There are many supplements that claim to boost testosterone levels in men, but not all of them have been proven effective in scientific studies. 

Maca root extract has been shown to increase testosterone levels and other male sex hormones in men who took the supplement over an 8-week period, according to the results of a new study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR). 

Whether you’re concerned about building muscle mass or feeling more energetic, read on to find out how Maca can benefit your health and fitness goals.

What Is Maca Root?

One of those root vegetables that would probably get you kicked out of a fancy restaurant, Maca is a nutritional powerhouse that can easily be incorporated into your diet. 

In fact, with its combination of vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium it’s sometimes considered a superfood. 

It can also help boost testosterone levels in men. 

And while we don’t know exactly why that is, there are some interesting theories floating around out there. 

For example, one study showed that Maca could increase sperm count by more than 30 percent over a 12-week period. 

Another study showed that rats fed Maca had increased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is an important hormone involved in stimulating sex hormones like testosterone. 

So what does all of this mean? 

Well, it means that if you want to boost your testosterone levels naturally then adding some Maca to your diet might not be such a bad idea. But before you start popping too many pills or buying every supplement under the sun make sure to read up on how much (and how often) should take and where to buy quality supplements. 

There’s no point risking long-term health problems because you were too eager to see results fast!

How Maca Works

According to a 2011 study published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, men supplementing with maca reported a 12.5 percent increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), which can help stimulate testosterone production, and a 26.7 percent boost in testosterone levels-quite an impressive jump from baseline. 

Another study found that erectile dysfunction sufferers who were supplemented with maca had significant improvement in overall sexual function. 

With animal studies demonstrating reductions in stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, it seems there may be several mechanisms by which maca could improve mood and potentially treat some cases of depression. 

While more research is needed to assess its potential as an anti-depressant, it’s currently used as such by many Andean indigenous communities. In addition to these effects, maca has also been shown to have positive effects on bone density and endurance exercise performance. 

In one study, participants taking maca extract experienced significant increases in their aerobic capacity and oxygen consumption when compared to the placebo group. It’s important to note that while these are very promising results, they are preliminary; further human trials need to be conducted before any conclusions can be drawn about how effective maca really is at improving athletic performance or preventing bone loss. 

Still, there is plenty of reasons for athletes interested in boosting their performance or recovering faster from intense training sessions to keep an eye out for future studies involving maca supplementation.

Benefits of Maca

Maca has been studied as a testosterone booster, and its effects have been found to be comparable to steroids. Men in Peru began using maca in order to improve their sex drive and increase muscle mass. They were successful, but not because they were taking something illicit instead, they were using macada (the Lepidium meyenii) root, also known as maca. 

In one study performed at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, researchers found that long-term administration of macadamia increased libido, sperm count, and motility, increased lean body mass, and improved sense of well-being. 

The dosage was 12g per day over three months. It’s important to note that macadamia is an adaptogen, meaning it increases strength when under stress and decreases strength when there is no stress. 

This means that if you take it regularly, you will see no results until you stop taking it. You can take it every day or only when needed; either way works fine. If you are looking for a boost in your workout performance then I would recommend taking it before workouts only so your body can become accustomed to working out with higher levels of testosterone in your system. 

Taking too much will make your workout suffer due to decreased energy levels from having too many natural test-boosting chemicals in your system all day long!

Side Effects

When you first start using maca, some people experience minor side effects. These include headaches, stomach cramps, and nausea; a few men have reported that their sexual function decreased after taking maca. To avoid these problems, don’t take maca within an hour before bedtime. If your side effects are severe or long-lasting, stop taking maca immediately and talk to your doctor. 

Some medications interact poorly with maca, so let your doctor know if you’re using any prescription drugs. As always with herbal remedies, it’s smart to seek advice from a qualified healthcare provider if you suspect that something is wrong with your body or health and there may be other factors involved in what’s happening than just what you’re taking. 

Be aware that, unlike many other natural supplements, very little research has been done on maca. Because of its popularity as a supplement and because it contains phytochemicals (natural chemicals found in plants), more research needs to be done on its potential risks. 

Make sure you read labels carefully when buying supplements containing maca root powder; many manufacturers add sugar or sweeteners like dextrose or maltodextrin as filler ingredients.

How Much and When to Take It?

Different studies have shown that maca can be taken in doses ranging from 1,000 mg to 6,000 mg. The effectiveness is increased when it’s used with fenugreek seeds, a plant extract with similar effects.

For best results, most people recommend taking 2-4 g of maca powder daily with water or another liquid like juice preferably in the morning.

Final Words

A study published in Phytotherapy Research showed that supplementing with MACA, a herb commonly found in South America could help boost testosterone levels in men. 

If you’re looking to build lean muscle and want to boost your testosterone levels, consider adding maca to your diet. (But be careful-supplementation may not be necessary if you already get plenty of vitamin C.)