Maca Powder for Hormonal Imbalance

by Vorst Canada November 15, 2021

maca powder for hormonal imbalance

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Hormonal imbalance is one of the most common factors that disrupt optimal health and wellness, especially in women. In recent years, people are more aware than before and seeking ways to balance their hormone levels naturally to avoid the unpleasant adverse effects of conventional drugs.

Since there’re numerous wonderful dietary supplements for treating hormonal imbalances, it’s necessarily not possible to mention them all. Maca powder is one of the most sought-after dietary supplements that has been used to treat a wide range of hormonal issues.

In this article, we’ll explore how maca powder can help with hormonal imbalances in different stages of life. But, before we get started with maca powder, it’s worth knowing the basics of hormonal imbalances a little bit more.

Table of contents

What are hormonal imbalances
Types of hormone imbalances and their symptoms
What is maca?
How can maca help with hormonal imbalances
How to use maca for balancing hormones
Precautions and side effects
Final words

What are hormonal imbalances?

Hormones are chemicals that are secreted by endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream conveying messages to the tissues and organs what to do and when to do it. They are vital for regulating major bodily functions including metabolism, heart rate, growth and development, reproductive cycles, and many more. Hormonal imbalances are conditions when there are too high or too low levels of any hormone in the bloodstream.

Since hormones have a key role in major bodily functions, even small hormonal imbalances may cause serious disturbances throughout the body.

Types of hormonal imbalances and their symptoms

There’re many different hormonal imbalances that may occur in both men and women. While some hormonal imbalances are quite obvious in different stages of life, others may occur when the endocrine glands do not function properly.

Here’re some common hormone imbalances we need to be aware of:

Estrogen dominance – This is one of the most common reasons for hormonal imbalance that occurs while estrogen levels are too high compared to progesterone levels. This condition can happen in mainly 3 ways - elevated estrogen levels, depressed progesterone levels, or a combination of both.

Symptoms of estrogen dominance may include irregular period cycles, tender breasts, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), acne, anxiety, breast cysts, fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty conceiving.

Low estrogen – This is quite common for peri and post-menopausal women. Symptoms may include vaginal dryness, night sweats, joint and muscle pain, hot flashes, low sex drive, brittle bone, and brain fog.

Elevated progesterone – Though not as common as estrogen dominance, this condition is still possible, especially in an inappropriate dosed hormone replacement therapy. It may also occur in certain congenital diseases, tumors, and ovarian cysts.

Though symptoms of elevated progesterone are very sensitive to the root cause, but may include frequent changes of mood, sleepiness, grogginess, and bloating.

Elevated testosterone – This is often found in hirsutism, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and inappropriate dosed hormone replacement therapy.

Symptoms may include irregular periods, acne, irritation, and unwanted hair growth on certain places such as the chin.

Low testosterone – This can be seen in issues related to adrenal glands and ovaries. It is also a part of aging and is commonly seen in peri and post-menopause stages.

Symptoms may include depressed mood, weakness, fatigue, and low libido.

Other hormonal imbalances – Adrenal and thyroid function can be affected by changes in female hormone health. Conversely, female hormone health can be affected by issues of adrenal and thyroid glands.

What is Maca?

Maca, botanically known as Lepidium meyenii, is an herbaceous root plant endemic to Peru, making its nickname “Peruvian Ginseng”.

This medicinal herb has been used for centuries among Peruvians for its energy-boosting properties. Traditionally, it was eaten raw, boiled, and cooked and used as a staple food in Peru.

Maca is considered a natural superfood as it is packed with many essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. It is a wonderful source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, around 20 vital fatty acids, 6 sterols, lipids, good carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and amino acids.

How maca can help with hormonal imbalances

Maca is widely used in traditional medicine and is often suggested to women who are looking for natural ways to correct hormonal imbalance.

Maca has been extensively researched for over a half-century and substantiated its ability to balance the endocrine and nervous system.

Maca has been found effective to balance hormone levels in both men as well as women regardless of their age. It stimulates the pituitary and hypothalamus gland and thus, indirectly manages the overall hormone secretion in the body.

How to use maca for balancing hormones

The actual dose of maca powder may vary depending on the types of hormone imbalance. In general, 500 mg of maca supplement can be taken 2 to 3 times a day. More than 1500 mg is considered an overdose and may cause overstimulation. Always ask your healthcare practitioner before taking a maca supplement.

Precautions and side effects

Maca root is usually considered safe, gentle, and well-tolerated for most people. Side effects such as rapid heartbeats, increased anxiety, and sweating is reported mostly as a result of overdose.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid maca. People with impaired thyroid functions should consult their physicians prior to using maca. In addition, people who have hormone-sensitive conditions such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or breast tumor should also avoid maca supplements.

Like with all supplements, check with your physician prior to using a maca supplement so that he or she can analyze whether maca is right for you.

Final words

Maca has been used for centuries in different traditional and folk medicines for treating numerous health issues including hormonal imbalance. It’s also popular among healthy adults for its energy-boosting properties especially for workout and sports performance. But, since maca may impact hormonal levels, always check with your healthcare provider before taking maca especially if you’re taking any prescribed medication.

Check out Vorst’s Maca 500 mg Vegan Tablets

Also, check out Vorst’s Pre Workout Supplement Performance for Men which contains maca powder extract as an important ingredient.

Disclaimer – This article is created only for general educational purposes, thus, cannot be used to replace any prescribed medical advice.

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