Have you tried our Mocha Maca Crunch yet? This amazingly complex and delicious new flavor has three ingredients that are recognized as superfoods. These are nutrient-rich foods that offer several health benefits in one ingredient. In a previous blog post, Christina and Marc shared information about cacao and the raw cacao nibs that are also in our Mocha Maca Crunch. Today my focus is on maca powder.

Maca is a root vegetable that grows high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.  It has been consumed as food and medicine for thousands of years by the people of this cold, inhospitable region, going back to the Incans.  The dried maca root contains 10-14% protein and 8.5% dietary fiber. Its nutritional punch includes minerals such as calcium and potassium (with low content of sodium), and the essential trace elements iron, iodine, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc.  It also contains the important fatty acids linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, as well as 19 amino acids.

Maca health benefits are manyfold.  It increases endurance, stamina and strength, and was reportedly eaten by Incan warriors before battle.  (I’m sure they would have loved it in the form of our Mocha Maca Crunch!)  A vital component for our lives today is its affect as an adaptogen to regulate the endocrine system.  In other words, it can bring the endocrine system, and thus hormone levels, into balance.  This is true for both women and men.  One of maca’s most well-known effects is increased libido and fertility.  A biologist at the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru isolated 4 alkaloids from the maca root.  Test showed these alkaloids affected the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, explaining how it can sooth menopausal symptoms, as well as increase sperm cell production and improve testosterone levels.  A truly amazing food.

An easy way to consume maca powder, in addition to helping yourself to some Mocha Maca Crunch, is a spoonful or two in your daily smoothie.  Check out this video where Andrea shows us how to make a delicious Coconut Bliss and fruit smoothie with maca.