- Alleviates symptoms of menopause
- Has anti-osteoporotic effects
- Has adaptogenic properties
- Exhibits aphrodisiac effects
- Stabilizes hormonal balance
- Has a positive influence on mood
- Supports fertility and sexual function
- Improves semen parameters
- Strengthens the nervous and immune systems
Swanson Maca is a natural dietary supplement containing maca root extract (500 mg/capsule), an Andean plant hiding many valuable properties. Maca supports fertility, boosts energy, increases sexual desire and enhances mental abilities, thus benefiting the entire body, both men and women.
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a biennial plant grown at high altitudes (3500-4500 meters above sea level) in the Peruvian Central Andes, which belongs to the cruciferous plant family(Brassicaceae). It is valued mainly for the medicinal and nutritional (among local Peruvians it is a traditional dietary staple) properties of the root and hypoctyl.
Maca is used to combat anemia, infertility and endocrine disorders, particularly in women. According to traditional folk beliefs, maca, is also referred to as "Peruvian ginseng" having aphrodisiac effects.
Bioactive constituents of maca root
Maca is a valuable source of many bioactive substances, including polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids), saponins, alkaloids, tannins and prostaglandins. In addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PACs), sterols (stygmasterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol) and glucosinolates, and minerals (manganese, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, sodium) can also be found in it.
Interestingly, there are substances in matzo root that have not yet been found in any other plant - macaene and macamide, which are most likely involved in improving sexual performance.
Improving fertility and sexual performance
Maca is used to combat the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, irritable breast glands, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis). This is likely due to its phytoestrogenic effects, mainly due to the presence of beta-sitosterol.
Maca has beneficial effects not only on the female body. The plant has been shown to increase fertility in men (it positively influences the process of spermatogenesis, increases the number and mobility of sperm), enhances sexual desire. It can also prove helpful in mild erectile dysfunction, where it helps improve both general and sexual well-being. Among other things, macamides, the presence of which is attributed exclusively to this plant, are responsible for improving sexual function.
One study also found that maca can be effective for sexual dysfunction associated with SSRI use
Antioxidant and anticancer activity
Maca protects cells from pathological changes caused by oxidative stress, which can cause cancer, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disorders, among others. The plant has the ability to scavenge free radicals, inhibit superoxide formation and exhibit cytoprotective effects under oxidative stress.
Maca has also been shown to exhibit photoprotective effects - thanks to its high content of polyphenols and glucosinolates, it counteracts skin damage through its ability to absorb UVA/UVB.
Maca as an adaptogen
The exact, anti-stress, mechanism of action of maca is not clear. It is likely that the plant affects the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thus increasing the body's resistance to potential harmful and stressful stimuli. This makes it likely that maca can have a significant effect on improving vitality and reducing fatigue.
In conclusion, Swanson Maca is a dietary supplement for both women (nullifies the symptoms of menopause) and men (shows effectiveness in erectile dysfunction), which has a positive effect on sexual desire. The high biological potential of the plant means that it can also be successfully used to increase physical and mental performance and improve general well-being, such as when exposed to stress.