What is Black Maca?

Maca, also known as Lepidium meyenii originates from the central Andes region of Peru, at an elevation of more than 4000m and it typically contains three different colours - black, yellow and red.

Black maca contains the highest antioxidant and polyphenol compounds compared to other colours which could suggest why it carries the potential benefits mentioned below.

Black maca contains the highest levels of antioxidant activity at 62.95% compared to 54.75% and 59.54% for yellow and red maca [4].

Why is it important to be Peruvian?

Maca originates from the Andes region of Peru. However, recently it has been cultivated in China.

The maca grown here is not native to this area and can exhibit different characteristics to Peruvian maa as its growing environment can affect the plant structure.

Reported by the American botanical council there is a potential toxic feature of Chinese maca due to the use of pesticides and herbicides. Botanicals adulterants prevention program reported on maca powder being diluted with corn, wheat and yam powders.

This raises multiple concerns of whether this maca is safe to consume but also Chinese maca will not be as nutritious and therefore not as effective in enhancing physical performance and vitality [1].

Yes, Peruvian maca is more expensive but it is certainly worth the difference.

What are the benefits?

  • Improves energy levels
  • Increases strength
  • Improves libido and fertility

Improves energy levels

Black maca can have beneficial effects towards energy levels and endurance, this may due to the anti-oxidants in black maca and its ability to control exercise-induced fatigue within muscles.

Following black maca supplementation 20m shuttle run performance was significantly improved against placebo which may be down to its protective role to improve oxidative stress, energy metabolism and restore mitochondrial respiration [2].

In a study which measured the basal maximum oxygen consumption (VMO2) after 60 days after maca supplementation the athletes saw a physical performance improvement of 10.3% [3].

Black maca helps decrease inflammation but also with the increased antioxidant activity it can assist aerobic energy systems where it can prevent the acculamtion of reactive oxygen species which can cause inflammation [5].

Increases strength

Combining resistance training and black maca supplementation can have positive effects on muscle function and has been shown to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass.

A possible explanation is black maca can effectively lower blood ammonia levels, ammonia can cause muscular fatigue [6].

Following a test of isokinetic trunk and knee strength the group who supplemented with black maca saw significantly higher muscle function. It shows great efficacy in its anti-stress response and in particular it can help inhibiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species becoming too high [2].

Improves libido and fertility

Perhaps owing to its energising effect black maca can also provide positive effects on libido. Following 14 days of supplementation of maca in trained male cyclists not only was 40km cycling time trial performance improved but so to was sexual desire within in these cyclists [7].

Serum hormone levels such as testosterone appear unaffected by black maca, however, a study with healthy men who had received maca for 4 moths saw an increase in seminal volume, sperm count and sperm motility [8].

References

[1]http://cms.herbalgram.org/press/2018/ABC_AHP_NCNPR_BAPP_Maca.html

[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10770698/

[3]https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/anales/article/view/1321

[4]https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/4/530

[5]https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/7/1618

[6]https://www.ksep-es.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.15857/ksep.2022.00465#

[7]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874109005728[8]https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2012/193496