Spicing up your diet with maca may provide you with surprising maca benefits you never dreamed existed. Whether you choose to cook maca root, add maca powder to foods, take maca supplements, or apply maca topically to your skin, the maca benefits are (nearly) endless.
Sign up for the newsletter for more wellness tips and tricks.
What is Maca?
Maca, or maca root, is a vegetable native to the Andes in Peru, and is similar to radishes and turnips. Depending on the type and color of maca you choose, it may taste nutty, sweet like butterscotch, or slightly bitter. Common types of maca include black, yellow, and red maca varieties. Maca is also available in powder, tablet, and capsule form. So there are many ways to get your maca fix!
1. Nutritional Benefits of Maca
Packed with nutrients, maca mainly consists of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and a little bit of protein. Maca powder, which is the form of maca many people use, is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, iron, iodine, and B vitamins1.
2. A Better Sex Life
Getting a daily dose of maca may help improve your sex life. Evidence shows maca can improve libido and fertility in men and women. A 2022 study found that maca root is an effective treatment for a range of sexual conditions, including sexual dysfunction, semen quality, and menopausal symptoms2.
3. Hormone Balance in Women
Maca supplements may help women balance hormone levels, according to the same study as above2. The authors point out that early post-menopausal women who took maca daily showed improvements in hormone levels and reductions in menopausal symptoms, like night sweats and hot flashes.
4. Anti-Aging Perks
Maca may even help you look younger. Using maca topically appears to help protect skin against ultraviolet radiation. A study in 2025 found that maca has numerous natural pharmacological effects, including anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-tumor properties, and blood sugar reduction3. Maca-based skincare products are widely available.
5. It May Make You Smarter
Maca, especially black maca, shows promise for improving memory and learning, according to the 2016 review. Authors of this review say maca is beneficial for learning and memory in middle-aged mice, and that central Peruvian natives use maca to improve school performance in kids4.
6. Energizing, Mood-Enhancing, and Stress-Reducing Perks
Maca may help boost your mood and leave you feeling energized. A 2022 study found that maca has strong antioxidant and energy metabolism-improving qualities. The study investigated how the root improved pathological changes, reduced oxidative stress, and increased the levels of energy metabolism-related enzymes5.
7. Osteoarthritis Relief
If you suffer from osteoarthritis, maca may be just what the doctor ordered. Maca may help relieve pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. A study found that maca contains N-benzyl-palmitamide, which is an active constituent of maca that helps prevent osteoporosis6. For medical help on dosages, it’s important to visit your doctor before adding maca to your diet.
Maca Health Risks?
If you’re thinking about taking maca supplements or adding maca powder to foods or smoothies, always chat with your doctor first, especially if you’re taking blood-thinning medications. Maca may counteract such medications. Cleveland Clinic notes that maca can cause bloating and gas, and suggests patients with autoimmune disorders avoid maca.
The Easiest Healthy Hot Chocolate With Superfoods Reishi, Maca, and Raw Cacao
A Coconut Butter and Maca Steamer to Beat Away the Winter Blues
Research
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10892513/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031322001075
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833525001467
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5018343/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9608999/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996915300739
