The Peruvian Superfood Known to Boost Energy & Ease Perimenopausal Change
Popular culture would have you believe that the best sex (and pretty much the best of everything) of your life occurred sometime between the ages of 17 and 25. To this we emphatically roll our eyes.
First of all, your experience counts. And while it’s true that intensity may begin to wane after 40ish, maca root can counteract the effects of dropping estrogen, keep you in the mood, and help alleviate the effects of changing hormones. Whether you need extra vibe in the bedroom or simply backup to get through the demands of a female day, a little boost from maca can make a big difference.
Why We Love Maca
- Maca is an adaptogen that's long been used to boost libido in people of all genders, and there’s substantial clinical evidence backing its use. At Wile, we want to help every person to embrace their full range of emotions and promote wellbeing of all kinds, including sexual wellbeing.
- Both traditional and contemporary science support maca use during perimenopause. Maca can reduce hot flashes and night sweats, help balance hormone levels, improve occasional depressed mood, and PMS.
- As an energizer and stamina-builder, it’s a great alternative to caffeinated beverages for those of us hooked on coffee or still sneaking the occasional Diet Coke.
- Maca is delicious! Many people compare the flavor to butterscotch or caramel. This makes it a perfect ingredient in our Stave the Crave chai.
Key Benefits:
Enhances libido - less obligatory sex! There’s substantial evidence that maca consumption can increase libido and sexual function for more satisfying sex (though your partner/s’ skill is beyond our influence). That's why we included it in our Wile Libido herbal tincture.
In clinical trials, women who had experienced sexual dissatisfaction connected with both shifting hormones and antidepressant use reported increased arousal and sexual satisfaction after taking maca. Read that last sentence again!
Boosts and balances mood - research points to maca as an effective ingredient to relieve occasional depressed or anxious mood. We’re all about the mind-body connection, so we took advantage of maca’s ability to reduce stress (and therefore stress eating) in our Stave the Crave chai.
Alleviates hot flashes & night sweats - maca can reduce hot flashes and night sweats, which in turn improves sleep. A win-win!
Increases fertility - if you’re looking to keep your reproductive options open, maca just might be for you. It increases luteinizing hormone production, which is great for fertility.
Boosts energy and endurance - It checks out: a plant that can spark libido can spark multiple forms of get up and go. Maca has been used for centuries to boost energy, stamina and focus.
Traditional Uses:
Maca has been an important superfood and medicine in the Peruvian Andes since before the time of the Incas. Legend has it that Incan warriors would eat maca before battle.
The Quechua people of Peru continue to use maca as medicine. They often prescribe it to:
- Increase fertility
- Ease menstrual discomfort
- Alleviate the effects of menopause
- Increase energy
About the Plant:
Maca is a root vegetable native to the Peruvian Andes region. It is a staple crop there because so few plants can survive the harsh conditions of such a high altitude. It strongly resembles a turnip, and it’s part of the brassica family with cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kale.
WIle Products with Maca:
Things to Know about Maca:
Maca is available both as a food and in higher concentrations as a supplement. As a food, it is considered very safe for all people. Pregnant people and those with hormone-sensitive conditions should avoid consuming maca in high doses and stick to food preparations.
Clinical Research
- Lepidium meyenii (Maca) enhances the serum levels of luteinising hormone in female rats
- Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon): (III) Clinical responses of early-postmenopausal women to Maca in double blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled, crossover configuration, outpatient study
- A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L. meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction
- A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Maca Root as Treatment for Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Women - PMC
- Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content
- Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women
- Nutritional management of surgically induced menopause: A case report
This article is intended for informational purposes and is not intended to replace a one-on-one medical consultation with a professional. Wile, Inc researches and shares information and advice from our own research and advisors. We encourage every woman to research, ask questions and speak to a trusted health care professional to make her own best decisions.
