Maca!

Any fans? This **** really gets my motor going.

I've added it to my supps and I must say I noticed the boost in energy. I found myself singing in the car and blasting the radio which I've been generally too lethargic to do lately.

It makes me feel energetic and happy. Great for mild anxiety/stress too I've found.

I was thinking of ordering the gelatinized maca from Root of the Matter. Have you tried it?

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

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I was thinking of ordering the gelatinized maca from Root of the Matter. Have you tried it?
Yes! I bought a kilo of raw maca from them, but they sent me samples of maca monster and maca gel. The gel is my favorite by far and that is what I am going to get when I reorder. It's easier to get down, and the effects are way more pronounced, at least to me. With maca it's a YMMV thing. Some people don't feel anything from it at all. But it certainly makes a ton of difference to me when I take it. It gives me lots of energy, sex drive through the roof, but best of all are its effects on stress and anxiety. The **** makes me feel like superman. I keep a bottle of the Vitamin Shoppe brand Maca Extract around and pop 5 or 6 of them before going to the gym. Turns me into a little monster in that squat rack heh. Yeah, I know lifting 90 lbs 5x5 in the squat rack isn't impressive to most, even downright weak, but ****** doesn't weigh much more than that so to me at least, it's quite a feat.

So it is supposed to be a natural testosterone booster? Something similar to Tongkat Ali, I assume?

Many sites claim it boosts testosterone, but that's bullshit. It regulates your hormones but that's about it. It's not going to bump your test levels. Think of it like a more powerful, yet cheaper ginseng.

edit: The only thing close to that claim, is that black maca root (which is a tad more expensive, root of the matter carries it, just ask...it's like 5 more bucks per kilo) increases sperm production whereas red and yellow macas do not. I think yellow is the most common out there and likely to be what you get when you buy it.

In a nutshell, it's an adaptogenic herb like ginseng. Not a testosterone booster like Tongkat Ali, which to me has always been prohibitively expensive. If you're not taking a 50:1 extract of Tongkat (100:1 probably more like it), then you are wasting your money and effort from that I hear.

Originally Posted by javyn

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Many sites claim it boosts testosterone, but that's bullshit. It regulates your hormones but that's about it. It's not going to bump your test levels. Think of it like a more powerful, yet cheaper ginseng.

edit: The only thing close to that claim, is that black maca root (which is a tad more expensive, root of the matter carries it, just ask...it's like 5 more bucks per kilo) increases sperm production whereas red and yellow macas do not. I think yellow is the most common out there and likely to be what you get when you buy it.

Interesting. Supposedly studies show that Tongkat does indeed increase testosterone production of the body.

Originally Posted by MetroStyles

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Interesting. Supposedly studies show that Tongkat does indeed increase testosterone production of the body.

Yeah, Tongkat is the only herb that really does that. Any company that claims Maca or Tribulus is going to boost your test is flat out lying. Yeah, if you get the actual Bulgarian Tribulus, that has been shown to boost test over time, but you are going to have to seek out Bulgarian trib and pay quite a premium for it. So if you're going that route, you might as well just spend the $$$ on Tongkat anyway.

Has anyone taken Maca over extended periods of time?
Does it require cycling to remain effective?
What are short-term and long-term side effects?
By what mechanism does it increase energy?
What is the extent of a negative rebound once use is discontinued?

No negative rebounds, and it's recommended to take 5 days and rest 2. I've taken it long term and it still gives me the energy and such, but I don't get that giddy feeling and tingling chest anymore unless I cycle off of it for a bit then start again.

I don't believe it increases energy like caffeine or any other stimulant, but by regulating and normalizing hormones.

I'll say this though, don't take two adaptogens concurrently. I decided to try ginseng while I was taking my maca, and it made me feel pretty awful, like a train hit me heh.



MetroStyles said:

Interesting. Supposedly studies show that Tongkat does indeed increase testosterone production of the body. Has anyone taken maca over extended periods of time? Does it require cycling to remain effective? What are short-term and long-term side effects? By what mechanism does it increase energy? What is the extent of a negative rebound once use is discontinued?

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I really wanted to take maca as a supplement, the only problem is that it helps to increase sex drive, yes this is a problem, as my sex drive is already out of control. I'm horny all the time as it is, if taking maca increases my sex drive even more then I'm in serious trouble. Only there are many benefits to taking this superfood (listed below). If anyone knows of a good alternative to maca - one that provides many of the same benefits minus the increased sex drive please let me know.

I bought a bottle of maca capsules out of curiosity, and would like some suggestions.

I thought it'd be best to start out slow, and took two 500mg capsules - didn't feel any difference. I then tried three, and nothing. (I downed them with water and coffee, respectively.)

Should I increase it to five or six capsules, or eat/drink it in conjunction with other foods? Would pulling the capsules apart and dumping the contents in with my protein drink be better? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

1 gram of maca powder is like nothing. If you got a standardized extract that's one thing, but just maca powder encapsulated is going to require a whole lot of caps to feel any effect.

So, how much should I take in order to start feeling something?