Food truly is one of the foundations of health. Our bodies are awesome at restoring health if given the building blocks to heal. I have been in a series where we have been delving into much of the negative things in our food supply, but I also want to share great foods for our health. The more we push out the negative and add in the positive, the stronger we can become.
Superfoods are powerful foods for our overall health, providing raw materials to maintain a healthy immune system. One of these superfoods is Maca Root.
Maca root is cultivated and grown high in the Peruvian Andes for the past 2,600 years. It is a member of the cruciferous family which is a family of vegetables that are extremely healthy for us. Other members of this family are cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts.
Benefits of Maca Root
Maca root is an adaptogen (an adaptogen is nontoxic and produces an adaptive response to stress and improves homeostasis in the body).
As a superfood it can increase energy, endurance, oxygen in the blood, physical strength, and neurotransmitter production. It can be beneficial for individuals living in cold climates, at high altitudes, or participate in extreme adventures. It can alleviate altitude sickness. I am going to consume maca root the next time we are in the mountains as I struggle with altitude change a bit.
Maca root can be helpful with alleviating constipation and maintaining regular bowel movements (which is another foundation of health!).
It supports the endocrine system which includes the thyroid and adrenals. It can also help support healthy hormone production and maybe even improve one’s mood.
Maca is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, and iron.
Adding to Your Diet
Maca root is most often found in a ground powder. This can be added to coffee, tea, smoothies, energy balls, homemade granola, lattes, and doughs of cookies, pancakes, waffles, or muffins. I will add to my yogurt; it adds a nutty flavor. A little goes a long way as a serving is only one teaspoon.
Safety
Maca roots is considered safe for most individuals. As with any superfood, it is best to consult your medical practitioner if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Also, it is best to purchase organic whenever possible. Sunfood provides an organic powdered form that is harvested and dried in traditional manner; they have strict testing of their products to maintain purity and to check for mold on maca. They also offer a “gelatinized” form which can be easier to digest especially if you have difficulty digesting starches or cruciferous vegetables.
Have you tried maca root? If so, what is your favorite way to enjoy?
If you want to check out another superfood, here is my post on goji berries.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Heather
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