Maca powder nutritional value is so high that only a few spoonful of it a day can get you much closer to meeting your daily requirements of most essential elements.

It gives you a boost of the following elements:

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Iron
• Copper
• Manganese
• Potassium

Maca powder contains calcium alongside magnesium and manganese. The amounts of these specific elements aren’t very high, but every milligram counts when it comes to calcium.

Note that maca is called Peruvian Ginseng for a reason


Maca Powder Dosage

As maca powder is considered a safe food, there aren’t any specific limits to how much of it you can take. However, it’s advised to keep your intake to 2-3 tablespoons a day. Always start with one spoonful daily (preferably in the morning) and study your body’s reaction. You’ll need to get used to the effects before increasing the dose.

Maca powder can also be considered a dietary supplement, so you should ‘cycle’ it. For example, eat 1-2 spoonfuls for two weeks. Then, make a break for 1-2 weeks, and continue.
 

Maca Powder: Taste and How to Enjoy

For all its incredible health benefits, maca powder’s taste is the reason why some people choose to avoid it. There is no word that could describe its flavor accurately, although ‘earthy’ and ‘nutty’ definitely come to mind. As every person has a unique perception of taste, one has to try maca powder in order to determine whether they would enjoy it.

If you don’t enjoy the flavor, you don’t have to give up your chance to get the health benefits of maca powder. Adding a bit of cinnamon to the mix or just using it in a recipe that has something with a strong flavor (for example, fruit juices) would effectively neutralize maca. You’ll have to play around with proportions in order to work out what fits your personal taste best.


Raw Maca Powder Vs. Gelatinized Maca

Raw maca powder, like the product offered by Food To Live, is made from crushed dried maca roots.

They aren’t processed in any way and only heated to 115F max during drying. This provides that the product retains all the precious nutrients that make maca powder into the extraordinary superfood that it is.

Gelatinized maca powder is made of dried roots that were boiled and pressurized. The resulting product is dehydrated and turned into powder that can be added to drinks or other dishes. This process was introduced in the 90’s and it effectively removes starch from the root.

On one hand, it makes the herb easier to digest. On the other, this kind of processing affects the nutrient content of the roots. Gelatinized maca isn’t as nutritious and its effects in the body are affected by the alterations in the chemicals. Note that these effects are considered minimal.


How to Store Maca Powder

To keep your maca powder nice and fresh, you should store it in the fridge. This is a product that one could and should buy in bulk because it keeps for two years and even more if put in the freezer.

The most important thing is to keep maca powder away from sunlight, heat, and moisture. The product can expire, and like with any food, you shouldn’t consume it after the ‘best by’ date rolls around.


Tasty Maca Recipe: Smoothie for Every Occasion

We at Food To Live believe that a spoonful of organic maca powder is a great addition to any smoothie. However, this is our favorite recipe:

• Juice of 2 oranges
• 2 inches ginger root (peeled and sliced)
• 1 tablespoon maca powder
• 1 cup pineapple (frozen)
• 1 cup homemade or Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey