Maca Lepidium peruvianum (or Lepidium meyerii Walpers) is a biennial plant or perennial belonging to the Brassicaceae family. years it has been used by the Andean people for food and medicinal purposes.Once it grew throughout the Andes, now it is grown mainly in some parts of Peru at high altitudes (up to 4500 m above sea level), because it is resistant to low temperatures and strong winds .It is also used in North, Central and South America.
Lepidium peruvianum plants form a turnip-like storage root, 2-8 cm in diameter, white, yellow, white-yellow, white-pink, purple, gray, red, purple or black. The roots of this plant are their main edible part.Leaves and reduced side stems form a small, several centimeters rosette. Maca flowers are small, creamy white, and the fruit, like in other cabbage leaves, is a shell 4-5 mm long. Its seeds are tiny - the weight of a thousand seeds is only 0.6 g.
Maca is grown from sowing seeds as an annual plant, and the collection of roots is carried out 6-9 months after sowing. It germinates after 4 days at a substrate temperature of 18 ° C. It responds well to organic fertilization.Fresh maca roots contain approx. 80% water, and the dry matter consists mainly of carbohydrates (25-68%), proteins (10-13%) and approx. 8.5% fiber, 2% fat, and about 5% of minerals.Maca contains high levels of calcium, iron, copper, zinc, potassium and iodine, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C and E. Sterols contained in the roots and glucosinolates and mustard oils have a positive effect on human he alth.
Maca acts as a natural aphrodisiac, increases libido and improves general well-being, it is also used in the treatment of impotence. It is used in the treatment of diabetes, breast cancer and melanoma, and supports the treatment of heart diseases and rheumatoid arthritis.It has a positive effect on increasing energy, vitality and endurance, reducing chronic fatigue, because it also stimulates the immune system. Stimulates and regulates the endocrine system, including the adrenal glands, thyroid gland and testicles.
For soups, porridge, cakes and bread
Dried maca roots can be stored for several years without losing their healing and nutritional properties. Currently they are used mainly in powdered form, but as a vegetable plant they are stewed, boiled or baked. They are made into soups, added to oatmeal, but also boiled and dried to be used as an addition to baking bread, cakes or pancakes.The flour obtained from the flour is also used for this purpose. In some regions it is used in the production of beer.
The useful part of matzo can also be fresh leaves used in salads or boiled.Nowadays, maca is more and more often available in the form of extracts or powdered extract, used as a dietary supplement.However, it should be purchased from a reliable source, as raw maca flour can cause gastric problems. The maca roots and flour obtained from them may only be eaten after heat treatment.
