Maca, the Superfood from Peru

Did you know that eating a little know radish-like root vegetable just might be the answer to solving migraine headaches?

Migraine headaches can be severe and are often accompanied by other symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to sounds and light. This type of headache can last for hours.

There are several causes of migraine headaches that include stress, lack of exercise, allergies, irregular sleep patterns, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol (especially red wine).

Migraines happen with an excessive contraction of the brain’s blood vessels occur. Another cause of migraines can be elevated estrogen or low levels of progesterone.

There is some evidence that exposure to certain chemicals and even pollution can bring on a migraine.

As well, eating too much-processed food can add a toxic load to the body which wreaks havoc on the endocrine system and can create a deficiency in hormone levels. On a side note, women suffer three times more from migraines than men do.

Now for the good news. Studies have found that Maca, which is considered a superfood helps the body to adapt to stress and can even help to recalibrate the body’s hormones.

This food is grown high up in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Maca has loads of vitamins and minerals, as well as 20 amino acids, fiber, and fatty acids which means that it can fuel the endocrine system and helps to produce regular hormone levels.

It even encourages the body to produce hormones. In comparison to the potato, another root crop, maca contains five times more protein and about four times the fiber.

Powdered Maca can be easily enjoyed in your morning smoothie, sprinkled on yogurt or cereal.

Used for centuries in South America, Maca is a known adaptogen.  Maca is a nutritive substance that can raise the body’s state of resistance to disease. Adaptogens help to increase immunity by improving the ability of the body to handle challenging or stressful situations.

Maca provides a set of nutrients that can nourish the endocrine system as well as supporting the adrenal glands and thyroid.  Because of this unique blend of nutrients powdered Maca root can help regulate metabolism and increase energy levels.

It has the ability to work directly on the hypothalamus and pituitary glands and helps rejuvenating exhausted adrenal glands.  All this helps to give the body the ability to handle stress.

You should use maca in its raw form since cooking can destroy some of the vital nutrients. If you are going to use maca in cooked food, try adding it at the end of the cooking so it doesn’t get exposed to the heat.

Maca Superfood Smoothie Recipe

1 handful greens of your choice
1/2 cup to 1 cup fresh young coconut water
1 ripe banana
1 ripe kiwi fruit
1-2  T  maca powder
1 T coconut butter
1T  raw honey or agave nectar
Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Drink and enjoy!

(as seen in the video above)

3 frozen bananas
6 pitted medjool dates
3 tbsp raw tahini
2 tbsp maca powder
3 tbsp cacao powder
coconut water with a couple of drops of Marine Phytoplankton (add to mix as needed to blend)
5 ice cubes purified water (add more if needed to blend and mix to desired consistency)

Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender (preferably a Vita-Mix blender). Add coconut water slowly, and ice slowly until well combined, smooth and creamy like ice-cream. Serve-up right away (if cold enough), or place in a container and freeze