Maca Root Benefits for Females

There are some promising potential maca root benefits for females. Traditionally, we more often think about maca root as a supplement for men, but its benefits are not limited. Below, we discuss the maca root benefits for females and what you should know about this powerful herbal supplement.

What is Maca Root?

Maca is a plant grown natively in the Andes mountains of Peru. It’s a cruciferous vegetable, so it’s related to kale, cabbage, and broccoli. In Peruvian culture, maca is often used as a cooking ingredient. The maca root plan can be ground into a powder and added to smoothies or meals.

An apoptogenic herb, maca can help your body manage stress. Other apoptogenic herbs include holy basil, ashwagandha, and reishi mushroom.

These herbs can be used as a capsule, tincture, or powder.

Some of the general benefits of maca include:

• It helps your body deal with the effects of environmental stress. Adaptogens are something widely used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Adaptogens can stimulate your body’s stress production system and balance your hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. The HPA axis controls how your hormones and central nervous system respond to stress. When you’re experiencing stress, your cortisol levels typically go up. Still, studies show that consuming maca and other adaptogens can help keep your cortisol levels steady and prevent them from increasing.
• Maca may help with male fertility. There’s evidence that consuming vegetable root can help boost sperm count. This can be important because infertility issues often stem as much from males as they do females.
• A BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine report found that maca can improve sexual function. For example, some studies show it positively affects issues such as erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire. In several studies, different maca doses increased sexual desire in men more than a placebo, without affecting estrogen or testosterone levels. In a small study in 2009, males with mild erectile dysfunction taking maca root had a more significant increase in their sexual well-being than participants taking a placebo.
• Maca may help improve mood in people with depression. Maca has flavonoids, which are thought to generally improve mood and reduce anxiety.
• In a 2015 study, Maca root was found to help lower blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
• The root helps promote natural antioxidants in your body, like glutathione, and these antioxidants can combat the cell-damaging free radicals that exist. Some evidence shows that antioxidants can help with chronic health conditions like cancer and heart disease.
• In a 2011 study, maca was found to improve memory in mice. A 2014 literature review showed maca could benefit memory performance and learning, and researchers have suggested it could help with conditions affecting those processes, like Alzheimer’s. Currently, only studies looking at animal models are available.
• In an older animal study, maca could help prevent the skin from UV rays and sun damage.
• Some bodybuilders and athletes use maca to increase their performance and energy levels.
• Since maca is believed to boost energy, some alternative health practitioners believe it can help with chronic fatigue syndrome, although there’s limited clinical evidence to support this.

Maca Root Benefits for Females

While above we talk about the general possible health benefits of the root, what about maca root benefits for females?

Maca Root Benefits for Females #1: Improves Sexual Function

Female sexual dysfunction works in different ways than male dysfunction. Several variables affect sexual dysfunction when you’re a woman, including your age, lifestyle, and nutritional status.

Studies show that maca supplementation can help with sexual dysfunction in women, particularly when it’s associated with taking SSRI antidepressants. In one study, women taking prescription antidepressants improved sexual satisfaction when taking a dose of maca.

For centuries, maca has held a reputation as a robust aphrodisiac, and this effect is likely because it can improve mood and balance sex hormones. Maca is also packed with minerals like iodine, zinc, and essential fatty acids.

Maca Root Benefits for Females #2: PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) rates are rising among American women, and maca may offer some relief from symptoms.

First, maca has more than 50 phytochemicals that help balance hormone levels by affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. Studies show that the organs playing a large role in fertility, menopause, and PCOS, including the HPA axis, pancreas, and thyroid, all benefit from alkaloids in maca root.

Maca root can help PCOS sufferers by improving their energy levels. The more sustained energy you have, the more you can control your moods. You may find that your hormonal imbalances caused by mood swings become more manageable.

Taking maca can also help support a sense of balance during stress when you would otherwise experience severe hormonal ups and downs.

Maca may help regulate your estrogen levels, further helping symptoms of PCOS.

Maca Root Benefits for Females #3: Hormonal Balance

Even if you don’t have PCOS, maca is thought to restore women’s hormonal balance because it helps nurture the endocrine system. Maca also regulates the production of thyroid and adrenal hormones. Your adrenal and thyroid gland regulate many things you feel, such as appetite and stress.

Maca Root Benefits for Females #4: Maintaining Bone Density

Women, as they age, are often concerned with maintaining bone density. Studies of the effects of maca on menopause symptoms find that it can increase markers associated with bone density.

Maca Root Benefits for Females #5: Reducing Menopause Symptoms

The natural decline in estrogen that occurs during menopause can lead to various unpleasant symptoms. These include vaginal dryness, mood swings, hot flashes, irritability, and sleep problems.

Several studies show maca may have benefits for women going through menopause. It may alleviate symptoms like hot flashes and interrupted sleep.

How to Use Maca

There are a few different types of maca available, and the differences lie in the benefits and effects.

Some more details on how the colors of maca compare include:

• Yellow maca is the most common type. It is good for generally maintaining balance, fertility, and sexual function. Yellow maca can help with fertility, sexual, and metabolic function and reduce stress-induced inflammation. Yellow maca is great for maintaining a sense of whole-body balance when experiencing stress.
• Red maca is a rarer type, and it represents feminine energy. Traditionally, red maca is used for various conditions, including anxiety, adrenal fatigue, and chronic inflammation. There’s evidence red maca may help strengthen the female reproductive organs, and clinical studies show red maca is best for strengthening bones. One study, in particular, found high doses of red maca could prevent postmenopausal bone loss. For female libido and fertility, again, red maca may be best.
• Black maca can help with fatigue, depression, and brain fog. Black maca may also help with mental focus; it works as a natural antidepressant and can help with memory function and learning.

Regarding the right amount of maca to take, there’s not a standardized dose. Most people take anywhere from one to three teaspoons daily, around 3-9 grams of powder. You should start slowly and increase your dosage as you feel you need to.

Maca doesn’t have caffeine or stimulants, but it can increase your energy, so taking it in the morning on an empty stomach is best. You might also take a dose of maca in the afternoon when you feel like your energy levels are declining.

Taking maca by itself and on an empty stomach can absorb more quickly and be more effective.

As with many supplements, it can be a good idea to take a break from maca occasionally because that helps it stay effective. For example, maybe after taking it daily for six weeks, you will move to take a day off from using it once a week. You can also take five days off in a row per month. Your body can stabilize your hormones without maca powder’s influence, plus you get an increase in the effects.

There are a lot of ways you can take maca. You can buy it in powder form and add it to anything like smoothies, lattes, shakes, or soups. You can also take capsules or liquid tincture extracts.

Does Maca Have Any Side Effects?

Generally, maca is considered safe for many people—remember, it’s a cruciferous vegetable. If you have any concerns or health conditions, it’s still a good idea to speak with your doctor.

Maca tends to be well-tolerated by most people who use it, and side effects, if they do occur, are mild and might include digestive upset.

The Best Maca Root Supplements for Women

The following are three of our picks for the best maca root supplements for women who want the hormone-balancing and libido-increasing benefits.