Maca Root

Helps the Body Manage Stress
Maca is an adaptogenic herb, and something all adaptogens have in common is that they can help the body manage environmental stress, explains Dr. Shah. “Adaptogens have long been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, but they’re experiencing a renaissance [in the West],” she says.
What adaptogens may do (maca included) is help stimulate the body’s stress protection system by balancing the body’s hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, according to Dr. Shah. The HPA axis is responsible for how the central nervous system and hormone systems respond to stress. When we feel stressed, cortisol levels go up.

May Help With Depression
A 2014 study of mice found a link between consuming maca for six weeks and increased dopamine levels, leading to reduced feelings of depression[2]. Registered naturopathic doctor Cassie Wilder, N.D., says this connection is likely due to maca’s adaptogenic nature. “When people are more resilient to stress and are better able to handle day-to-day stressors, their mood gets better,” she says. So if you’re constantly feeling like you’re “on edge,” regularly consuming maca could potentially help—although more human studies need to be done to confirm the connection between maca and mood.

May Lead to Increased Energy
One common reason people consume maca is for a caffeine-free energy boost. “While scientific studies haven’t been able to show exactly how maca boosts energy in the body, it does seem to have energy-producing effects in some people,” says Dr. Koffler.
May Help With Symptoms of Perimenopause and Menopause
Dr. Wilder recommends maca most often to women in perimenopause or menopause. “What scientific literature shows is that maca supports the body during this stage of life without changing estrogen levels,” she says.

Benefits Your Bones
The same study that showed a connection between maca and reduced menopause symptoms also revealed that participants had increased bone density after consuming maca.
May Boost Libido
All four experts say boosting libido is one of maca’s most well-known properties, a connection established by numerous scientific studies[6]. “Maca has been said to have aphrodisiac properties and, again, this is without changing hormone levels,” says Dr. Wilder, adding that this response could be related to maca’s link to lowering stress, helping with mood and a subtle energy boost.

May Help With Male Fertility
Here’s a maca benefit specifically for men: Dr. Koffler says consuming maca is connected to producing a higher sperm count. “Men are constantly producing new sperm, so this is particularly noteworthy in terms of fertility,” she says. Adding to this importance is the fact that infertility cases stem just as much from male infertility issues as they do from women infertility issues.