Making Maca root powder part of your daily diet is an effective natural way to boost your overall vitality and energy levels. Maca (maca lepidium) is one of a few plants that are classified as an adaptogen (ginseng is another). These type of plants are said to contain amino acids and other nutrients that enhance life force energy.
To help you get the most out of taking Maca products, we've put this list together. We hope it helps you understand how long it takes for maca root to work and find the best time to take it. And as always, please reach out to us if you have any further questions on how to take maca powder.
At The Maca Team we intentionally order our products in small batches to ensure freshness. Maca has a shelf life of 3 years, starting on the day it is made into a powder. Nearly all of the maca powders we sell will be in our customer's hands within a few months of being made into a powder. Sometimes, due to order minimums on our premium maca powders, that time frame will be somewhat longer. Once you receive your maca here are some things to do to ensure freshness and potency:
The optimal amount of Maca for health and healing in most cases is, 1-3 teaspoons of powder per day. This is about 3-9 grams of powder and is sufficient for the majority of people. If you are a larger person or particularly active, you can consume more if you like. If you are closely aware of your body, it will help you know how much you should be taking. Should you experience too much of an energy boost when taking Maca, simply take a smaller amount next time. Please refer to our recommended Maca powder dosage page for full details and for personalized serving recommendations, based on your weight and lifestyle.
Maca root powder is classified as a food and is fine to eat everyday. In fact natives of the high Andes in Peru often have several servings of Maca daily. Maca does not contain caffeine or any other stimulant, but it can increase your levels of energy. For that reason, we recommend that you enjoy it first thing in the morning. If you work in the night or want an extra boost on a given night you could also try taking Maca in the evening. One thing that many of our customers do is take their main serving of Maca powder or capsules in the morning at breakfast time and then in the afternoon when their energy feels lower take a few droppersful of a liquid Maca extract for a quick lift.
Any type of Maca root can be ingested with food or without food. The simplest way to take maca powder is by itself and on an empty stomach. This allows it to absorb more quickly. But if you have any digestive sensitivities or concerns, we recommend taking it with food. The benefits of Maca may be enhanced this way as it has more time to be absorbed in the digestive tract. It is important to understand that if you notice any indigestion after taking Maca, especially raw Maca, we recommend trying Maca without fruit or fruit juice. Fruit passes through the digestive system more quickly than other foods which can cause slightly gas or bloating in some cases. If any indigestion persists, make sure to try gelatinized Maca powder instead, as it is easier to digest.
Having had over 20 years experience with this amazing superfood, we recommend that you take a break from it every once in a while. There are 2 ways to do this. First, after you've taken it daily for 4-6 weeks, we recommend taking one day off per week. An alternative is to take 5 days off in a row per month. The purpose of these breaks are to give your body a chance to stabilize its hormones without the influence of Maca powder. Plus, you'll find that after taking a break, you'll feel an increase in the effects of Maca.
There are numerous ways to use this simple cruciferous vegetable. The easiest is to add the powder to hot and cold cereals, smoothies, protein shakes, salad dressings, soups and more. Please see our Maca recipes page for more info. If you are taking capsules, you can simply swallow them with water or another beverage of your choice. And as far as our extracts, they are the easiest to use. Just place a few drops under your tongue.
At the Maca Team, we found that about 5% of our customers have a stomach sensitivity to Raw Maca Powders. They report minor gas, bloating or digestive issues when taking it. If this is an issue for you, then you should try our Gelatinized Maca. All of the starch content of Maca Root is removed in the Gelatinization process and upset digestive systems are simply not an issue with Gelatinized Maca.
There are all sorts of pleasant things that happen while taking Maca, but none of them should be unpleasant or make you feel uncomfortable. We want to stress that Maca powder's uses, dosage and impacts can vary from body to body as we are all different. Listen to your body to find the best time to take Maca, how to use Maca effectively in your diet, and the proper dose for you.
If you experience anything which makes you feel unsure or anxious, please see your doctor to make sure it is all right for you to be consuming Maca powder in your diet.
If there is anything else we can do to help, please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to help.
Enjoy the day!
I shop around a lot for my supplements and health foods, and I have to say you guys at The Maca Team are light years ahead of anyone else selling maca out in the marketplace. Thanks for all you do!
By Jim Price, The Green Marketing Guru
Loving the red maca from themacateam. I can tell the difference from my usual store-bought brands. It really tastes so fresh and sweet compared to others. I really love this product. Thanks for sourcing it for us to enjoy
By Michelle Gebbia
I LOVE Maca Team Maca...this was my first purchase with the Maca Team and I have no need to try any other Maca-producer. The Maca tastes fresh and flavorful, the Kilo bag is a great price, and I feel so much more at ease (Maca is such powerful medicine :) )
By Lizzie Thompson
I take 24 products from five to six times a week to increase my well-being and sensual and sexual delights. ;D The Maca Team’s organic maca is one of them—nine grams in my smoothie, Monday to Saturday. The Maca Team is a small business run by a family who cares about its customers, its Peruvian maca growers, and the environment. It's vital to know the source of everything we put in our mouths. Physical and mental health are precious treasures. :D
By Jerry Montero
By Milt Thompson
This product is amazing! I have used other cheaper brands of white maca with fairly good results, but after trying the Maca Team maca, I noticed within two weeks all of my menopausal symptoms had completely vanished. Others described a bad taste and smell, but I have tried the black and the red and find them both to be mild tasting. I use a tablespoon in my daily smoothly
By Joy
Maca first came to us by our vitamin supplier. Then we ordered from the Maca Team. Comparison? Think fire-fly, then think mid-day sun. At 76 and 73 years respectively, that is a big deal; and at comparable cost too. We never have we had such speedy delivery and the packaging is the strongest, most protective we've seen, ever, at all ... anywhere. Further, the Mrs. no longer takes hormone supplements. And Mr. scans the morning want ads for steady P/T work.
By George & Sherri
I had been using another brand of maca powder and decided to try The Maca Team's. The difference in freshness is night and day, and better tasting . I'm 6 foot 250 lbs. and take 4 teaspoons every day w/ my protein shake. Great energy boost and just feel great all day. I can tell a difference when I do not take it. best price that I have found {36oz}. I will be buying more as needed.
By J.D.
I've tried various maca brands over the last 20 years and The Maca Team brand is very special. There is definitely a difference when it comes to the quality and colors of the maca. This red maca does seem to nourish certain parts of my body while the black maca nourishes something else. I know I've been missing the nutrition these maca provide. I'm 75 years old and bodies wear out, but I'm finding I'm regaining a functioning body. How wonderful is this?!?!!!
By Janis Ihrig
I just wanted to thank you for your excellently constructed website. I am a physician and I recently started learning about Maca. I get a very good sense of it, and I expect I will try it out myself and possibly be recommending it to patients in the future. If so, your website will be the first place to send people. Thanks again.
By Adam Holt
Love the Maca team, In an earlier comment I said I was on the fence about where to buy Maca .Not anymore .You shouldn’t be either. The team has answered any questions I’ve had promptly. I feel like I’m dealing with friends, not some company far away out for my money only. The Maca is fresh, prices are good, the people are nice. If you’re on the fence, don’t be, you won’t be sorry.
By Bob
My Maca came in today and it has all the information on it! I must say this is the best tasting Maca I have tried!! Thank you again for a great product!! I will only order from you in future as well!
By Stormi Evans
First I would like to say I love this product. I was very skeptical about a natural product with so many benefits but this stuff really works. Second, I love this company. From the web site to the way they run their company this a top-notch team. I will be ordering from The Maca Team from now on. Great job guys keep doing what you are doing.
By Darren Rivers Sr.
We love this product. I own a store and work with clients holistically. We have recommended maca for years however, this is the highest quality product we have ever carried. I am proud to offer it in my store.
By Mellissa Gage, Infinity and Beyond
I am really happy that I chose the Maca Team, today you can find many distributors selling Maca powder, however quality of the powder is impossible to compare. Moreover, the results after 2 weeks I could feel. Before I was taking maca powder and I did not feel any changes. But since I started taking Maca from Maca Team the changes are incredible. So, I did a test.:) I gave the powder to my partner ... and after 2 weeks he was impressed and told me that he has more energy, feeling happy... Thank you The Maca Team!!!!
By Olga
I do want to say that I have done quite a bit of research on different companies that offer Maca and The Maca Team definitely is the most reputable. Thank you again for your kindness and professionalism :)
By T.C.
Read All Reviews