Maca root is the highest growing food crop in the world. It is cultivated at elevations above about 12,000 feet (3600 m) in the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia and has been used by populations native to the area as a staple food and as a medicine for thousands of years. Over the past decades it has become more and more popular outside of the Andes due to its numerous potential health benefits. And now it is now considered to be one of the most nutritionally dense and versatile superfoods available anywhere.As maca has gained a larger audience, one question that many ask is if taking maca will increase a person’s weight or body fat percentage. In this article we’ll explain the science behind how maca affects weight.
To understand maca’s effect on weight loss or gain, we first need to have a look at its nutritional content. Maca contains a variety of nutrients that support many systems in the body. For starters, it has nearly all essential amino acids, which are responsible for driving several functions in the body at the cellular level. Beyond that it has 20 free fatty acids, including the unique nutrients called macaenes and macamides that are only found in maca root. This simple food also contains several crucial minerals as well as several sterols, which also support smooth bodily functioning. Read more on the complete nutritional profile of maca. The reason maca benefits people in so many different ways is that it supports overall hormone health. Because of this unique property, it can in a few cases encourage weight gain in people who are abnormally thin due to hormone imbalances. However, maca, in and of itself, can’t make you fat. Here’s why.
There are 4 main reasons why maca root will not make you fat.First, maca root is a low calorie and low-fat food. A typical serving of 9g (about 3 teaspoons) contains just 30 calories. That same serving contains no fat. What that means is that maca, by itself, will not support weight gain. It simply does not contain enough fat or calories to make a difference. (1 average chocolate bar contains over 200 calories, by comparison).
Second, maca has been shown to have another interesting property for many people who take it: maca root can reduce appetite. This is mainly because eating maca root increases the sensation of being full and will therefore minimize your desire to eat. Many of our customers report this result and we’ve seen it for ourselves too. In Peru, we have a porridge made with whole maca roots called mazamorra for breakfast. It keeps us satisfied until the mid-afternoon. If you’d like to experience the most maca has to offer on this level, try our maca chips for breakfast.
The third reason that maca won’t make you fat is because it naturally helps to reduce stress. High levels of chronic stress have been linked to over eating, binge eating and a preference for high-fat, high sugar comfort foods. Maca contains sterols that can make you feel better and help reduce stress. Have a look at what a couple of customers have said on this level:
"I am SO beyond grateful for this stuff. I could cry from gratitude. It works so well and I'm only 3 weeks in. I feel happier, I get stressed less, and have way less depression” – Thacia“After taking maca, I noticed my overall mood was improved, my skin was improved, my stress levels felt lower - and TMI* but my intimate life with my partner has improved, (due to lower stress levels? I've also read about the aphrodisiac properties of maca, and am a believer after the last 2 months)....” Hannah
A final reason that maca won’t make you fat is that maca is a natural energizer. As an adapotgenic herb (like ginseng), maca increases your sense of well-being and vitality. As such many people taking it notice that they are more active and engaged with life. In other words, taking maca is likely to make you want to exercise more and be more active in general.
If you’re interested in using maca to help you gain weight there is also some good news for you. Weight gain with maca is possible if you are talking about gaining muscle. We have several natural body builders who use maca to increase their muscle mass and size. Also, maca can have a positive effect on curves when used with an consistent exercise program. Still, in both of these cases, maca won’t add fat to your body. It will simply help you add muscle, provided that you exercise properly.
We’ve seen that eating maca won’t cause you to add body fat, but on the contrary may actually support weight loss. Due to its ability to reduce stress, improve metabolism, reduce appetite and make you more active, maca may indeed help you lose some weight. Of course, it’s not a magic bullet for weight loss and should not be relied upon for that purpose. But combining maca with a healthy diet can support weight loss. Discover which maca we recommend for you here and check out our extensive maca recipe section.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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