• MACA, THE ADAPTOGEN THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

    Maca has been the adaptogen superstar for many years now for both myself and my clients.
    It can help you deal with stress, anxiety, and fatigue, manage acne and menopausal symptoms, support fertility and bone density levels, look after your heart, and improve libido. You go, superstar!

    At its peak in 2016, you would see it in everything from smoothies to lattes, as an ingredient in beauty products, and in many supplements. However despite my amazing results more recently I've noticed people talking much less about.  I then decided to go on a research quest to find out the reasons why.

    Maca has fantastic health benefits for many people, but it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all type of supplement. It’s super important you work with a nutrition coach or health practitioner you trust. 

    For a start, there are 13 different types.  If you use the wrong type for you (especially if you’re a woman) it can not only not work, but in some cases be detrimental, especially in PCOS and estrogen dominance cases.  Also, product purity and quality control from seed to shelf are critical factors to ensure it is of high enough quality to truly work! 

    The Maca product I use -Femmenessence- has been amazing for me personally and as part of my practice.  Whether this becomes your go-to brand or you choose a different one, here is everything you need to know to find the right type and form for you.

    BTW, I had to use this pic of me from years ago when I visited Maca land and did the 3-day Inca Trail.  I wish I had known about it back then. An extra boost in energy going up those mountains and help to adapt to the high altitude would have been fantastic…it’s ok, the coca leaves got me through it ?

    WHAT IS MACA?

    Maca, not to be confused with matcha, is an Andean starchy root that looks like a turnip and is often called an herb.  Peruvian farmers have cultivated it for over 2,000 years, and I’m thrilled that it finally made its way to us.  Their secret is out!

    It’s also a member of the Brassica family - like broccoli and Brussels sprouts - which have shown an incredible power to help you metabolize estrogen and other hormones.  Certain types of Maca have up to 100 times the levels of key active ingredients responsible for supporting the metabolism of hormones.  This is critical to help you detox and balance your hormones.

    Research also shows different types of Maca can impact the Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal glands which in turn can impact hormone production at different levels. This is exactly what I experienced the first time I tried it and the reason I became such a big fan.

    What makes Maca so ah-mazing? Being able to grow at 13,000+ feet above sea level in the Peruvian Andes where not much else survives.

    It is the best example of what resilience looks like, a quality that has been supporting the Peruvian locals to adapt, reproduce, and thrive in such harsh conditions for thousands of years. Make it part of your daily routine and no one will be able to stop you!

    HOW MACA AND FEMMENESSENCE CHANGED MY LIFE

    A few years ago I started my transition into early menopause and all the crazy symptoms associated with it – hot flashes and night sweats every 40 minutes, mood swings, heart palpitations, weight gain, low libido, bloating, brain fog, fatigue…

    I didn’t want to be on hormone therapy so I started following a clean diet which got me 80% to where I needed to be.  To get to 100%, I tried every natural healing approach under the sun including acupuncture. 

    My acupuncturist and I spent over a year’s worth of trial and error to find the right Chinese herb formula.  We couldn’t find the one that truly did the trick and she thought it was time to try something else, Maca!!!  That’s when I was introduced to a specific combination for women, Maca-GO®, or commercially known as Femmenessence .

    In 2-3 weeks I couldn’t believe how quickly I experienced a significant improvement in my symptoms.  That, in addition to the clean diet I was on, and acupuncture when I needed it, it meant getting my life back.  I was able to finally sleep better, feel better, and be a better human for the sake of those around me

    I’ve been taking it since then. Once we reach menopause our body needs on-going hormonal support not just for symptoms but for our heart, bone, and mental health. However, the great thing is that after about 6 months when my body was in optimal balance I was able to reduce the dose to half.

    Since then I’ve done a lot of research on this Maca and its different forms and products on the market. Femmenessence has become my number one choice.  Their products are the only clinical trials to date, on any Maca combination, to demonstrate statistically significant effects on hormones in women.  Their success rate in reducing all menopausal symptoms is the highest of any natural product ever - 84%!

    INCREDIBLE, FAST, AND LONG-LASTING RESULTS

    You may have seen Maca at your health food store in the form of powder. That’s a great way to integrate it into your daily routine if you are only interested in improving your energy and don’t have any specific health conditions.  You can add it to your smoothies, oats, puddings, and soups. You’ll love it if you like its earthy and nutty flavor. 

    However, when Maca is consumed raw, for example, in smoothies, it can cause gastrointestinal issues because it’s very hard to digest in that form.  

    It is very important to only use Maca in its gelatinized form and individual servings (vs. in a big bag or jar)  Why? Because Maca’s active ingredients in this form are not very stable.  Being exposed to everyday oxygen and moisture destroys them and you don't get its full benefits.

    The way I’ve seen incredible, consistent, and quantifiable results is as the concentrated gelatinized phenotype combination by Femmenessence which is protected in capsules and oxygen and moisture barrier blister cards.

    Their Maca-GO® formula has helped my clients improve early-, peri- and post-menopausal symptoms without the need for traditional hormone therapy.  It has also boosted energy levels and reduced stress. I have even had clients with thyroid issues see improvements in their body’s own production of natural hormone levels that they have been able to reduce or even stop using exogenous thyroid hormones.

    READ: GOT HOT FLASHES? THIS IS HOW MY CLIENT ENDED THEM IN 21 DAYS

    HOW IS MACA DIFFERENT TO OTHER ADAPTOGENS?

    Adaptogens like Maca – ashwagandha, tulsi, Rhodiola, and ginseng to name a few – help you adapt to stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Maca has been traditionally compared to those and delivered results like a pro by working on your adrenals.  

    Its moment of stardom happened when research found that there were 13 phenotypes unique to Maca, some of which supported the adrenals, but others that also supported the Hypothalamus, Pituitary and other systems. 

    Those incredible phenotypes and the right combination can help you improve acne, alleviate menopausal symptoms, increase fertility and bone density, support your heart, and improve your libido.

    WANT TO GET NERDY? 13 PHENOTYPES, 3 COLORS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY  

    Each of the 13 different phenotypes in Maca is responsible for their different color, DNA, analytical profile, and most importantly, the physiological effect on your body.

    For example, in women, red Maca improves mood, promotes libido, and bone health. Black Maca has the strongest energy-promoting properties and an incredible ability to balance blood sugar levels, memory, and learning.  However, Black Maca by itself can throw a lot of women’s hormones out of balance.  

    Yellow Maca increases uterine weight and litter size without impacting fetal weight. In men, the impact is different again, which is why using the right type is so important.

    The altitude at which Maca is grown also plays an important part in how unique each type is.  Different concentration levels and phytochemical profiles will determine their unique therapeutic properties.  

    Let’s not forget about quality, which is critical for it to be effective – seed sources, soil content, organic farming strategies, and drying methods, are important considerations.

    Quality control from seed to shelf is critical too.  Maca’s active ingredients decline dramatically if they’re exposed to moisture and oxygen. Optimal product packaging is key to guarantee you get real results.

    CHOOSING THE RIGHT COMBINATION FOR YOU

    This is super important, especially if you choose to take it in the concentrated form as opposed to the powder you can get from a health store.

    Femmenessence has three different combinations to support you throughout three important phases in your life:

    MacaHarmony supports hormone balance and regulates cycles while easing painful periods, bloating, mood swings, and hormonal acne. I’ve seen important results in 1 to 2 cycles.  

    MacaPause and MacaLife have the highest success rates in published clinical trials of any post- and peri-menopausal herbal supplements in the world. I’ve seen clients experiencing results as soon as in 2 to 3 weeks and others in less than 8 weeks.

    As I always say, everybody is different though and the way each person reacts to changes in diet, supplements, and lifestyle habits is highly individual. That’s why its key to work with a nutrition coach or health practitioner you trust. 

    READY TO FEEL BETTER?

    If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms I shared here ? or you’re just transitioning to another stage in your life and want to give your body some extra love naturally, I hope you consider Maca as your loving friend.

    Reach out with any questions about which type of Maca combination is right for you.  If you’re not currently a client, I’m happy to have a 15-minute complimentary chat.  

    And if you know exactly which form to take, go directly to Femmenessence to place your order.  As a new customer, the 3-box Welcome Pack is a great choice.  You pay for 2 boxes, get 3, and shipping is free.

    I bet you won’t mistake Maca with matcha any more ;-)


    Book a 30-minute Discovery consultation and work with me to get your strategy aligned with your goals.

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