If you find yourself dragging throughout your day, returning to the coffee pot again and again, maybe you need a boost of natural energy. Maca root, a Peruvian root vegetable, made it on to Dr. Oz's "Energy-Boosting Hot List," where America's favorite doctor recomended maca as a great way to naturally beat the mid-day slump.
Maca root has been seen as a potent source of energy and endurance for over 2,000 years in its home in the Peruvian Central Andes mountains. Its reputation as a natural energy enhancer is now helping to bring maca out of the Andes mountains and into American households.
"In Peru, everyone is using maca!" - Dr. Oz, DoctorOz.com. October 25, 2013
Maca's benefits don't stop at bringing you a natural energy boost, either. "A 2009 review of maca published in Research in Complementary Medicine stated that "Randomized clinical trials have shown that maca has favorable effects on energy and mood, may decrease anxiety and improve sexual desire."
How do I take Maca?
Maca root comes in various types, named for the distinguishing color of the root: yellow, red, and black. Maca root is typically available as a pill or a powder.
Maca in a powder form has an earthy, almost malty flavor. Remember, it is a root vegetable, similar to a turnip or potato. Maca's aroma, however, is a very plesant and warm - similar to vanilla. Maca powder is a great addition to baked goods, or added to smoothies. It's flavor and aroma blend very well with cacao and mesquite, but it is a great addition to berry-flavored smoothies as well. Check out this recipe for Dr. Oz's Longevity Shake, featuring maca powder and goji berries!
Dr. Oz Longevity Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk
- Fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 handful dried goji berries
- 1 heaping teaspoon of maca powder
- 1/2 banana
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy
Try maca root powder as an all-natural, caffeine-free way to experience an energy boost to power you through your mid-day slump. Sprinkle it onto your cereal, try a maca muffin for breakfast, or enjoy a satisfying and energizing smoothie featuring maca powder and feel the difference that maca can make!
Want to know more about this Peruvian superfood? Read our What is Maca Root? blog post, and find a recipe for maple-maca ice cream!
Melissa Zimmerman, Live Superfoods
Resources:
http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/energy-boosters-hot-list?video_id=2790046982001
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20090350
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/longevity-shake
