As a nutritionist, maca powder is one of my favourite additions into my smoothies every morning. Its biscuity flavour gives a creamy, cheesecake-y taste to smoothies and yoghurts, but not only that- it’s bursting with benefits that can help us feel our best and contribute to our bodies functioning optimally! Maca comes from the Peruvian maca root and is usually enjoyed in powder form. It has been grown and used for over 3,000 years, usually for its nutritional and medicinal properties when it comes to supporting gut health, helping with hormone health and fertility, as well as even being used to boost libido too.
- The arrival of Spring brings with it Daylight Savings which can disrupt the body’s natural rhythm, lead to sleep disturbances and even add extra stress on the body. Maca can play a role in helping support our body through this adjustment as it is considered an ‘adaptogen’. Adaptogens are compounds which are said to help the body adapt better to stress and potentially help with the body’s resilience. Adding maca powder into your morning smoothie, oats or even something like a coconut yoghurt as a snack with fruit and honey can be an excellent way to support your health through Spring. You can find Naturya maca powder here.
- Secondly, maca has been used for thousands of years to support hormone health. Maca powder has been shown in some studies to help those going through the menopause when it comes to managing symptoms, as well as just generally supporting the endocrine system, which can play a role in things like fertility.
- Maca has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, and can prevent some pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α. This can be beneficial for us when it comes to long term disease prevention and helping us feel healthier.
There are many different ways that you can incorporate maca into your diet. My favourite way is by adding it to smoothies. Have a look at the recipe below for inspiration:
Peanut Butter Power smoothie:
Ingredients:
- ½ a teaspoon of Naturya Maca Powder
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 2 scoops of protein powder
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon manuka honey
- Large handful or organic spinach leaves
- 2 tbsp oats
- ½ cup of ice cubes
Method:
- Blend until smooth and enjoy.
