InkaMaca Organic Yellow Maca Powder | Lepidium meyenii | Traditional Andean Adaptogen | 300g

Each tablespoon (3g) delivers whole organic maca hypocotyl powder (Lepidium meyenii Walp., Brassicaceae) from the high altitude Peruvian Andes, the only region in the world where maca grows naturally and has been cultivated as a food and medicinal plant for approximately 2,000 years. Used in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen to help temporarily relieve symptoms of stress such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness. Used in Herbal Medicine to help enhance energy and resilience to stress. Health Canada approved (NPN 80062479). Certified organic. Third party tested. Non GMO. Free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn. 300g (approximately 100 servings at 1 tablespoon per day).

Key Features

• Used in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen to help temporarily relieve symptoms of stress such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness
• Used in Herbal Medicine to help enhance energy and resilience to stress
• 3g organic maca hypocotyl powder per tablespoon (Lepidium meyenii)
• Yellow maca: the most abundant and most studied maca variety
• Whole hypocotyl powder: the traditional food and medicine part of the maca plant
• Grown at 4,000 to 4,500m altitude in the Peruvian Andes
• Certified organic and third party tested
• Pure maca powder: no additives, no fillers
• Versatile powder: add to smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, or baked goods
• 300g (approximately 100 servings at 1 tablespoon per day)
• Health Canada approved (NPN 80062479)
• Non GMO
• Free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn
• Vegan and vegetarian suitable

What Is Maca?

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) is a biennial plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family, the same plant family as broccoli, cabbage, kale, radish, and mustard. It is native to the high altitude plateaus of the Peruvian Andes, where it grows at elevations of 4,000 to 4,500 metres above sea level in the Junin and Pasco regions of Peru. At these altitudes, maca is exposed to extreme conditions including intense UV radiation, freezing temperatures, strong winds, and thin air, making it one of the highest altitude food crops cultivated anywhere in the world.

The Hypocotyl: The part of the maca plant used in this formula is the hypocotyl, the swollen underground stem that is the edible and medicinally active part of the plant. The maca hypocotyl resembles a small turnip or radish and is the part that has been consumed as food and medicine by Andean peoples for approximately 2,000 years. In Peru, the hypocotyl is traditionally dried and then boiled or roasted before consumption, as raw maca contains starch that can be difficult to digest. The dried hypocotyl is ground into the powder used in this formula.

Yellow Maca: Maca hypocotyls are classified by colour into yellow, red, and black varieties, each with a slightly different phytochemical profile. Yellow maca is by far the most abundant, comprising approximately 60% of the total Peruvian maca harvest. It is also the most extensively studied variety in the scientific literature and the variety with the longest history of traditional use. This formula uses yellow maca, the reference variety for maca research and traditional use.

Traditional Use: Maca has been cultivated in the Peruvian Andes for approximately 2,000 years and was a valued food and trade commodity of the Inca civilization. Andean peoples consumed maca as a staple food for its nutritional density and as a traditional tonic for vitality and resilience in the demanding high altitude environment. Spanish colonial records from the 16th century document maca's cultivation and use in the Andean highlands.

Maca's Bioactive Compounds

Maca's bioactive profile includes compounds shared with other Brassicaceae as well as compounds unique to maca that are not found in any other plant.

Glucosinolates and Isothiocyanates: As a member of the Brassicaceae family, maca contains glucosinolates, sulfur containing secondary metabolites found throughout the crucifer family. Glucosinolates are hydrolyzed by the enzyme myrosinase (released when plant cells are damaged) to produce isothiocyanates, the biologically active compounds responsible for the characteristic pungent flavour of cruciferous vegetables. The primary glucosinolates in maca are glucotropaeolin and m-methoxyglucotropaeolin, which are hydrolyzed to benzyl isothiocyanate and methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate respectively.

Macamides and Macaenes: The most distinctive bioactive compounds in maca are macamides and macaenes, a group of benzylated fatty acids and their amides that are unique to Lepidium meyenii and are not found in any other plant. Macamides are N-benzyl fatty acid amides, and macaenes are their corresponding fatty acid precursors. These compounds are found exclusively in the maca hypocotyl and are considered the primary marker compounds for maca quality and potency. Macamides and macaenes are the compounds most associated with maca's traditional tonic and energy supporting properties and are the focus of much of the current scientific research on maca.

Alkaloids: Maca contains a group of imidazole alkaloids called macaridine and lepidiline A and B, which are also unique to Lepidium meyenii. These alkaloids contribute to maca's distinctive bioactive profile.

Nutritional Composition: Beyond its specific bioactive compounds, maca hypocotyl powder is nutritionally dense. Dried maca powder contains approximately 10 to 14% protein (with a relatively complete amino acid profile), 60 to 75% carbohydrates, 8 to 9% dietary fibre, and significant amounts of minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, and zinc. This nutritional density contributed to maca's role as a staple food in the high altitude Andean diet.

The Adaptogen Framework

Health Canada has approved this product (NPN 80062479) for use in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen. The adaptogen concept describes tonic herbs that support the body's ability to maintain balance and resilience under conditions of physical and mental stress, helping to temporarily relieve symptoms of stress such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness and to enhance energy and resilience to stress.

Maca's traditional use in the high altitude Andean environment, where indigenous peoples relied on it to support vitality and resilience under extreme physical conditions, is consistent with the adaptogen framework. The macamides and macaenes unique to maca are the primary compounds associated with its energy and stress resilience properties.

Flavour and How to Use

Maca powder has a distinctive flavour profile that is earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet with a subtle butterscotch or caramel note. This flavour is characteristic of maca and comes from the combination of its glucosinolates, macamides, and natural sugars. The flavour is generally well tolerated and complements many foods and beverages.

Suggested Uses:

• Blend into smoothies with banana, almond milk, or cacao
• Stir into oatmeal or porridge
• Mix into yogurt
• Add to coffee or hot chocolate
• Incorporate into energy balls, granola bars, or baked goods
• Mix into nut butter

Suggested Dose: Adults: 1 tablespoon (3g) once per day. Start with a smaller amount and increase gradually to allow the digestive system to adjust, as maca's starch content can cause mild digestive discomfort in some individuals when introduced suddenly.

Organic Certification and Third Party Testing

This maca powder is certified organic, meaning it is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, and the supply chain from farm to finished product meets organic certification standards. It is also third party tested, providing independent verification of purity and the absence of contaminants. The product is non GMO and free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn.

Understanding the Dosage

Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp., hypocotyl): 3.0g per tablespoon
Suggested Use: Adults: 1 tablespoon (3g) once per day
Container: 300g (approximately 100 servings)
Non Medicinal Ingredients: None: pure organic maca hypocotyl powder

Who May Consider This Product

• Adults seeking an herbal adaptogen to help temporarily relieve symptoms of stress such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness
• Those wanting herbal support for energy and resilience to stress
• People interested in traditional Andean tonic herbs with a 2,000 year history of use
• Those wanting a certified organic, pure maca powder with no additives
• Individuals wanting a versatile powder to add to smoothies, oatmeal, or other foods
• Vegans and vegetarians
• Those seeking a Health Canada approved, third party tested maca supplement

Quality and Purity

• Health Canada approved (NPN 80062479)
• 3g organic maca hypocotyl powder per tablespoon (Lepidium meyenii)
• Certified organic
• Third party tested
• Non GMO
• Pure maca powder: no additives, no fillers
• 300g (approximately 100 servings)
• Free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn
• Vegan and vegetarian suitable

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep container tightly sealed after each use. Use a dry spoon to avoid moisture contamination. Maca powder is hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air if left exposed.

Safety Information

Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a thyroid condition, or are taking medications. Maca belongs to the Brassicaceae family and contains glucosinolates; individuals with thyroid conditions should consult a healthcare provider before use, as glucosinolates can interfere with thyroid function at high intakes. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Keep out of reach of children.

This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80062479).

About InkaMaca Organic Yellow Maca Powder | Lepidium meyenii | Traditional Andean Adaptogen

InkaMaca Organic Yellow Maca Powder delivers 3g of whole organic maca hypocotyl (Lepidium meyenii) per tablespoon, sourced from the high altitude Peruvian Andes where maca has been cultivated as a food and tonic herb for approximately 2,000 years. Yellow maca is the most abundant and most studied maca variety, containing the unique macamides and macaenes found only in Lepidium meyenii alongside glucosinolates shared with other Brassicaceae. Health Canada approved (NPN 80062479) for use in Herbal Medicine as an adaptogen to help temporarily relieve symptoms of stress such as mental fatigue and sensation of weakness and to help enhance energy and resilience to stress. Certified organic, third party tested, non GMO, and free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, and corn. 300g (approximately 100 servings).