Maca Powder – Black

Black Maca Powder – Lepidium meyenii

Black Maca is ground from the roots of an herbaceous biennial plant of the crucifer family native to the high Andes of Peru. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl, which is used as a root vegetable and a medicinal herb. Maca is the only member of its genus with a fleshy hypocotyl, which is fused with the taproot to form a rough inverted pear-shaped body. Maca does vary greatly in the size and shape of the root, which may be triangular, flattened circular, spherical, or rectangular, the latter of which forms the largest roots.

Black Maca, often referred to as “Men’s Maca,” is sweeter than yellow maca, although not as much as the red type.

PERUVIAN SUPERFOOD

The nutritional value of dried maca root is high, similar to cereal grains such as rice and wheat. The average composition is 60-75% carbohydrates, 10-14% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats. Maca is rich in the dietary minerals calcium and potassium (with low content of sodium), and contains the essential trace elements iron, iodine, copper, manganese, and zinc, as well as fatty acids including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, and 19 amino acids.

In addition to sugars and proteins, maca contains uridine, malic acid, and its benzoyl derivative, and the glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin. The methanolextract of maca tuber also contains (1R,3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid. Many different alkamides were found in maca.

Further, maca contains selenium and magnesium, and includes polysaccharides.

Herb Stomp also carries Red Maca.