How To Use Maca Powder to Supercharge Your Fertility

By: Barb Biagioli

Dietary and lifestyle choices can play a major role in fertility health, and some of those choices can contribute to infertility and conception difficulty. While there are a variety of factors that play role in reproductive health for both men and women, preparing the mind and body before pregnancy increases your chances of conception and of carrying a healthy pregnancy to term.

Whether you are thinking about pregnancy or actively trying to get pregnant, nutritionally preparing your body is one of the most important things you can do. Proper nourishment prior to conception and pregnancy has a long-term effect on your health and that of your baby’s, ultimately impacting your child’s developmental health and susceptibility to disease; and influencing their appetite, intelligence, temperament and more.

As you prepare your body for conception, you’ll want to consider dietary and lifestyle changes that support the health of your body and your baby – to optimize your ovulatory health and promote a healthy pregnancy. The proper health and nutrition tools, when prioritized with the reduction of unhealthy habits, can give your baby the healthiest possible start to life!

Preparing for Pregnancy

While avoiding caffeine, sugar, alcohol, inflammatory processed foods and stress, you may also consider the integration of well-sourced organic anti-inflammatory food. These include, folate rich foods, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates that can help to optimize your reproductive health. Research shows us that women who eat more plants and whole foods have a better chance of conception and healthy pregnancy. According to PubMed Central:

 “In the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) II, a large prospective cohort, women who had the highest intake of plant protein from vegetable sources and healthy fats, during the preconception period, were found to have a 66% lower risk of infertility related to ovulatory disorders and a 27% lower risk of infertility due to other causes compared to women with the lowest intake of this diet pattern.”

What is Maca Root?

In accordance with an existing healthy lifestyle and an abundance of plant foods, maca root in particular can be a great resource for promoting fertility. Maca is a hormone balancing herb that is known throughout the world for its fertility and vitality promoting properties. Maca root is a tuberous vegetable, much like a potato, that is grown in the Andes Mountains of Peru – the highest altitude growing plant in the world.  It contains a whole host of health benefits including significant amounts of amino acids, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, fiber, and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium and B vitamins.

Basically, Maca root powder is an extremely powerful source of nutrients! With over 20 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids, 20 free form fatty acids, and B vitamins, maca is a superfood for fertility and your overall health.

The Hormone Balancing Health Benefits of Maca

Over the years, maca has gained a reputation for its ability to help balance hormones and promote fertility. It is an endocrine adaptogen – it does not contain hormones – but contains the nutrients that support hormone production. It is a great source of nourishment and can also help to reduce stress. In an article for Natural News, “Benefits of Maca Root: Find More Energy and Hormonal Balance, writer and nutritionist Kim Evans states:

“it’s earned the nickname ‘nature’s Viagra’.”

— Kim Evans, Benefits of Maca Root: Find More Energy and Hormonal Balance

 “Maca root helps balance our hormones and due to an over abundance of environmental estrogens, most people’s hormones are a bit out of whack. Maca stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and pituitary glands which are the “master glands” of the body. These glands actually regulate the other glands, so when in balance they can bring balance to the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, ovarian and testicular glands.

 Maca root has been shown to be beneficial for all sorts of hormonal problems including PMS, menopause, and hot flashes. It is also a fertility enhancer and is best known for improving libido and sexual function, especially in men. For this reason, it’s earned the nickname ‘nature’s Viagra.’”

Adding maca root to your fertility diet with help to support healthy hormones. The research shows that maca is an adaptogen plant that is promising in the prevention of several diseases while also supporting fertility and reproductive health:

 “Experimental scientific evidence showed that maca has nutritional, energizer, and fertility-enhancer properties, and it acts on sexual dysfunctions, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, memory and learning, and protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Clinical trials showed efficacy of maca on sexual dysfunctions as well as increasing sperm count and motility. Maca is a plant with great potential as an adaptogen and appears to be promising as a nutraceutical in the prevention of several diseases.”

Specifically, for women, maca is great for balancing estrogen and progesterone in the body, ensuring that both levels are at an optimal ratio at the right time of the month.  For men, maca helps to increase sperm count and motility, while also decreasing anxiety and stress, and helping to balance estrogen levels to prevent erectile dysfunction.

 Here’s our short list of the benefits of maca powder for both men and women:

Maca Powder Benefits for Men:

• Increases Energy

• Treats Sexual Dysfunction

• Increases Athletic Performance

• Enhances Fertility

• Promotes Mental Clarity

• Balances Hormones

Maca Powder Benefits for Women:

• Treats PMS and Mood Swings

• Relieves Menopause Symptoms

• Increases Stamina and Energy

• Promote Egg Health

• Balances Hormones

• Nourishes Glandular System

---

How to Use Maca Powder

When choosing a maca powder, always look for an organic maca that is grown in Peru. Just as important as it is to eat whole foods and support your health with nutrient dense plant foods, it is equally as important to consider quality and source, as not all maca powders are created equally.

To utilize the nutritional benefits of your maca powder, you can include it in your soups, stews, oatmeal, acai bowls, and smoothies. It can even be mixed in with a golden milk latte or a healthy hot chocolate. For the purposes of keeping it simple, try adding a teaspoon or two to your favorite smoothie. Or give this Maca Cacao smoothie a try! It’s creamy and sweet, bordering on a bit indulgent, the perfect late morning snack, afternoon treat or after dinner beverage.

---

Maca Cacao Smoothie Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 banana, frozen

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tsp raw maca powder

2 tbsp ground flax seed

2 tbsp almond butter

1 ½ cups unsweetened cashew milk

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

1 handful of ice cubes

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.

2. Adjust flavors and ingredients as necessary.

3. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Maca powder is great for anyone trying for a baby, thinking about pregnancy, or simply looking to amp up their sex life. No matter where you are on your fertility journey consider adding maca to your daily routine. This superfood will supercharge your fertility, boost your immune system, balance your hormones, reduce stress, enhance libido, and give you a dose of potent vitamins and minerals that are key to reproductive health.

With so many benefits for men and women a maca infused beverage is the perfect new addition to your routine either alone or as a couple to stimulate fertility and romance!

*As with all health changes and the introduction of any new foods, herbs or supplements, please consult your doctor or healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant or breastfeeding. Women with hormone sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids or a history of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer may want to avoid maca powder and should consult their physician.

---

More Article You Might Like