Can a delicious smoothie recipe energize you, boost your immune system, and help balance your raging hormones? This Peruvian Maca Root Smoothie can. It is made with organic Maca powder and chia seeds that will give you an energetic boost.
Enjoy this recipe!
Make it with unsweetened almond milk (vegan) or plain kefir for tanginess and probiotic goodness.
Peruvian Smoothie with Maca Root and Chia
Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or plain Kefir if you like it tangy
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tbsp maca powder (I used The Maca Team organic premium root powder
- 1 tbsp of chia seeds
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon + sprinkling
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Turn on the blender for 2-3 minutes
- Sprinkle with ground cinnamon
Maca root is a Peruvian superfood that contains numerous benefits for good health. It’s an energizing tonic, much like coffee, but it doesn’t stress out your adrenal glands. If you’re over 50 and your hormones are out of whack make this smoothie recipe for breakfast or as a quick pick-me-up in the afternoon.
It’s an adaptogen, which is a substance that helps boost your body’s immune system and resist disease.
Here are some of the benefits of Maca powder in particular for older women
- It builds muscle (black variety)
- Increases energy
- Builds stamina
- Boosts libido (red variety)
- Helps your hair grow
- Improves skin tone
- Balances hormones during menopause (red variety)
- Helps prevent Osteoporosis
- Supports Thyroid Health
- Enhances mental focus and clarity
- Reduces depression
What exactly is Maca?
It’s a plant that originated in the Peruvian Andes and grows at altitudes of 4,000 – 14,000 feet. Its hearty roots are cultivated in rocky soil and can withstand extreme weather conditions. The indigenous natives of Peru have been consuming and growing it for hundreds of years. If you’re thinking about purchasing some, it’s important to choose Peruvian maca and avoid buying Chinese-grown products.
China has been known to produce a synthetic form of Maca that is contaminated by pollution and is low in quality. Peru banned GMOs until 2021 but the Chinese have not. Most of the Chinese seeds were smuggled illegally from Peru.
The taste of Maca is said to be a combination of nuts and butterscotch. You can take it as a supplement but why not add it directly to your food?
Have you ever used Maca root powder in a smoothie before? Please leave a comment below.
Just for the title alone I wish I could try it. But alas, I can not consume seeds of any kind. I know nothing about Maca, so this was interesting to me. I wonder if it has any potential interactions with Rx drugs.
According to WebMD: Maca is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken in amounts found in foods. Maca is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in larger amounts as medicine (up to 3 grams daily) for up to 4 months. Maca seems to be well tolerated by most people.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking maca if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Extracts from maca might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, do not use these extracts.
Thanks for the great education on Maca Root. I often hear people touting it as helpful for hormone balance. This smoothie sounds yummy!
Thanks Ellyn, It has sort of a malt like taste and can be used as a substitute for chocolate.
Thanks for this. Going to share with my husband. I am not the foodie in the family, but he is. Beth
I’ve always loved men who either cook or love food. They’re always fun. Thanks for sharing Beth.
I love everything you put in this smoothie. Sounds like a winner.
It’s really yummy! I’ve never been huge on smoothies but this one is good.
I find it amazing that there are still so many foods I’ve never heard of – this one sounds really interesting – not sure if it’s made its way Down Under yet.
Peru has some amazing superfoods because of its environment and altitude. I know you have some of your own down under and would love to know more about them too.
Thanks for the recipe. I’m gonna share this with my family. Hope it will come good.
I hope you enjoy it Alisha!