Maca Root Powder (Red) – Organic Raw

Red Maca Powder is made from the root of the maca plant, a traditional food cultivated in the high Andes of Peru. Known for its smooth, slightly sweet flavor, red maca is one of the most popular varieties of this ancient root.

This versatile, shelf-stable powder blends easily into smoothies, teas, coffee, desserts, and baked goods. A staple in Peruvian cuisine for centuries, red maca powder adds a distinctive taste that complements both sweet and savory recipes.

Organic Raw Maca Root Powder (Red)

Z Natural Foods takes pride in bringing our customers a wide range of foods from around the globe in their most versatile form, and our organic raw Maca root powder (red) is no exception.

Our maca root powder is created by carefully sourcing the finest maca roots high up in the Andes Mountains. The multigenerational farmers use traditional farming practices, keeping the soil as nutrient-dense as possible to grow the perfect maca roots. 

Furthermore, they also use traditional cooking and drying methods to naturally preserve and concentrate the nourishing compounds, creating the ideal maca root powder. 

The nutty and slightly sweet flavor profile allows for endless pairing capabilities, showing its unique potential for culinary versatility. Creating an ideal powdered food provides a shelf-stable end product with exceptional versatility and limitless applications. 

Our mission is to provide you with great-tasting, highly functional foods with limitless application in their most versatile form to support a variety of lifestyles. So, we proudly introduce this wonderful member of our diverse functional food powders, Z Natural Foods’ Organic Raw Maca Powder (Red).

What is Maca Root?

Maca is a unique root vegetable that thrives at an altitude of 15,000 feet in the challenging conditions of the Andes mountains.

It stands out as a spectacular tonic food with adaptogen-like qualities and some unique nourishing compounds. For millennia, the Indigenous people of Peru have revered maca as a staple food. Despite its humble appearance—resembling a cross between a parsnip and a potato—it proudly belongs to the Brassica (mustard) family, which also includes cabbage, turnip, mustard, and broccoli.

While Maca’s macronutrient profile can vary slightly on harvests and batches, it averages around 10.2% proteins, 59% carbohydrates, 2.2% lipids, and 8.5% of fiber. Around one-half of Maca’s carbohydrate content is starch, specifically amylose and amylopectin.

However, with its unique long-chained fatty acids (Macaenes and Macamides) only found in Maca and its butterscotch toasted nutty flavor profile created through the gelatinizing process, this is a highly versatile food that has been proven to bring unique qualities to the table.

Peruvian festivals annually celebrate the nourishing qualities and versatility of foods prepared with Maca. The Indigenous people of Peru are known to consume various mixtures of porridge containing substantial amounts of Maca daily, a practice that supports their strength and health in the face of the harsh living conditions at high altitudes. This porridge can be cooked plain, with a touch of sugar, or with quinoa, cacao, and lucuma, all of which are staple foods in Peru.

It’s worth noting that maca contains a neutral polysaccharide with unique prebiotic potential.

The following was stated in a preliminary review titled Rheological properties of a neutral polysaccharide extracted from maca roots with prebiotic and anti-inflammatory activities.

• The prebiotic properties of MP induced higher growth of Bifidobacterium longum ATCC15707 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 than inulin.
• In vitro, MP increased acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid more than inulin.
• Furthermore, MP inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells, indicating that an increasing MP concentration enhanced anti-inflammatory activities.

Maca: A tonic food with powerful adaptogen-like qualities?

In simple terms, four primary fundamental aspects define a tonic herb:

• Tonic herbs create and support a state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being through balance to attain vibrant health.
• Tonic herbs can be used for an unlimited period with no adverse effects
• No matter how long an individual uses tonic herbs, they never build up a tolerance.
• Proper tonics come from their authentic source and spiritual homeland.

Tonic herbs are not used to treat or prevent specific issues. They promote and support general well-being by enhancing energy and regulating function. The priority is not about healing but gently promoting one’s health. 

Many countries have a traditionally used herb for supporting sexual vigor, or as many locals call it, “energy,” which they tout as their local “Ginseng” (even though there is no actual relation to the ginseng family).

For example, Ashwagandha is called Indian ginseng, and Tongkat Ali is called Malaysian ginseng. Maca root is known as Peruvian Ginseng and has quite a reputation for its ability to revitalize one’s vitality and energy.

Maca contains potent compounds, providing the body with a beautiful synergy of nourishment. Macamides, macaenes, and glucosinolates seem to be what the research says may help to give maca some of its possible supportive effects.

The research has been quite conclusive in determining that it is most potent as a whole concentrated food (versus standardizing it). 

While macamides, macaenes, and glucosinolates are only found in small amounts, the synergy of these compounds packs a powerful punch. As stated earlier, maca is unique because it’s the only food in the Brassicaceae family where this combination of compounds occurs.

Contrary to popular belief, the effects of maca on different physiological processes do not seem to be regulated by direct changes to hormone levels.

For example, sexual desire is controlled by the balancing of hormone levels. The specific effects maca has on one’s vitality are not because it directly affects individual hormone levels but because the natural sterols in maca perform healthy “hormone-like functions.” The macamides and macaenes found in maca may influence brain centers that regulate the endocrine system and energy levels.

The human study below perfectly shows how maca had no specific direct effect on individual hormones. The positive results are based on indirect effects supported by other mechanisms of action. 

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was conducted on 29 post-menopausal women. They received 3.3 g/day of Maca or placebo for six weeks each, in either order, over 12 weeks. At baseline, week six, and week twelve, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), stimulating thyroid hormone (TSH), total lipid profiles, glucose, and serum cytokines were measured. The Greene Climacteric, SF-36 Version 2, Women’s Health Questionnaire, and Utian Quality of Life Scales were used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms and health-related quality of life.

The results showed no differences in estradiol, FSH, TSH, SHBG, glucose, lipid profiles, and serum cytokines among those who received Maca compared to the placebo group; however, significant decreases in diastolic blood pressure and depression were apparent after Maca treatment. Thus, it was concluded that Maca did not exert hormonal or immune biological action in the small cohort of patients studied.

Chinese Vs. Peruvian Maca

In simple terms, Peruvian Maca is the only authentic version of this fantastic food.

History has shown that the best maca is grown at high altitudes between 13,000 and 15,000 feet. 

However, the nutrient-dense soil, the lack of overuse of each plot, and the naturally harsh conditions in those areas that create a stressful environment are the keys to producing the most highly nourishing maca with tremendous adaptogenic qualities. 

When a plant grows in harsh conditions and undergoes more stress, it has been shown to produce higher levels of adaptogen-like compounds.

China is well known for cultivating many superfoods and tonics like ginseng and goji berries. However, in the last 12 years, China has begun cultivating its version of maca, which reports say are from seeds smuggled from Peru. However, issues have been reported regarding China’s inability to produce the same authentic food that Peru has mastered.

Since 2003, transporting whole maca roots or seeds outside of Peru has been illegal. This fact brings to question how China is, therefore, able even to grow maca. China holds seven GMO patents on maca, making it almost impossible to determine which maca from China is GMO-free.

Furthermore, the visual qualities are one of the most traditional ways to grade Maca. It is well known that the maca cultivated in China produces deformed roots and inconsistent nutritional qualities compared to authentic Peruvian maca.

Due to long-standing tradition and respect for the soil and land, Peruvian maca consistently maintains its visual characteristics and nourishing adaptogenic attributes. While this disparage does exist, and Maca is not a traditional part of Chinese Medicine, don’t let it persuade you from seeing that Maca has some valuable roles in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Sweet in flavor and warm in temperature, Maca, aka Ma Ka Gen, enters through the spleen and kidney meridians and is most often used to build Qi and blood, tonify the kidney Jing, and harmonize the triple Jiao.

Summary of Important Information

Z Natural Foods hand-picks specific ingredients for our customers based on three concepts to provide the best quality product possible to support optimal well-being.

• Versatility
• History of safe and effective usage
• Strong evidence of positive research outcomes in humans

What is Maca Root?

• A proud Brassica (mustard) family member, which also includes cabbage, turnip, mustard, and broccoli.
• Maca’s macronutrient profile averages around 10.2% proteins, 59% carbohydrates, 2.2% lipids, and 8.5% fiber.
• One-half of Maca’s carbohydrate content is starch, specifically amylose and amylopectin.

Maca: A tonic food with powerful adaptogen-like qualities?

• Tonic herbs are not used to treat or prevent specific issues.
• They promote and support general well-being by enhancing energy and regulating function. The priority is not about healing but gently promoting one’s health.
• Research suggests that macamides, Macaenes, and glucosinolates may give maca some of its possible supportive effects.
• Contrary to popular belief, the effects of maca on different physiological processes are not regulated by direct changes to hormone levels.
• The specific effects are because the natural sterols in maca perform healthy “hormone-like functions.”
• The macamides and macaenes found in maca may influence brain centers that regulate the endocrine system and energy levels.

Some research suggests that Maca may contain the following constituents:

• Minerals: Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Boron
• Vitamins: Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Beta carotene
• Amino Acids: Threonine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Valine, Arginine, Histidine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Proline, Serine
• Sterols: Brassicasterol, Ergosterol, Campesterol, Ergostadienol, Sitosterol
• Fatty Acids: Unsaturated, C12-0-Dodecanoic (lauric), C13-1-7-Tridecenoic
• Secondary Metabolites: Macaridine, Macaene, Macamides
• Benzylated Alkamides: Phenyl Acetonitrile and Macamides
• Essential oils: Phenyl acetonitrile, Benzaldehyde, Methoxyphenylacetonitrile
• Other Phytochemicals: Glucosinates, Saponins, and tannins

Suggested Use: Mix one tablespoon with juice, yogurt, or your favorite smoothie.

Other preparations

Tincture: This method takes 15 to 30 days, depending. You will need three items (a mason jar with a cover, the herb/herbs of your choice, and liquid for extracting). The extracting liquid can be alcohol, alcohol/ water combo, vinegar, or vegetable glycerin. Take the product and fill the jar ¾ full, add the liquid of your choice, and close the jar. Then, shake the jar so everything is well mixed, and every day shake the jar for 5 minutes at a time, several times daily. After 15 to 30 days, strain and bottle in dark glass amber jars. The time frame depends on the liquid you use to do the extraction.

Mixing suggestions: To increase flavor and nutritional profile, combine our whey protein concentrate and organic sun-dried goji berries in a smoothie.

Botanical Name: Lepidium meyenii and Lepidium peruvianum.

Other Names: Peruvian Ginseng, Maca-maca, maino, ayak chichira, ayak willku, red maca.

Parts Used: Whole, Maca Root.

Ingredients: Organic Red Maca Root.

Origin: Grown and dried in Peru. Packaged with care in Florida, USA.

Certifications: Certified USDA Organic.