A previous study also concluded that for women, maca is able to successfully restore hormone balance. The researchers concluded, “Changes in hormone levels was accompanied by a substantially-reduced feeling of discomfort associated with menopause.” (10)
Many women complain of “brain fog” during menopause, which has been linked to fluctuating hormones levels (11). One study suggests that maca can improve this type of memory loss (12). Others show that maca is a potent neuroprotective agent, which makes it a potential treatment to help prevent or slow disease, and possibly, even in the case of injury, halt or at least slow, the loss of neurons (13) .
Another issue related to menopause is the increased risk of osteoporosis. One study shows that maca is able to help preserve bone mineral density while increasing bone growth and calcium levels (14).
And when it comes to the blues that are often associated with hormonal imbalances, a few studies show that maca can help reduce symptoms of depression (15, 16) .
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Maca contains a variety of plant sterols, including sitosterol, campestrol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol (17). These chemicals are essentially the equivalent of the cholesterol found your body. These sterols, however, help to form the cell membranes in plants. While there are different types of plant sterols, they all have a similar chemical structure and have been shown by researchers to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol in humans as well as combat three of the most common types of cancer.
Lowers Glucose Levels
While maca may not specifically control diabetes, a 2007 study revealed that after just two weeks, subjects who took maca experienced “significantly improved glucose tolerance, and lowered levels of glucose in their blood.” (18).
Reduces High Blood Pressure
Other benefits shown by researchers include hyperglycemia and hypertension prevention associated with Type 2 diabetes. The study reveals that maca can significantly inhibit “the hypertension relevant angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE).” (19). Thus maca may be also be useful for high blood pressure in general.
Maca for Women… And Men?
Reduces Prostate Size
Maca can be very beneficial for men as well. For example, a specific type of maca (red maca) is shown in studies to suppress prostatic growth and even reduce prostate size, which makes it a valuable tool for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a problem older men often face (20). In fact, researchers found maca may be as potent as finasteride (a popular drug used to treat BPH) in reducing prostate size.
Increases Fertility
Other studies suggest maca may also be a potential treatment for male infertility, especially if it is a result of lead exposure (21). Another study shows that maca can effectively improve sperm production and motility (22) .
Overall, maca is a highly functional food that has enormous potential for both men and women facing hormonal changes. It has been used for thousands of years and it is still one of the best natural remedies for these types of issues according to many studies.