Have you experienced irritability, heart palpitations, or sleep problems? Feeling a bit burnt out or struggling to continue to grind through all of things you want to do?

If this is you, you may be battling adrenal fatigue, and we’ll explain 5 powerful ways maca root can help.

Most people ignore the common signs of adrenal fatigue, which may also include weight gain, salt and sugar cravings, and memory issues, as normal parts of routine stress. But adrenal fatigue can often be the root cause.

Surprisingly, the magical herb named ‘Maca Root’ can assist us in overcoming this common problem and its one of the best all-natural ways to do so.

In this article, we will discuss 5 amazing benefits of maca root including a bit more about what adrenal fatigue is and why it occurs. So, let’s dive in!

Why does adrenal fatigue occur?

It’s really simple! We have small organs called adrenal glands. These organs are very small yet effective parts of our system, located over the kidneys. 

Adrenal glands are responsible for creating some important stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, which help the body fight stress and regulate energy levels and metabolism.

The intriguing twist is why adrenal glands get fatigued?

So, here’s one key fact! When you’re exposed to chronic stress for a prolonged period, your adrenal glands become overstimulated. This depletes their regulatory function, and they become fatigued. As a result, your adrenaline and cortisol levels are not released to an optimal level, and you get the symptoms[1]

Lets explore these symptoms in the next section!

Signs & Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:

We know that our adrenal gland controls the impact of stress on our body. So, when your adrenal gland is unable to cope with the prolonged stress, you get all those symptoms that exhaust you. These include[3]

1. Tiredness (Usually during morning)

2. Lack of performance at work

3. Irritability

4. Mood swings (Usually low mood/depression)

5. General muscular weakness

6. Lack of good sleep

7. Increased cravings for stimulants (i.e. energy drinks/caffeine/nicotine/high sugary drinks)

8. Low or High levels of blood sugar

9. Feeling of dizziness while standing

In women, a disturbed menstrual cycle can also be present.

So, if you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you can be a victim of adrenal fatigue. But here is the main takeaway. Maca is the magical herb shrouded in mystery with proven effects on this problem. 

Want to know more about it? Keep on reading. 

Maca Root: An overview

Maca root is a potent herb found in the highlands of Andes mountains in Peru. It grows in the harshest farmlands but is the most nutrient-dense food. Did you know that Peru’s people use it as food and medicine? Before being introduced as an enchanted herb to combat adrenal fatigue, it was traditionally taken by the people of Peru as food[2]. 

When the health benefits of this nutrient-rich herb were discovered, it was praised as a potent medicinal plant offering multiple perks. These include enhanced energy levels, boosted stamina, increased vitality, improved Mood, increased mental acuity, positive adrenal health, and balanced hormones. We will discuss maca’s unique benefits for adrenal fatigue in detail. 

But before that, do you think a small herb can exhibit such potential benefits? The answer lies in the nutritional profile of this petite plant. Below is a quick review of the nutritional components of maca before we move to its benefits.

Nutritional Profile of Maca Root

The maca root is considered a superfood because of its high nutritional profile. This small herb is an enrichment of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Moreover, the maca root has important chemical components that enhance adrenal sufficiency.

Just keep in mind that some forms of maca root are absorbed better than others which is why we wrote an entire post on the benefits of gelatinized vs raw maca root.

These chemical constituents include polysaccharides, macaenes, macamides, glucosinolates, alkaloids, and maca hydantoins, which exhibit five amazing benefits in adrenal fatigue.[4] 

Do you want to know about these marvelous advantages? So, let’s explore the next segment right away!

5 Amazing Benefits of Maca Root

Maca Root is known for its proven benefits in adrenal fatigue. It exhibits health-promoting properties that are important for healthy adrenal activity. Here are five Amazing benefits of Maca Root.

Benefit #1: Decrease Fatigue

The Maca root is known for its anti-fatigue properties. The root contains maca polysaccharides that are capable of performing various functions. What do these polysaccharides actually do? They provide adrenal support and increase their metabolic function. Moreover, these polysaccharides release special antioxidants in the blood called glutathione peroxidase and creatine kinase lactate dehydrogenase. 

These antioxidants increase the glycogen content in the liver, which is important for maintaining high energy levels. Moreover, these serum antioxidants clear metabolic wastes from our blood, including urea, nitrogen, lactic acid, etc. As a result, the body has increased endurance and reduced feelings of exhaustion[5].

 This is why athletes and people with active lifestyles use maca root to enhance their daily performance

However, keep in mind that an effective dose is necessary. Therefore, if you have depleted energy levels, you should consult a nutritional coach who will suggest the most appropriate dose for maca root.

Benefit #2: Supports Mood and alleviates depression

When exposed to stress for a long time, your body’s cortisol level can vary from normal. As a result, the hypothalamic-pituitary axis is poorly impacted, causing an abnormal release of cortisol. The hypothalamic-pituitary axis is a connection between the cognitive function and the pituitary gland. 

When the connection is disturbed, our adrenal gland remains abnormally activated, causing anxiety or stress.[6]

But that really doesn’t mean you need to stress out. When taken by a person, this maca root assists the proper functioning of this HPA axis. Moreover, it keeps the level of cortisol balanced. As a result, it exhibits a positive impact on mood stabilization and brings emotional stability. 

This makes it a valuable natural remedy for those struggling with stress-related mental health issues.

Benefit #3: Improves infertility caused by adrenal fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is one of the main reasons for causing infertility. Stress is the critical factor. In fact, this constant stress can further aggravate adrenal fatigue, contributing to a rise in infertility. This is because chronic stress causes the overproduction of the cortisol hormone by the adrenal glands. 

This overproduction disrupts the reproductive hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. As a result, hormonal balance gets disturbed.

Now, you can imagine what would happen if a hormonal imbalance occurs. Basically, when a hormonal imbalance occurs, it interferes with regular ovulation and leads to infertility and low sex drive. 

How does maca root exhibit potential benefits in overcoming this problem? 

It has estrogenic activity. I know you just don’t know about maca’s estrogenic activity. Let me break it down into simpler words. 

Maca root contains phytosterols, which act like estrogen hormones and are highly important for fertility. When taken by mouth, the phytosterols enter the bloodstream and bind to estrogen cells. 

Consequently, it produces effects similar to estrogen hormones. These effects include regulating a healthy menstrual cycle in females and bringing ovulation, essential for fertile health.

Benefit #4: Antioxidant effect and control of blood sugar

When our adrenal glands become exhausted, two conditions can occur in our body. These conditions include oxidative damage and uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Maca is a magical herb that controls the problems produced by adrenal fatigue. Here is how it functions!

The components like polyphenols, flavonoids, and glucosinolates present in Maca exhibit antioxidant properties. Maca root activates the activity of an antioxidative enzyme, catalase, in the body. These antioxidative enzymes neutralize the free radicals present in our body preventing oxidative stress. 

As a result, they protect our body cells, tissues, and organs from damage and protect us from disease or aging.[7] 

Similarly, when it comes to uncontrolled blood glucose levels in the body during adrenal fatigue, maca is great! In adrenal fatigue, when our hormones go out of whack, our insulin also does, and our glucose levels get imbalanced. This can either develop low or high blood glucose. 

The maca root increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. When maca improves insulin sensitivity, our cells can effectively use glucose. As a result, no sugar spikes occur, and our blood sugar levels remain controlled. 

Benefit #5: Superfoods provide an energy boost

Maca is a superfood enriched with many minerals and vitamins. It contains essential nutrients like vitamin B, seven essential amino acids, Zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, pantothenic acid, and more than 50 phytochemicals. It also contains proteins, dietary fibers, calcium, and other nutritional constituents that make it a superfood. 

Because of its high-profile dietary value, maca root gives you energy and a well-functioning immune & nervous system. Furthermore, it also maintains healthy brain function and provides you with long-lasting endurance, overcoming low energy levels & maintaining overall health.[8]

However, despite all those benefits, taking maca root in an appropriate dosage is essential. A nutritional consultant can guide you on the proper method of taking maca. 

Recomended Dosage of Maca:

It is recommended that you take 5g of maca powder per kg of body weight[9]. However, the dose can differ from person to person. We recommend taking maca according to the guidelines of your healthcare professionals. 

While you can take maca root at any time, taking it at the right time can make it more effective. To optimize its effectiveness, be sure to read about the best time to take maca root.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing mood swings, low energy, decreased sleep, and all the symptoms mentioned above, it can be adrenal fatigue. It is a real problem for many individuals experiencing various signs and symptoms. However, maca root is a potent herb that improves the functioning of adrenal glands. 

One must consider that this herb should be taken in an appropriate dosage. To undergo this, make sure to consult a nutritional expert.

You can even check out our virtual coaching packages, and then feel book a free 15-minute strategy call to map out a plan to overcome your fatigue with an expert who’s helped countless others. You can talk to our nutritional expert on this call. They will guide you in starting maca supplements with accurate dosages customized to your body type.

References:

1. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/act.2015.29028.aro?journalCode=act

2. https://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-_etK2PJlkwC&oi=fnd&pg=PA4&dq=maca+root+in+adrenal+fatigue&ots=pKOsTF6moJ&sig=vbdUuPdI59VSBELvOmhymksT_R8&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

3. https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1042472

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814619303942

5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814619303942

6. http://www.openaccessjournals.siftdesk.org/articles/pdf/Antianxiety-and-anti-depressant-effects-of-Maca20190528011420.pdf

7. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2020/fo/c9fo02732g

8. https://vincerainstitute.com/why-vincera/news-articles/superfood-of-the-day-maca-powder#:~:text=Maca%20has%20an%20extensive%20and,including%207%20essential%20amino%20acids.

9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874105000759