Maca has been cultivated by the native people of Peru for over 2000 years. It grows at elevations between 10,000 and 15,000 feet and thrives in the harsh conditions of the barren high plateaus of the central Andes. Maca is so nutrient-packed that Inca warriors reportedly consumed it to energize themselves for battle.

Applications:

Special maca roots with a higher content of glucosinolates are used to make MacaXtra^®, a standardized powder of 100% organic maca root with a minimum content of 0.8% glucosinolates.

The fine, free-flowing formula of MacaXtra^® comes ready to encapsulate or press into tablets. With a lightly sweet and malty flavor, it is also a popular ingredient in powdered supplements and smoothie mixes.

Maca is an adaptogen also known as Peruvian Ginseng, not because it is related but because its properties are very similar. MacaXtra^® is a natural fit for the sports functional food and drink markets and an excellent superfood addition to protein powders, energy bars and drinks, tea and coffee blends, dark chocolate, baked goods, breakfast cereals and healthy snacks.

Active Constituents:

Dried maca is rich in amino acids and lipids, and contains several secondary metabolites which are only found in the maca plant; macaridine, macaene, macamides and maca alkaloids. It is a source of glucosinolates which, when broken down, produce a variety of bioactive compounds, including isothiocyanates and indole products like indole-3-carbinol. Maca also contains a number of sterols, including beta-sitosterol, campesterol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, ergostadienol and stigmasterol, and is a good source of iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium and iodine.

History:

Maca grows in the harshest, most difficult farmlands in the world. Growing at elevations between 10,000 and 15,000 feet on the barren high plateaus of the central Andes, it withstands intense sunlight, fierce winds and sub-freezing temperatures. Surprisingly, maca thrives in these conditions.

Maca has been a staple crop of the people of the high Andes for centuries. Traditionally it was consumed cooked as a root vegetable or made to flour to produce bread and baked goods. The formidable imperial warriors of the Incan army reportedly ate Maca to fuel their legendary strength. Maca was also used as currency and later became part of the tribute paid to the Spanish conquerors.

Not so long ago, maca was placed on a list of endangered plants. Now, because of rapidly growing popularity worldwide, thousands of acres of maca are cultivated in Peru. Our MacaXtra^® is organically grown in Peru by subsistence farmers using traditional farming practices, providing them with a sustainable source of income in a region where little else grows.

MacaXtra^® is carefully processed in modern, state of the art facilities to preserve the natural nutrient and flavor profile. NP Nutra^® is pleased to offer what we consider to be the highest quality certified organic maca root powder available on the market today – MacaXtra^®.*

MacaXtra^® is a registered trademark of Nature’s Power Nutraceuticals Corp^®.