Maca is a plant that some populations in Peru have used for thousands of years as a food and medicine.
In the last few decades, maca has grown in popularity around the world as a natural remedy for certain health issues, including infertility and low sex drive.
This article explains what maca root is, highlights 4 potential benefits, and answers whether it’s safe to add to your diet.
What is maca? The maca plant, known scientifically as Lepidium meyenii, is sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng.
Maca is a cruciferous vegetable related to broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. Maca is native to the high plateaus of the Peruvian Andes mountain range.
In fact, Andean people have cultivated maca for more than 2,000 years. It’s one of the few edible plants that can survive the harsh weather conditions above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) in the Peruvian Andes.
Traditionally, the Andean people used maca as a food, consuming it in a fermented drink or porridge. Additionally, the Andean people used maca as a natural medicine to treat various health conditions, such as respiratory conditions and rheumatic disease.
The demand for maca products has grown in recent years, likely because of claims that the plant can promote libido and fertility.
Because of the rise in worldwide demand for maca, people have begun to mass-produce this plant in other parts of the world, including the mountainous Yunnan province in China.
Maca root capsules, the part of the plant most commonly used, contains fiber, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
It also contains other bioactive compounds, including macamides, macaridine, alkaloids, and glucosinolates, which are thought to be responsible for maca’s medicinal benefits.
Even though people claim maca supports health in many ways, research is currently limited and study findings on its effects have been mixed. More research is needed on maca’s effectiveness.