Maca has traditionally been used to enhance fertility and sex drive

Maca is a plant that grows in central Peru in the high plateaus of the Andes Mountains. It has been cultivated as a vegetable crop in this area for at least 3000 years. Maca is a relative of the radish and has an odor similar to butterscotch. Its root is used to make medicine.

People take maca by mouth for “tired blood” (anemia), improving fertility, sexual dysfunction, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

In foods, maca is eaten baked or roasted, prepared as a soup, and used for making a fermented drink called maca chicha.

Early research suggests that taking maca twice daily for 12 weeks slightly improves sexual dysfunction in women taking antidepressants.

Early research shows that taking a specific maca product daily for 4 months increases semen and sperm count in healthy men. But it’s not clear if this results in improved fertility.

Early research shows that taking maca powder daily for 6 weeks slightly improves depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women. It might also improve sexual problems. But these benefits are very small.

Early research shows that taking a specific maca product daily for 12 weeks can increase sexual desire in healthy men.

Several studies have shown that maca can enhance your mood.

It’s been associated with reduced anxiety and symptoms of depression, particularly in menopausal women.

Maca contains plant compounds called flavonoids, which have been suggested to be at least partly responsible for these psychological benefits.

Maca root powder is a popular supplement among bodybuilders and athletes.

It has been claimed to help you gain muscle, increase strength, boost energy and improve exercise performance.

Also, some animal studies indicate that it enhances endurance performance.

Moreover, one small study in eight male cyclists found that they improved the time it took them to complete a nearly 25-mile (40-km) bike ride after 14 days of supplementing with maca extract.

Currently, there is no scientific evidence to confirm any benefits for muscle mass or strength.

Maca is easy to incorporate into your diet.

It can be taken as a supplement or added to smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods, energy bars and more.

The optimal dose for medicinal use has not been established. However, the dosage of maca root powder used in studies generally ranges from 1.5–5 grams per day.

You can find maca in some supermarkets, at health food stores and from various online retailers. There is also a very good selection available on Amazon with thousands of interesting reviews.

It is available in powder form, 500-mg capsules or as a liquid extract.

While yellow maca is the most readily available type, darker types like red and black may possess different biological properties.