest, rekindle arousal, and promote orgasm.

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4. Supports Daily vitality

According to the Centers for Disease Control, women get more exhausted than men. Most of them turn to stimulants like coffee and chocolate to replenish the lost energy. Instead of relying on jitter-backed options, you can leverage maca for energy. Here are the mechanisms through which maca root supports daily energy generation:

• Adaptogenic properties: These qualities help maca to control your stress response, which is good for other processes, such as blood sugar regulation, control of cortisol levels, and boosting the sleep cycle.
• Superfood class: Maca root has multiple energy-enhancing nutrients, such as iron, zinc, and amino acids. Women, especially those in the childbearing stage, may incessantly feel exhausted due to low iron. Your healthcare provider can advise you on the best way forward if you think that you're suffering from iron deficiency.
• Emotional health: Maca helps to maintain optimal mental well-being. And excellent emotional health results in more energy.

A study on maca’s energy production indicated that people who took 3 grams of the superfood for 3 months experienced enhanced energy levels. More recent research has shown that women who take 9.6 grams daily of the maca root have low levels of exhaustion.

5. Supports strong bones

As you reach menopause, the density of your bones might drop due to hormonal swings. This might lead to complications like osteoporosis that may cost you an arm and a leg to treat.

Maca root has powerful ingredients, including calcium and magnesium, that can support bone structure. Furthermore, the Peruvian herb has macamides and macaenes that help in the prevention of bone loss.

Research shows that maca can prevent the loss of estrogen, a hormone connected to bone health. The presence of estrogen ensures that your bones are protected from various conditions, including osteoporosis.

6. Relieves menopause signs

Women experiencing menopause for the first time experience various symptoms that maca extract can relieve. The herb is helpful in hormone balancing, thus clearing menopause-related signs. Here are some symptoms related to menopause that maca root minimizes:

• Hot flushes
• Sleep challenges
• Vaginal dryness
• depression

Research shows that maca root reduces hot flashes and boosts good sleep cycles during menopause. This happens through the herb's hormonal balancing abilities.

According to Dr. Sara Gottfried, MD, Hormonal Health Expert, Maca is an amazing herb for balancing estrogen and progesterone, which can help reduce the common symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. It also boosts energy and supports adrenal health.

7. Boost Menstruation Comfort

Many women experience multiple difficulties during menses, including mood changes, inconsistent periods, and pain. Those who encounter these challenges look for alternative medicines like maca extract to ease the symptoms. Here are the benefits of maca for women during menstruation:

• Hormonal balancing: This minimizes difficulties during menses
• Adaptogenic properties: This helps to reduce anxiety-related symptoms during menstruation.
• Multiple nutrients: The herb has numerous nutrients that support regular menses.

Studies on animal models show that maca root helps to balance estrogen and progesterone levels, helping women who experience menstrual cycle symptoms.

How much maca should a woman Take Daily?

Maca is a supplement that is available in various forms, including:

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Liquid
• powder

Your dosage depends on various factors, such as your age and the conditions you want to treat. However, it’s critical to understand that there are minimal guidelines to determine the appropriate dosage. So, before you start taking the herb, it’s advisable to consult with your healthcare provider.

Despite the lack of a standard dose, the supplement is safe at a maximum dose of 3 grams. Individuals can take the supplement for six to 16 weeks. You can use maca powder for women in the kitchen to enrich your foods with nutrients. Add the extract to smoothies, hot meals, and beverages to derive multiple nutrients from the supplement.

Read more: Maca Dosage

Which maca root is Best For Females?

Maca roots exist in three colours (red, yellow, and black) with slightly different nutritional values. Understanding what each colour entails is critical before making an informed choice.

• Yellow Maca: This type of maca is backed with various compounds that boost energy, help in hormone balancing and libido enhancement, and offer fertility support. Individuals can use yellow maca benefits to reduce stress and boost their immune system.
• Red Maca: The red maca has nutrients that reduce anxiety, fatigue, and strengthen bones. Furthermore, many benefits of red maca revolve around female fertility and sexual drive.
• Black maca: The red maca has antioxidant properties, combats oxidative stress, regulates blood sugars, and strengthens bones.

In summary