maca, vitality secret of the inca

8/16/2019 Maca, Vitality Secret of the Inca

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/maca-vitality-secret-of-the-inca 1/2

tremendous difference in your personal strength,

stamina, endurance and outlook.

What is Maca?Maca, Lepidium meyenii , is the only cruciferous

plant native to Peru. The cruciferous plants

include rapeseed (the source of canola oil),

radish, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,

watercress and a number of other important

food crops. Maca is an annual plant that

produces a radish-like tuber which matures

within approximately seven months after seeds

are planted. The root of maca is typically dried

and stored, and will keep without spoiling for

seven years.

History of MacaMaca is believed to have been cultivated in

the Junin plateau of Peru’s Central Highlandsas far back as 2,000 years ago. The Inca were

sophisticated architects, builders, and cultivators

of the land. Among the many treasures held by

the Inca and garnered by the Spanish was maca.

When Spanish conquistadores ventured into the

high altitude of Peru’s central highlands, they

became concerned for the health and fertility

of their livestock, especially their horses. In the

highlands, there were no grasslands for grazing,

and the thin air and hostile climate produced a

precipitous drop in animal fertility.

The Inca recommended that the Spanish feed

their horses the root-like maca, which grew

abundantly in the area. The Spanish followed

this advice, and were thus able to keep their

horses well-nourished and return their fertility

back to normal. The Spanish were deeply

impressed. The Spanish found strong, healthy

babies and adults in the hostile highlands,

Maca, Vitality Secret of the Inca

www.TerryTalksNutrition.com

or this Terry Talks Nutrition®, we have a special

uest, Chris Kilham, the Medicine Hunter. Chris

xplores the world in search of plants with medicinal

owers. He has the unusual title of “Explorer in

esidence” at the University of Massachusetts at

Amherst, where he teaches the popular ethnobotany

ourse, The Shaman’s Pharmacy™. As the author of

4 books, Chris uses his experiences traveling the

world in search of natural medicines to illuminate the

nknown. An advocate for the rights of indigenous

eoples and preservation of tribal wisdom, Chris is a

ridge between worlds.

hris is the host of Medicine Trail™, a series

f television specials on medicinal plants shot on

ocation around the world. Additionally, he has

ppeared many times with Dr. Mehmet Oz, and has

een featured in many entertaining TV segmentswith Dr. Manny Alvarez. Chris has a blog on the FOX

ews Website. CNN has called Chris “The Indiana

ones of natural medicine,” and I think that is an

ccurate description of this botanical enthusiast,

world traveler, and wilderness adventurer. Today, he

s going to share with us information on the amazing

eruvian power plant – Maca!

–Terry Lemerond


From the highPeruvian Andes

mountains comes

maca, a plant

reputed to enhance

overall vigor, and

supported by

modern science

for exactly that

purpose. Since

997, I have personally investigated maca

griculture in the Andes over twenty times,

nd have studied both the available history

nd science on this plant. Furthermore, I have

sed maca almost every day since that time.

As a result of such intensive immersion, I have

ome to believe that this plant offers exceptional

enefits to overall health and well-being. In this

ssue of Terry Talks Nutrition, I will explore

he history behind this truly amazing plant,

s medicinal uses, and why it can make a

a condition attributable to a diet consi

mostly of maca. The Inca, and subsequently

Spanish, consumed maca as a staple food

fed it to livestock. The Spanish didn’t take

to figure out that whatever was in maca

enhanced animal fertility might likely pro

a sexual effect in humans. The Inca consid

maca to be a gift from the gods, along

potatoes and corn. Maca was so highly p

by the Inca that at the height of their civiliza

it was used as a form of currency.

28106_0414

M

Fresh Maca Roots

ENERGY / VITALITY

To your good health,Terry... Naturally

TERRY’S BOTTOM LINE:

There are a lot of products that

supposedly build stamina, boost

energy, and promote a healthy sex

life. Unfortunately, many of them

either produce a lot of side effects o

have very little efficacy. However, there is an amazing

botanical that is truly effective, safe,

and makes a noticeable difference

– maca. This wonder herb from the

Peruvian Andes has been traditional

used for generations and clinically

validated to:

• Boost energy without jitteriness

• Enhance sex drive and stamina in

men and women

• Invigorate daily life and promoteoverall well-being

Here is the formula I suggest:

Organic Whole Maca 1,500 mg( Lepidium meyenii walp) Extract

8/16/2019 Maca, Vitality Secret of the Inca

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/maca-vitality-secret-of-the-inca 2/2


So, which nutrients in maca promote its

reputed sex-enhancing effects? Plant sterols

may possibly be partly responsible, as well

as compounds called isothiocyanates in the

root. These also help the body fight cancer by

signaling processes that detoxify carcinogensand eliminate them from the body. Maca also

contains small amounts of benzyl thiocyanate

and p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which

may enhance fertility. In any case, according to

folklore, maca is just about a panacea.

Maca and Sexual FunctionOf the numerous claims made for maca, those

which have been corroborated in the lab concern

energy, stamina, libido and sexual function. In

experiments conducted with rodents, animalsfed maca demonstrated increased energy and

stamina, and exhibited an exponential increase

in sexual activity as compared with non maca-

fed animals.

Though no formal studies have been conducted

on maca’s use for hormonal enhancement,

some physicians claim success with maca

for exactly this purpose. (Zheng et al ) One

double-blind, clinical trial of 50 Caucasian men

affected by mild erectile dysfunction showed

that daily intake of maca improved overall

sexual satisfaction, enhanced erectile function

and improved overall psychological well-being.

(Zenico et al ) A study investigating the effect of

14 days of maca supplementation on endurance

performance and sexual desire in trained male

cyclists resulted in significantly improved

cycling time performance, and improved self-

rated sexual desire score compared to the

baseline test. (Stone et al ) Yet another maca sex

he Spanish, plunderers of all Incan riches,

iscovered in maca a worthy aphrodisiac.

During the height of the Incan empire, legend

as it that Incan warriors would consume maca

efore entering into battle. This would make

hem fiercely strong. But after conquering a

ity, the Incan soldiers were prohibited from

sing maca, to protect the conquered women

rom their powerful sexual impulses. Thus froms far back as five hundred years ago, maca’s

eputation for enhancing strength, libido and

ertility was already well established in Peru.

Hermann, NRC, Johns, Leon)

Maca’s Expansion Beyond Peruoday, maca is popular in Peru among both

ative and non-native people, and the effects

f maca are creating market demand in Japan,

urope and the United States. Maca cultivation

s on the increase, a number of government

xperts and agencies are actively promotingmaca agriculture and development, and maca

s poised to be a major botanical product on

he international herbal scene. Maca grows

n hostile conditions in a limited geographic

rea at elevations between 10,000 and 15,000

eet. The primary area of maca cultivation is

he Junin plateau, where approximately one

housand acres of maca are grown annually,

mostly in small family plots. Agricultural

xperts predict that the acreage dedicated to

maca cultivation will steadily increase to meet

igorous market demand. Former Agriculture

Minister Rodolfo Munante says about maca,

This is the perfect crop, because we don’t even

ave to promote it. Private industry has moved

ght in and is doing the job for us.” Another

ormer Minister of Agriculture, Belisario de las

asas, is also a maca supporter and user. “I

ake maca and can attest to its invigorating

owers,” he said.

study involved victims of SSRI antidepress

who had experienced a decrease in sex

related to use of those medications. Daily in

of three grams of maca resulted in improved

drive, and improved overall sexual satisfac

(Dording et al ) And lest you think maca is for men, over 75% of the people in this s

were women.

ConclusionStudies clearly show that maca lives u

its long reputation earned during year

traditional use. Maca has never demonst

any toxicity of any kind, and is safe for every

In short, I think maca is great. Consu

daily, maca can make a dynamic contrib

to health, and can significantly boost ovvitality and well-being in many ways.

ReferencesHermann, M., Heller, J., (eds) et al. Andean Roots and Tubers: Ahipa, Arracacha, MYacon, 1st ed., (International Plant Genetic Resources In stitute, 1997): 173 – 178.

National Research Council (NRC), “Lost crops of the Incas: little known plants of the Apromise for worldwide cultivation. 1st ed.,(National Academy Press, Washington, D.

Leon, J., “The “maca ( Lepidium meyenii ) A little known food plant of Peru.” Economi16 (1964): 122 – 127.

Johns, T., “The anu and the maca.” J of Ethnobotany 1 (1981): 2:208-212.

Dini, A., Migliuolo, G., Rastrelli L., et al. “Chemical composition of Lepidium meyeChem 49 (1994): 347 – 349.

Zheng, B., He, K., Kim C.H. et al. Effect of a lipidic extract from Lepidium meyenii behavior in mice and rats. Urology . (55) (2000): 598 – 602.

Zheng, B., He, K., Hwang, Z.Y. et al. Effect of an aqueous extract from Lepidium mmouse behavior in forced swimming test. Quality Management of Nutraceuticals, ACsium series 803. American Chemical Society. Washington, D.C. (2002): 259-269.

J. Balick and R. Lee. Mar/Apr 2002. Maca: From Traditional Crop to Energy an

Stimulant. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 96-98.

Zenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, Mercuriali M, Bercovich E. J Ethnopharmacol. 210;126(3):574-6. Epub 2009 Sep 23. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) ewell-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randouble-blind clinical trial. Stone M, Ibarra A, Roller M, Zangara A, Stevenson E. CNS Ther. 2008 Fall;14(3):182-91. A pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplemenphysical activity and sexual desire in sportsmen.

Dording CM, Fisher L, Papakostas G, Farabaugh A, Sonawalla S, Fava M, MiscDepression Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, MassachusettHospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding maca root ( L. meyenii ) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction.


P

Dried Maca Roots

Dried Maca

Subscribe to a free weekly health newslett


When in doubt, always consult your physician

health care practitioner. This column is to pro

you with information to maintain your health

©2014

maca, vitality secret of the inca

Documents