Tuesday, 31 May 2011

The Wonders Of The Maca Root ( By Sandy Rutherforde )

      Maca, or lepidium meyenii, is a plant native to the high Andes Mountains of Peru. It has been known to grow virtually all year round, and has long been used throughout the area as both a food source and a medicinal herb. And because of its unique properties, it is slowly gaining ground in the more urban population centers around the world.

     Maca root is, first and foremost, a high-energy food item. In fact, 60% of its composition is carbohydrates, with another 10% being protein, and 8.5% being dietary fiber. This being the case, it is often considered the equivalent of cereal grains such as rice and wheat. Therefore, it can be a good supplement to treat diseases such as protein-energy malnutrition due to the deficiency of carbohydrates and protein, as well as constipation or diarrhea due to the lack of fiber.

     Secondly, maca root is also rich in iodine. In fact, a 10 gram serving of dark-colored maca contains 52 ug of iodine. It can therefore be a significant source of this element for people who have iodine deficiency, and who have limited access to modern conveniences like iodized salt. However, when a person has goiter, a thyroid disease which may in some cases be related to iodine deficiency, there are no recommendations as to its use.

     Thirdly, within the root, researchers have discovered about 60 varieties of the substance known as phytochemicals. Phytochemicals have diverse effects on your body, but the two most important are boosting the immune system and fighting off some cancers. That's because phytochemicals have anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidant properties (substances which help neutralize free radicals, which are known to cause cancer). There are also phytochemicals which affect visual performance and prevent some eye diseases like macular degeneration.

     Then there is also the effect of maca root on the endocrine system. Because the root is rich in a lot of nutrients, and since many of those nutrients are needed for the normal functioning of a person's endocrine system, it has been theorized that the intake of this plant will help in normalizing that person's hormone levels, especially if they are low. For instance, the plant has selenium, which is an important substance for thyroid hormone metabolism.

    Other reported benefits of maca include treating anxiety disorders (possibly due to its effect on neurotransmitters), reducing enlarged prostate glands of rats (perhaps due to its noted effect on the male hormones), and improving one's sense of well being and mood. There are other purported effects, although they have not been well documented as of today.
Are you interested in Maca and other natural sex enhancers? Be sure to visit my site to learn more about ginko biloba and other herbs.
By Sandy Rutherforde

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5861299
 
 
                                                                                                                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                              

1 comment:

  1. Wow this are great health benefits of maca roots but what can you say about Serrapeptase Enzyme having more health benefits

    ReplyDelete