Origin

Peru

  MACA 

 Lepidium meyenii  Walp  =  Lepidium peruvianum Chacon

Maca is a hardy perennial plant cultivated high (up to 3,500 m.) in peruvian Andean mountains. It has one of the highest frost tolerances among native cultivated species. Maca has a low-growing, mat-like stem system which at times goes unnoticed in a farmer's field. Its scalloped leaves lie close to the ground and it produces small, self-fertile, off-white flowers typical of the mustard family to which it belongs. The part used is the tuberous root, which looks likes a large radish (up to 8 cm in diameter) and appears off-white to yellow in color. Unlike many other tuberous plants, maca is propagated by seed. Although it is a perennial, it is grown as an annual; seven to nine months is required to produce the harvested roots. The species L. meyenii was described by Gerhard Walpers in 1843. It has been suggested that the cultivated maca of today is not L. meyenii but a newer species L. peruvianum Chacon, .

The area where maca is found, high in the Andes, is an inhospitable region of intense sunlight, violent winds, and below-freezing weather. With its extreme temperatures and poor, rocky soil, the area rates among the world's worst farmland; yet, over the centuries, maca has evolved to flourish under these conditions. Maca was domesticated about 2,000 years ago by the Andean peoples, and primitive cultivars of maca have been found in archaeological sites dating as far back as 1600 B.C.

The nutritional value of dried maca root is high, resembling those of cereal grains such as maize, rice, and wheat. It contains 60-75% carbohydrates, 10 -14 % protein, 8.5% fiber, and 2.2% lipids. The protein content of maca exists mainly in the form of polypeptides and amino acids (including significant amounts of arginine, serine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and threonine). It also has about 250 mg of calcium, 2 g of potassium, and 15 mg of iron in 100 g of dried root?and important amounts of fatty acids (including linolenic, palmitic, and oleic acids). Maca contains sterols (about 0.05% to 0.1%) and other vitamins and minerals. In addition to its rich supply of essential nutrients, maca contains alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. A chemical analysis conducted in 1981 showed the presence of biologically active aromatic isothiocyanates (a common chemical found in the mustard family of plants and shown to be a wood preservative and insecticide). Chemical research shows maca root contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which has reputed aphrodisiac properties. At least four alkaloids are also present but have not yet been quantified. Fresh maca root contains about 1% glucosinolates a group of plant chemicals found in many plants in the family (ie. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables). While there are no novel glucosinolates reported in maca yet, several of the chemicals found in this group of known plant chemicals are documented to be cancer-preventative.

  Nutritional Profile of Dried Maca Root  

Component	per 10 g		Amino Acids	per 10 g		Minerals	per 10 g
Protein	1.0 - 1.4 g		Alanine	63.1 mg		Calcium	25 mg
Carbohydrates	6.0 - 7.5 g		Arginine	99.4 mg		Copper	0.6 mg
Fats (lipids)	220 mg		Aspartic acid	91.7 mg		Iron	1.5 mg
Fiber	850 mg		Glutamic acid	156.5 mg		Iodine	52 mcg
Ash	490 mg		Glycine	68.3 mg		Manganese	80 mcg
Sterols	5 - 10 mg		Histidine	41.9 mg		Potassium	205 mg
			HO-Proline	26.0 mg		Sodium	1.9 mg
			Isoleucine	47.4 mg		Zinc	380 mcg
			Leucine	91.0 mg
Vitamins	per 10 g		Lysine	54.5 mg		Fats/Lipids	per 10 g
B2	39 mcg		Methionine	28.0 mg		Linoleic	72 mcg
B6	114 mcg		Phenylalanine	55.3 mg		Palmitic	52 mcg
C	28.6 mg		Proline	0.5 mg		Oleic	24.5 mcg
Niacin	565 mcg		Sarcosine	0.7 mg
			Serine	50.4 mg
			Threonine	33.1 mg
			Tryptophan	4.9 mg
			Tyrosine	30.6 mg
			Valine	79.3 mg

 Benefits of Maca

Decrease Anxiety & Stress: Better sleep at night, reduction of stress, which cause many mal function of human body.

Energizer: Better concentration, more energy throughout the day. Wonderful supplement for athletes and work fields demands lot of energy.

Improve male impotency, increases  number and motility of spermatozoidsm count.

The "maca" prevents in women, the harmful effects of the Menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, tender breasts, sleeplessness and emotional upsets, vaginal dryness and principaly  the Osteoporosis.