The menstrual cycle is an intricate balance between body, mind and
emotions. Governed by hormones and the moon - your menstrual cycle can
either be a source of great health ( helping you balance body and
emotions and acting as a compass for your life) or a source of major
discomfort and distress.
Some of the symptoms of distress and hormonal imbalance include:
- too little bleeding or too few periods,
- too much bleeding,
- short cycles,
- long cycles
- pain including PMS and menstrual cramping, headaches
- mood swings,
- depression and loss of self worth and self esteem.
These
irregularities can also contribute to other fertility problems when you
want to conceive, and can affect your ability to maintain a healthy
pregnancy. If your hormones are imbalanced then all these areas of
fertility can be affected.
Many of these problems are caused by a lack in our diet, lack of
health, too much stress and too little understanding of the way the
female body works.
Medically these irregularities are otfen treated by introducing
(often artificial) hormones into the delicate female system. These
hormones regulate your menstrual cycle by overriding your bodies
natural rhythm.
For example - when you take the Pill, these
artificial hormones effectively trick your body into thinking it is
already pregnant. (So if you are on the pill for 2 or 5 or 10 years -
your body thinks it is pregnant all that time.) So at mid-cycle when
you would normally ovulate, nothing happens. No egg is released from
your ovaries and pregnancy cannot occur. The glands that normally run
your menstrual cycle are temporarily shut down while you are on the
Pill - they do not function in the same way as they would naturally and
you do not have a normal natural menstrual cycle. You still have a
period of sorts - the correct term is "hormone withdrawal bleed" -
because when the input of artificial hormones stops (that is, when you
take the sugar pills) the uterine lining is shed. This lining is
thinner than normal, resulting in lighter bleeding.
As stated earlier the menstrual cycle isn't just about physical responses. The cycle is also a emotional and often spiritual experince if we allow it to be so. SeeUsing artificial hormones also disrupts these other cycles.
There are many natural products and superfoods that can
nutritionally support and assist your body to function optimally. Maca
Powder is one.
Some women choose to eat Maca Powder as an alternative to taking artificial hormones. What makes Maca so effective is that rather than introducing hormones from outside (whether chemical or natural) Maca nutritionally supports the glands in the body to optimal function according to the individuals unique requirements.
By taking Maca Powder your body will adjust its hormones levels naturally.
In Peru and the USA, Maca is considered beneficial for:(1)
- Energy - by balancing the endocrine system - thyroid, pituitary, pancreas and adrenal glands
"Yes
the Maca seems to work for me. I am a 54 year old Male Carpenter, twice
a day morning and night 1/4tsp . the Maca seems to have helped with my
stamina and recovery after a heavy day at work, I had not been bouncing
back. My appetite also seems to have improved as well. Cheers Chris"
- Wellbeing, vitality, emotional balance and stamina
- Change of life discomfort such as hot flushes, breast tenderness, sleeplessness, mood swings and brain fog
"Good
morning Nadia and thank you for your email. Yes I am taking the maca
powder regularly - 1 tsp each morning. I believe it is helping the hot
flushes as I am gettting them less frequently - they haven't completely
stopped, but they are definitely better. Cheers Helen"
"I use
your product daily, have between a quarter to a half teaspoon on either
my breakfast or in a small glass of water. I combine this with 1 tablet
of the 'Promensil' Brand. Before I started your product and the
Promensil I was having 18-20 hot flushes per day - rather exhausting.
With each passing week I felt my symptoms easing. You can't imagine how
wonderful it is to sleep through the night without the hot flashes. It
has done wonders for me and my general outlook on life. Your product is
worth its weight in gold. In time I want to give up the Promensil and
only use the Maca - perhaps another month or so! Regards, Colleen"
- Low Libido - Maca's aphrodisiac qualities increase sex drive and may relieve other low libido effects like decreased vaginal lubrication.
- General menstrual irregularity - it is well known that
menstrual irregularity, like short and long cycles, too little or too
much bleeding, spotting, pain etc. can stem from poor nutritional
absorption ie, Vit B6, magnesium, EFA's, which in turn upsets the
body's delicate hormonal system. As Maca is a whole food organically
grown it retains maximum nutritional value, unlike many of the foods on
the supermarket or green grocers shelf.
"Hi Nadia I find the
Maca powder good. I have PCOS and I have a period this term. The maca
powder seamed t slow the bleeding so it is not so heavy but I really
want it to stop...thankyou Joanne"
"Thankyou for your email, I am very happy with the Maca Powder. It helps keep my painful periods in check. Thanks again Terri"
- Healthy Fertility - Pregnancy demands extra nutrientsfor
a healthy baby. Unfortunately, many of today's women are overworked,
stressed and/or have a long history of taking the Birth Control Pill
find that their fertility is compromised. Eating Maca Powder can be an
affordable, excellent nutritional addition to everywomans diet.
Peruvian
women start to take maca at the age of three, then gradually include it
as a staple part of their diet. They are fertile well into later
life... "Laboratory studies of rats have found that they had improved
fertility after eating maca - females increased egg follicle
development and male increased sperm count. In Peru maca is given to
livestock to improve fertility a well as strength." From Good Medicine
Magazine Australia
Maca's nutrients affects the body at a cellular level and gives it a
chance to re-adjust. It is important to take enough, to take it
regularly, and to be patient allowing your body to re-vitalise at its
own rate. Some people notice Maca's beneficial effects within two
weeks, others might take a little longer, perhaps up to 3 months.(1)
Serving Suggestion: Start with 1/4 of a teaspoon daily increasing to
1 teaspoon daily. Mix it with water, juice, smoothies, in cereal,
yoghurt, herbal teas.
Maca Powder is an affordable nutritional supplement - a monthly supply is as little as AUD$20.00 (including postage within Australia), so it is much less than a dollar per day.
Maca Power Maca Powder is available 3 ways - 200g powder, 350g
Powder and in VegeCapsule form. It doesn't matter which form you take -
you still get pure, certified organic, non-irradiated Maca Power Maca
Powder.
If you haven't tried Maca then you need to consider your personal
tastes. Maca does have a nutty kind of flavour - some poeple like the
taste and others prefer to take it in capsule form. If you are used to
taking supplements - herbs and the like, then the powder is for you. If
you are sensitive to the way things taste then you are probably better
off with the VegeCapsules.
The beauty of Maca is that it is a whole food -
unadulterated and pure just as nature intended food to be. With this in
mind - when you buy your Maca - use these below to ensure you are getting the best quality product available
Maca Guidelines
1. Non-irradiated
2. Careful temperature control during processing/drying means nutrient preservation, lighter colour & sweeter taste
3. Australian owned
4. Free of grain contamination (exclusive milling facility)
5. Organic farming methods
6. Processed-to-order (arrives fresh milled from Peru within weeks)
7. High protein content
8. Grown in specially suited soils at required altitude in traditional growing region
(1) Universal Wellbeing Magazine 2001 Issue 85
This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for treatment by a qualified practitioner.