Maca is a plant related to the turnip, native to Peru, and is grown at high altitudes in the Andes mountains. Maca has various effects on the body from elevating mood, to boosting energy and sexual function, to enhancing cognition. Maca comes in various colours and each colour has its own unique properties, due to unique combinations of the active metabolites, macamides. At MindGain, we include black Maca powder, as this variety has been shown to have the most cognitive benefit. Macamides are structurally similar to the endogenous endocannabinoid, anandamide, and has been shown to bind to cannabinoid receptors itself as well as to prevent the break down of anandamide. In addition, other compounds present in Maca have been shown to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine.
What does this mean for you?
Maca consumption has been linked with increased energy, elevated mood, increased memory and cognition. Many of these effects are believed to be due to the activity of Maca in both the cannabinoid and acetylcholine pathways.