Tips For Taking Maca If It Gives You Heartburn
By Mark A Ament

I have gotten quite a few questions about how to deal with Maca powder and digestive issues such as light cramping or upset stomach. Generally this is attributable to the extra starch content found in Raw Maca products and the solution is often as simple as switching over to a cooked Maca powder called Gelatinized Maca.

Recently, however, I received a question about how to take Maca powder if it gives you heartburn. I've put together a list of my top tips to help you still get the benefits of Maca and avoid the discomfort of heartburn.

As a long time user of Maca Powder as well as a natural health consultant, I've seen that it's really rare for people to have heartburn from Maca. But it does happen sometimes. I'm not 100% sure what causes it. But I have discovered a few things that can really help people overcome heartburn and other digestive issues when taking Maca products. Here is the list:

  1. For some people Raw Maca powder is too strong to digest due to its high concentration of starch. If you also get upset stomach on Maca as well as heartburn, then you really should try Gelatinized Maca. It's had the starch content removed which makes it much easier to digest. Most people with sensitivity to Raw Maca powders report no troubles at all with Gelatinized Maca.

  2. Make sure you are getting high quality Certified Organic Maca and Fresh - that's a really, really big help. Some Maca powders have chemical fertilizer residues and have sat around too long before being used. We certainly want to avoid this if at all possible.

  3. Try Red Maca since it's the sweetest and most palatable. Some people who have had trouble with other Maca powders do just fine with Red Maca.

  4. Try taking Maca with yogurt, avocado or milk or another fatty food - this often helps ease the stomach.

  5. Make sure to keep your dosages small (less than a teaspoon at once) until you feel like you can increase the quantity.

  6. Avoid taking Maca with any kind of fruit - this makes the heartburn worse.

  7. If all else fails, try taking your Maca in combination with digestive enzymes. You can get them at your health food store. This has helped quite a few people, although quality enzymes tend to be expensive.

Also remember that Maca is part of the mustard family and is by nature a bit spicy. But if you're using a good quality product with some fatty food, you should be able to get it down without having digestive issues. Really hope this helps and wish you a great day!

And now I invite you to have a look at what makes Red Maca such a powerful supplement to try. http://www.raworganicmaca.info

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Maca Side Effects
By Mark A Ament

Before outlining the potential side effects that can come from using Maca powder, it's important to note that this simple food is not in any way similar to a pharmaceutical drug, which, as we know, often do have side effects. Maca is a nutritionally rich food that has been used for thousands of years in the Andes with no reported problems. Interestingly, farmers who grow the plant are known to eat up to 1 Kg of Maca or 100 gms of powdered root daily.

Maca Side Effects and Scientific Research

In the most comprehensive scientific study done on Maca to date, Gustavo E. Gonzales reviews all of the major research recently done on Maca. Near the end of his paper he concludes that Maca is 100% safe for human consumption has no toxicity or no notable side effects. He cites on study in particular that followed over 600 consumers of Maca from Peru that showed that their health status was generally improved while the subjects reported no Maca side effects at all.

Reported Side Effects From Maca

Although science has turned up no real side effects from Maca, I have had reports from several of customers about a few experiences they have had while taking Maca (especially for the first time).

  • Feeling "jittery:" Some people report that they feel like they have had too much coffee after taking Maca powder. I've heard it described as feeling "jittery" or "wired." Although Maca does provide a nice energy boost, it should not make you feel "too energized." Usually this happens with people just starting with Maca who take too much at a time. The solution is simple: reduce your dosage.

  • Insomnia: A small number of people report feeling insomnia when first starting to take Maca. To alleviate this possibility I recommend to take Maca before 2pm and/or to reduce your dosage. Another interesting note is that Maca actually has helped many women in perimenopause or menopause to overcome insomnia.

  • Digestive Issues: About 5% of customers report upset stomach, slight cramping or gas after taking Raw Maca. If this happens, know that it's due to the starch content in Raw Maca.I recommend Gelatnized Maca for people with sensitive digestive systems.

  • Acne: Some customers have reported an increase in acne after starting with Maca. This is a temporary symptom. As your body balances its hormones the acne will lessen and likely disappear.

  • Heart Burn - It's very rare, but if it affects you the most important thing is to avoid taking the root with any kind of fruit. Try a small dose mixed only in water. If that doesn't work consider trying Gelatinized Maca.

Factors Contributing To Maca Side Effects

What I've learned in over 10 years of taking and sourcing Maca is that not all of the products on the market are of top quality. Lower quality products may contribute to experiencing the effects listed above.

Questions to consider when purchasing and product:

  1. Is it organic? - To avoid chemicals and pesticides buy only certified organic Maca products

  2. How fresh is it? - The fresher the better. Maca is usually harvested in May/June and has a shelf life of about 2 years.

  3. What type of Maca is this? - There are some important differences between Raw and Gelatinized powders as well as between the different colors of Maca that everyone taking Maca should know about.

And now I invite you to compare all Macas: Red, Black, Cream, Gelatinized Maca and more back on my website here: http://www.raworganicmaca.info/maca-comparison/

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This article gives some great information about the many uses of Maca.

The Uses of Maca Root
By Chris M Grant

Maca root is a completely natural substance that has been grown in the Andes Mountains in Peru for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The Peruvians have been taking this substance for a similar amount of time and have used it in particular for strength and stamina in battle.

It seems that there have been no proper clinical studies about taking maca and what effects it can have on our bodies so it would not be right to claim that it will definitely have the effects that it is well known for. It would be great if there were studies carried out to show whether it can help in any of the following ways:

Maca root for fertility/infertility

Maca has been used by women and men to treat infertility. Not only is it said that it can help improve the quality of women's eggs, improve sperm in men and to combat the symptoms of menopause, but it is also said to increase libido and is often used as a natural alternative to over the counter manufactured pills that people are sometimes wary to take or need a prescription for.

Maca root for making hair more lustrous

Another claim of maca root is that if can make hair more lustrous and full of body. Many of the hair forums will recommend maca as a supplement for hair quality.

Maca root and curves

Many people take it as they believe that it can increase the size of your behind and make you more curvy. Perhaps this is as a result of the fact that Peruvians have more curvaceous figures.

Maca root comes in a couple of forms: powder and pill form. The powder form is supposed to be more potent but it doesn't have a great taste to it. One way to get around this is to use the powder in food, in particular people often add it to smoothies and there are some juice bars that include it in their 'power smoothies'. Check on the quality of any maca powder that you buy though and make sure it is organic. The pills are easier to take and you can just add them to any other vitamins you have - they are also not too expensive.

Both maca powder and maca root pills can be bought from a lot of health food stores as well as online although sometimes it is difficult to find in the more common high street pharmacies.

For more information on maca, it's properties, dosage etc, check out the Maca Root website.

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This site is all about Maca, an excellent and interesting plant with many uses. What better way to introduce Maca than with this '101' article?

Nature usually offers a solution for every health need, often in the form of safe and healthy plants. Maca is one such ancient medicinal plant, which has served mankind for the past 1000 years. Maca has its origins in the central highlands of Peru where it is the basic cultivation crop and an important plant alongside potatoes. The plant is cultivated in an inhospitable climate of strong sun light and freezing chilliness at a height of 15,000 feet above the sea level.

Sexually Stability: The most common reason for using Maca is to enhance libido and sexual function in men and women. It is in fact one of the most potent sex enhancers in nature. This peculiar tendency of maca was identified by researchers when they provided the plant to domestic cows which lacked fertility, and found a drastic change in the reproductive patterns. The same test with humans indicated a significant change in sperm production. The organic compounds present in maca are sterols and benzyl compounds, which form a cross product that can quickly improve sexual function. Maca's action on sexual function is better researched than its effects on energy, mood and memory, anemia and depression. Some researchers note that when the body is well-nourished and balanced, overall health improves. Libido rises and depression abates. Maca's nutrient value and adaptogenic properties could also explain some of the reported actions. Many medical professionals throughout the world are conducting studies into maca. However, little been published in medical journals.

Adaptogen properties: An adaptogen is a nutritive food that brings the body back into balance. The adaptogenic properties of maca help maintain the physiological as well as emotional health by normalizing the adrenal glands (stress glands) of the body. The side effects of maca relating to this substance are very low and do not cause any harm to the organs when taken at the correct dosage. It is generally considered safe for long time use.

Endocrine system effects: The endocrine system is one of the most complex parts of the human anatomy and is responsible for hormone production and body maintenance. Researchers found that maca does not directly influence the sexual enhancement, but rather it regulates the hormone activity of the body. Similarly, it increases the immunity of the body by maintaining the hypothalamus gland. Because endocrine gland balance and the immune systems are so interrelated, maca often notably enhances the immune system, the reproductive system, as well as overall well-being.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Reversal of ageing and retaining of youth is a popular trend. This is made possible by hormone-replacement therapy using maca root. It can help prevent menopause in women and is used extensively to this end.

See our Maca Guide for further details.

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    Maca Root Facts

    Maca Lepidium meyenii is an important crop and ingredient of many supplements. This blog is dedicated to this wonderful plant

    Maca Extract is used in many herbal supplements, and is also available as a pure extract. See below or visit Maca Extract for details.
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    Maca Root
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    Pure Maca Extract

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