Maca (Lepidium meyenii, also known as Lepidium peruvianum) is a cruciferous root vegetable that grows at altitudes of 3,800–4,800 metres in the Peruvian Andes — one of the harshest agricultural environments on Earth. It has been cultivated and consumed by Andean populations for at least 2,000 years, valued both as a food source and as a traditional medicinal plant.
What does maca contain?
Maca root contains a broad profile of nutrients including carbohydrates, fibre, protein, vitamins (C, B6), and minerals (iron, calcium, potassium, copper). What makes maca nutritionally distinctive is its content of glucosinolates and unique compounds called macamides and macaenes — fatty acid amides that are specific to the maca plant and are considered its primary bioactive components.
Yellow, red, and black maca — what is the difference?
Maca comes in several colour varieties: yellow (the most common, approximately 60% of the harvest), red, and black. The colours reflect different ratios of glucosinolates and macamides. Research suggests that red maca may have specific properties related to bone density, while black maca is associated with spermatogenesis in animal studies. Yellow maca is the most widely studied and used in general supplement formulations.
What is gelatinised maca?
Raw maca powder contains high amounts of starch, which can be difficult to digest for some people. Gelatinisation is a process of heating the maca root under pressure to break down the starch, making the nutrients more bioavailable and the powder easier on the digestive system. It also concentrates the active compounds. Gelatinised maca is generally preferred in supplement form over raw maca powder.
How is it taken?
Maca is typically taken in doses of 1.5–3 g per day. It is traditionally consumed as a food (boiled, baked, or fermented) rather than as an extract. Most maca supplements use concentrated root powder.
Available product
Supplements & More carries Horbäach Maca Root (gelatinised, capsules). Imported from the United States, delivered across Lebanon with cash on delivery.