{"id":30388,"date":"2023-09-25T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/?p=30388"},"modified":"2023-09-19T12:44:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:44:39","slug":"maca-root","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/maca-root\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sleep and Health Benefits of Maca Root"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In recent times, you may have seen the term adaptogen popping up.\u00a0Adaptogens<\/a>\u00a0can help the body deal better with mental or physical stressors, says\u00a0Stacy Mobley<\/a>, licensed naturopathic doctor. They can include things like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and one that\u2019s getting more and more attention these days: maca root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maca root contains an array of vitamins, minerals, and protein, Mobley explains. That’s why this ingredient is thought to have properties that can help you relax and improve your mood. \u201cThis is how it, as an adaptogen, can help to support the body during stressful times,\u201d says Mobley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But can maca root help with sleep and other health conditions? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is maca root?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Maca root has traditionally been grown high in the Andes Mountains. It’s been utilized for centuries to increase stamina, energy, fertility, libido, and\u00a0immune function<\/a>\u00a0and can help you adapt to stress, says\u00a0Ellen Goldsmith<\/a>,\u00a0Chinese herbalist and licensed acupuncturist.\u00a0She adds that it\u2019s in the same family as familiar vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and mustard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep benefits of maca root<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might be wondering, \u201cWhat is maca root good for?\u201d When it comes to sleep, in particular, Mobley says there are a few benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, she says it can help improve mood by decreasing depression<\/a> and anxiety<\/a>, specifically due to its high antioxidant levels. In fact, Mobley even cites one study<\/a> that found that maca root can lower blood pressure<\/a> and depression in postmenopausal women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Mobley says maca root promotes relaxation, or reduces anxiety<\/a>, by \u201cmodulating cortisol<\/a>,\u201d the stress hormone. \u201cThis allows the body to decrease the need for the flight or fight feeling within the nervous system,\u201d she says. And feeling relaxed is certainly one way to fall asleep more easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, maca root can encourage increased restorative sleep<\/a>, notes Mobley. Due to maca root\u2019s adaptogenic nature, it can help decrease cortisol during the appropriate time of day so that the body and mind are more aware of the correct circadian rhythm, she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other maca root benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to potentially encouraging better sleep, maca root carries other health benefits. For instance, with its adaptogenic properties, Mobley says maca root can help support women through hormonal changes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe antioxidants in this vegetable help to give the body much-needed nutrients to decrease free radicals,\u201d she says. \u201cFree radicals tend to interfere with healing on a cellular level.\u201d Also, maca root\u00a0has been found<\/a>\u00a0to increase bone density and decrease\u00a0night sweats<\/a>, says Mobley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shares another study<\/a> in which maca root ultimately lowered blood pressure and even symptoms of depression, which can improve sleep quality and are also generally good things to reduce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also well-known that maca root can\u00a0increase libido<\/a>\u00a0in both men and women, another benefit Mobley notes. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to add maca root to your routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the benefits of maca root have piqued your interest, then you may want to add it to your regular routine. In that case, Mobley says maca root capsules may be the best way to ensure the correct dosage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would not suggest taking more than the maximum daily suggested on the supplement bottle without speaking with a healthcare professional, especially one knowledgeable about herbs,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although maca root is caffeine-free, if you’re easily stimulated or concerned about falling asleep, Mobley suggests taking it before noon. Otherwise, it can be taken at any point during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also have the option of using maca root powder. Whether you take it in capsule or powder form, the suggested daily dose is usually 1 to 3 grams, depending on the reason you’re using it. Again, this is something to talk with your doctor about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA good, sound diet, exercise, and key management of other medical conditions can amplify the effects of maca root,” adds Mobley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is there anyone who shouldn\u2019t<\/em> take maca root? Mobley says the list includes pregnant and lactating people since there isn\u2019t enough research that supports these populations taking maca root. The list also includes men and women taking hormone therapy\u2014in this case, you should inquire with or inform your healthcare provider for further direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What happens if you take maca root every day?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, the benefits and positive effects will \u201cbuild over time,\u201d says Mobley. She adds that it\u2019s best to take maca root daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does maca root do for a woman?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaca root helps to decrease perimenopause symptoms, decrease blood pressure, increase libido, decrease depressive and anxious feelings, and deal with overall life stressors better,\u201d Mobley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does maca root do for men?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaca root helps to modulate testosterone, support fertility, increase nitrous oxide (NO), which helps with erectile dysfunction, and adapt to a variety of stressors,\u201d says Mobley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does maca root increase testosterone?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Mobley, yes, maca root can help increase testosterone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain herbs can help you catch more Z’s. Check out our guide to the best herbs for sleep<\/a> to learn more. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In recent times, you may have seen the term adaptogen popping up.\u00a0Adaptogens\u00a0can help the body deal better with mental or physical stressors, says\u00a0Stacy Mobley, licensed naturopathic doctor. They can include things like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and one that\u2019s getting more and more attention these days: maca root. Maca root contains an array of vitamins, minerals, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":30390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,390],"tags":[],"coauthors":[418],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-30388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-tips"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30388"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30395,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30388\/revisions\/30395"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30388"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=30388"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=30388"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=30388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}