Meet the company that is carefully sourcing, preserving and sharing my favorite traditional superfood, Maca, with health-conscious consumers: The Maca Team. 

For those of you that read The Clean Method regularly, you might remember the unique benefits of Maca from our Superfood Powders piece. If not, no worries! Thanks to The Maca Team, I've been able to learn even more about this nutritional powerhouse and experience the plethora of benefits it can provide, first-hand. 

What is Maca?

• Maca is a hardy vegetable and the world's highest-growing crop (at altitudes at and above 13,000 ft. in the Andes.)
• Maca has a small root that can be ground into powder. 
• Maca's closest relatives are: mustard, turnip and cabbage.
• Maca has been treasured by Peruvians for thousands of years due to its nutritional benefits (see below) and capacity to improve fertility.
• Maca is considered to be an adaptogenic food, meaning it can help the body adapt to stress and achieve homeostasis.
• Dried Maca root is thought to be a superfood, containing the following ingredients:
  • 13-16% protein
  • 8.5% fiber
  • 19 essential amino acids
  • vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and D,
  • minerals iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, calcium
  • several glucosinolates (sulfur-containing compounds found in cruciferous vegetables)
  • 20 free fatty acids and unique compounds called macaenes and macamides, which are thought to balance hormones in men and women 

What are some of the benefits of superfood Maca?

• improve fertility
• boost stamina
• build muscle
• provide a nutritional boost
• increase libido 
• improve circulation
• balance hormones
• elevate mood (possibly reduce depression)
• support mental clarity / focus

Maca is especially amazing for women -- by balancing estrogen and hormonal levels, it can enhance our natural curves, increase our athletic performance, manage hot flashes, reduce hormone-related acne, improe skin elasticity, promote regularity of our menstrual cycles and boost fertility. 

Why do I love The Maca Team's (link) Maca products?

• It's a family run company passionate about preserving and sourcing only the best quality Peruvian Maca.
• Their superfood Maca products are certified-organic, fairly traded, non-GMO, fresh and potent. 
• They work with co-ops in Peru that grow only organic Maca products -- free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
• All of their products are tested for quality and pass a Certificate of Analysis (COA.)
• They only sell superfood Maca from the current year's harvest (which is traditionally harvested between June - August.)
• They ensure fair prices for everyone (from farmers to customers.)
• They are the first company to offer all types of superfood Maca in glycerin extract form.
• The Maca Team has a highly knowledgeable customer service team that provides fast shipping and friendly, prompt service.
• They have a great rewards program. Click below to join!

Here are the superfood Maca products I tested (and loved:)

• Organic Raw Red Maca Root Powder
• Black Maca Capsules 
• Red Maca Liquid Extract
• Yellow Maca Root Chips 

I chose mostly Red Maca products because Red Maca powder has been shown to contain higher levels of nutrients, antioxidants and phytonutrients (including alkaloids, tannins, saponis and steroids) than other Maca root colors. Most people find the taste to be milder and sweeter (I couldn't really judge because I took Black Maca in the form of capsules, but either way the Red Maca Liquid Extract tasted a little bit nutty and absolutely delicious.)

Since Maca is a "heritage product" of Peru and whole roots cannot be exported to be planted in other countries, Maca chips are the closest to whole Maca roots you can purchase. The Maca roots are washed, dried, cut into small chunks, and gelatinized to make them easier to digest. While they can be enjoyed as a tea or in a smoothie, I'm enjoying simmering the Organic Gelatinized Sundried Yellow Maca Chips in milk (in my case, soy) to make for a delicious traditional dish known as Mazamorra. Below is a picture of some I made this morning to help kickstart my day. You can see the recipe here.

The Black Maca Capsules, which come in more than one Maca color, are a great choice for anyone on-the-go, who prefers taking capsules to tasting powder. Unlike other companies, The Maca Team packs the superfood Maca powder into these capsules in-house, to ensure that they are totally fresh and pure when they arrive at your door. 

After just a week of testing these products, I already began to notice benefits: 

I struggle with depression and am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which can often contribute to daytime sleepiness. The Red Maca Liquid Extract, specifically, gave me a nice burst of energy to start my day.  I also felt more focused and balanced (possibly my hormones.)

Looking for a natural energy boost and an enhanced sex drive? As they did for me, The Maca Team will guide you through the best form and color of Maca for you. 

Questions, comments, concerns? Leave a comment below! We'd love to hear from you!

Struggling with anxiety and depression? It's more common than you think.

Nearly 15 million Americans a year struggle with depression and about 18% of Americans battle one or more anxiety disorders, that occur twice as frequently in women than men. 

For us New Yorkers, especially those that battle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the cold weather doesn't help. Increased time spent indoors and decreased exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D) can lead to increased rates of anxiety and depression. Luckily, nature offers many treatments for those struggling with anxiety and depression.

There are many supplements that have shown promising in their ability to decrease anxiety and depression and restore mental well-being.

Below are five supplements considered to be some of the most effective in their treatment of anxiety and depression.

As always, be sure to consult with your physician before taking any supplements, especially if you have a history of anxiety or depression or are currently taking other medications and/or supplements.

5-HTP (5-Hydroxtryptophan)
5-HTP is a by-product of the protein building block, L-tryptophan. It works with the brain and central nervous system to increase production of the chemical serotonin, which is involved in sleep, appetite, sexual behavior and pain sensation. By increasing the synthesis of serotonin, 5-HTP can be a natural treatment for depression and anxiety, as well as insomnia, migraines, tension headaches, fibromyalgia, PMS, ADHD, seizures and more.

Omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids
Essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, play a vital role in the function of serotonin and dopamine. Regularly eating omega-3 and omega-6-rich foods, like salmon, tuna, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds, are considered two of the best supplements for depression.

Vitamin B6
Several studies, including those of the National Institute of Health, reveal that vitamin B6 deficiency can contribute to depression and inattentiveness or mental confusion. Moreover, most diets do not provide sufficient amounts of this vitamin, otherwise known as  pyridoxine. Since vitamin b6 is water-soluble and not stored by the body, it must be added to our diets or taken as a supplement. Foods that contain Vitamin B6 include:  beef liver, potatoes, raw garlic and some non-citrus fruits.

Folate
Many people that struggle with depression are deficient in Folate, or Vitamin B9. Found in many different healthy foods, including fruits and leafy vegetables, folate is responsible for protein metabolism, cell growth and division and the prevention of neural tube defects. Folate deficiency may lead to the development of MDD, or major depressive disorder. Malabsorption of this vitamin is also associated with poor response to antidepressants. 

Ashwaganda
Dating back three millennia and used by Ayurvedic practitioners, Ashwaganda is an herb proven to help calm anxiety in clinical studies. Ashwaganda is considered an ‘adaptogenic,' meaning that supplementation results in homeostasis or stabilization of physiological processes. 

Stay tuned for the next post in our series of other natural anxiety and depression fighters this week!