If you're here to discover if maca can help in the management of diabetes, you're in the right place. In this article we'll have a deeper look at what research and experience say about using maca root for this purpose.
Diabetes is a group of diseases that affects the body’s ability to use sugars (glucose). It is divided into two general groups. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes little to no insulin. It usually begins during childhood. To date, in spite of decades of research, there is no cure for type 1 diabetes and treatment is focused on managing sugar levels using an external source of insulin. In type 2 diabetes the pancreas produces too little insulin which allows too much glucose to circulate in the blood. It occurs mainly in adults and is more manageable than type 1 diabetes. Losing weight, diet and exercise can all help manage type 2 diabetes. Over the past several years research has been done on the potential of maca root to help regulate sugars in the blood and therefore support the management of diabetes. In this article, we’ll have a closer look at what this research says, what diabetics can expect when taking maca and which maca is the most recommended for this purpose.
Before we get into the research it’s important to answer the question: “Is maca safe for people with diabetes?” Maca root is generally regarded as safe for both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. It has a low glycemic index (below 55) and as we’ll see below does not seem to raise blood sugar, but rather lowers it. If you have diabetes we highly recommend to consult with a competent and knowledgeable health care professional before adding maca root to your diet.
Over the past decade research has been ongoing into how maca can help the body regulate various vital systems that can contribute to overall health and well-being. This research has suggested 6 distinct ways in which maca can support the management of diabetes. We’ll take them one by one here.
Over the years we’ve collected some interesting feedback from people who have used maca when managing their diabetes. Here are a few that also speak to the potentially positive effects maca has on the disease.
"I had a friend suggest this for me since I'm diabetic. He did a lot of research & found it had a lot of great benefits for diabetics. I mix it into my smoothies in the morning & love the energy & benefits it gives me. Thank you." Heather“I was told to try Maca for its hormone balancing effects. I am perimenopausal. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a drop in my blood glucose numbers. I have decreased my basal insulin units from 25 to 22 units and I need to decrease it again.” – Anonymous“I've been taking maca powder for the past six months and there is a huge improvement in the way I feel and my blood sugar. Maca really does balance out blood sugar. My blood sugar has been constantly low since I've been taking it. My medication was already lowering my blood sugar but sometimes it would lower it too much making me feel really hungry and weak.” - S.S.
Both raw and gelatinized (pre-cooked) maca root products have the same amount of carbohydrates (5g) per serving and therefore share the same glycemic load number. That means taking either of them is fine for diabetics. If you do have a sensitive digestive system we recommend taking gelatinized maca over raw maca as the starch content has been removed in gelatinized maca and it is much less likely to upset your stomach. In terms of which color of maca to take for diabetes, we recommed either a tri-color maca blend or red maca product. The tri-color blend will give you some of the benefits of each color and red maca root has been seen to be the highest in antioxidant capacity. As far as presentation, each of those products come in powder, capsules, chips and liquid extracts. Powder is the most common and most economical of all 4. It’s easy to mix maca root powder into a drink or smoothie or to combine it with other ingredients. We have an extensive maca recipe section to help you with that. Maca capsules make taking maca root easy and convenient. Ours are vegan and contain 100% pure maca powder with no fillers or other ingredients. Maca chips are the closest thing to whole maca roots available outside of the Andes and can be blended into smoothies or made into a porridge. Finally, liquid maca extracts offer the most readily available way to get maca root’s nutrients in your blood stream and are easy to take with you on the go. Whatever type of maca root you decide to take it’s important to make sure that the product you are taking is organically grown in the high Peruvian Andes, has been harvested correctly, has been properly dried and packaged, and is fresh as possible. These are vital in ensuring that you get a product with maximum potency that can truly help. At The Maca Team we take great pride in making sure our farmers and production facility exceed expectations at all levels.
As we’ve seen in this article, maca root does show promise as a natural way to help regulate diabetes. In particular it can decrease blood sugar levels, support the flow of insulin, help reduce inflamed tissues in the body, boost energy and suppress appetite. All of these, added to a healthy lifestyle and diet, can contribute to successfully managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. While more research and experience is needed to make any conclusive statements, it is certainly worth trying maca root for diabetes in our opinion. If you do add maca to your diet as a diabetic, it is advisable to monitor your blood sugar closely and to work with your trusted health care provider as you start taking maca. We hope this article has helped you understand the role maca can play in managing diabetes. If you have any questions please let us know. We’re always 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.
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