Maca is said to have a healing and potency-enhancing effect. Sounds like superfood. But is it? FITBOOK asked a nutritionist.
In South America people have always trusted in the power of the Maca plant. In recent years, the powdered extract of the cruciferous plant has also spread in Germany – not only as a kitchen ingredient and among naturopaths, but also as the subject of scientific studies. But what’s the hype about Maca?
What exactly is maca?
From a purely visual perspective, the Maca plant is a cross between a radish and a turnip. It consists of a tuber that is described as having a nutty-earthy taste, and its cress-like leaves are also edible. Maca has been cultivated in its Peruvian homeland for around 2000 years, hence its nickname «Peru ginseng».
The tuber is available in black, yellow and red. It is an integral part of South American cuisine, comparable to our potato. Maca can be oven cooked, boiled, or served as a mash. In addition to food, it is also used for its effects.
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Maca as an aphrodisiac and to increase testosterone
In Germany, you can only find fresh maca in well-stocked health food stores or in your own garden, provided you have planted the appropriate seeds. Maca is much more common and easily available in this country as a dietary supplement in capsule or powder form. Anyone who swallows it, stirs it into muesli or a smoothie, may be doing so because of the alleged performance, desire and potency-enhancing effect. Appropriate dietary supplements are advertised, among other things, as being able to increase testosterone levels and improve fertility and the ability to climax.
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The stimulating effect is said to have even been proven in scientific studies. For example, Chinese researchers measured sexual activity in mice given maca powder three times as much as in the test mice. Important: The Chinese admitted at the time, however, that their study was hardly representative. And: that further investigations are necessary in order to be able to assess the usability as a herbal sexual enhancer.
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Does maca powder really have a potency-enhancing effect?
FITBOOK asked the experts whether maca powder really has the effect that many people are hoping for. The conclusion of nutritionist Sven-David Müller: No. “In the Andes, Maca is a food,” he explains, “a tuber rich in carbohydrates.” He draws a comparison with our potato, which also contains carbohydrates, as well as “protein and of course calcium or other ingredients – all foods have ingredients. That doesn’t make them a sexual enhancer by a long shot.»
In other words: There may be something valuable in the Maca tuber (just like in various types of fruit and vegetables that are native to us) – but not in the corresponding powder for a long time! «The amounts contained in dietary supplements are so small that they cannot have any effect or benefit for humans.» Incidentally, more would not be allowed, since food supplements are not allowed to have any medical effects. Müller on FITBOOK: «If you want or need health effects, you have to buy medicines in the pharmacy or have them prescribed for you.»
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Nutritional Values of Maca
Maca powder contains:
- about 60 to 70 percent carbohydrates
- about 10 to 14 percent protein
- about 1 to 3.5 percent fat
- about 7 to 8 percent dietary fiber
In addition, maca powder has many important nutrients, is full of amino acids, including all essential amino acids, and is rich in vitamins C, B2, B3 and B6 as well as calcium, potassium, iron, copper and manganese depending on the processing method.
Conclusion: Unfortunately, the tuber is not a superfood
As a powder, the exotic gives drinks and food a malty, slightly sweet taste. The latter can (also) be related to the added sweeteners, and that is the next problem: According to Müller, the eponymous ingredient is neglected in maca preparations, while they are often “extremely expensive, rich in sugar, maltodextrin (Carbohydrate artificially produced from starch, editor’s note) or other fillers».
That means: If Maca, then the tuber itself. «It tastes good and smells great of musk,» says the expert.