Have you heard that maca root causes weight gain? This so-called “superfood” is touted for its many Maca root health benefits, from balancing hormones to increasing fertility. But could Maca be padding your hips at the same time? Let’s explore the truth about maca and weight gain.
Maca Root – Overview
Maca root has exploded in popularity recently, becoming the darling of health food stores everywhere. Touted as a superfood, this Peruvian plant is said to work wonders on hormone balance, fertility, stamina, and more. But could maca have a dark side when it comes to your waistline? Could this miracle-working root actually be causing you to gain weight? Does maca root make you gain weight?
That’s the million-dollar question many maca-takers end up asking after they step on the scale. You started taking maca to balance your hormones and feel better. But now your skinny jeans are feeling a little tight and you wonder – is Maca making me fat?!
I’ve been there myself. As a long-time fan of healing foods and supplements, I added maca to my routine back when I first learned about the incredible Maca root benefits. And yes, those positive perks were as good as promised. My energy increased, my mood balanced, and I just felt healthier all around. Nice, right?
Well, my happiness was short-lived when I noticed my weight steadily increasing too. What was going on? Could my beloved Maca really be the culprit behind those extra pounds packing on?
I resolved to unravel this mystery conclusively. Is Maca responsible for weight gain or is something else going on? I evaluated the science, scoured the research, and grilled the experts.
Here’s what I uncovered about maca and weight gain.
4 Ways That Maca Can Help Weight Gain
After researching this topic extensively, I discovered maca itself does not directly cause weight gain for most people. It may even have weight loss properties according to some early research.
However, maca does its job of balancing hormones and restoring health extremely well. When our bodies come back into equilibrium, we may find we naturally settle at a higher weight than before.
For some of us, this is actually a good and welcomed change. Those struggling with hormone imbalances, overexercising, undereating, and other issues will often experience weight gain when they start taking maca. But in reality, they are just restoring themselves back to their natural, healthy weight.
If you are significantly underweight, maca can help support you in gaining weight in the following ways:
1. Increases Appetite
By improving hormone balance and energy levels, maca often kicks appetite back into normal healthy gear. You may notice you feel truly hungry more often leading you to eat more frequently.
2. Boosts Metabolism
A sluggish metabolism from long-term dieting or overexercising sabotages weight goals. Maca helps fire up your metabolic rate so your body can function optimally again.
3. Reduces Stress
Chronically high stress levels take a toll on the body in numerous ways, including suppressing appetite and weight. Maca’s adaptogenic properties help get cortisol under control leading to better stress response, appetite cues, and weight.
4. Eases Digestion
Maca acts as a prebiotic to feed healthy gut flora essential for proper digestion and metabolism. Improving digestion means you derive more usable nutrients from the same amount of food.
The Truth About Maca and Weight Gain
It should be clear maca itself does not directly increase weight or body fat. This adaptogenic superfood offers several benefits that can support healthy weight gain in underweight individuals.
Rather, maca helps restore balance within the body so you settle at your natural set point weight. For those significantly under their biological set point – due to excessive dieting, overexercising, uncontrolled stress, hormone imbalance, etc. – taking maca may lead to some initial weight gain which is a good sign.
For those looking to gain weight, learning how to use maca for healthily gaining weight involves letting go of rigid expectations, reducing exercise, and accepting your body’s natural equilibrium point.
However, for those already at a healthy body weight, maca is unlikely to cause further weight gain. It will simply help you maintain optimal energy, mood, hormone function, and well-being in your body’s happy place. When wondering how long it takes for maca root to work, it’s important to be patient as it can take weeks or months to feel the full balancing effects and settle into your ideal weight.
My Experience With Maca and Weight Gain
When I first noticed the number on the scale creeping up after starting Maca, I’ll admit I started to freak out. Had I been duped into taking a supplement that was making me fat?
You see, before beginning maca I had been caught up in the perfectionist trap of chronic dieting and overexercising for years.
I sustained a slender body by meticulously tracking calories and spending extensive hours at the gym.
Not surprisingly, I felt terrible – tired all the time, irritable, always getting sick, struggling with erratic periods, and just generally unhappy.
When I added maca to my regimen, all of those symptoms started improving right away. My energy increased, my mood balanced, and I noticed myself getting healthier. But those stubborn extra pounds also crept on despite eating the same ultra “clean” diet as before and working out just as hard.
Connecting the dots took me a while, but eventually, the light bulb came on. I had to stop fighting my body’s natural inclination to settle at a higher weight now that I was nourishing myself with maca. Once I did, everything clicked into place.
I relaxed my militant diet, cut back on exercise duration, and practiced self-care. Through this process the extra few pounds I had gained stabilized. But more importantly, I felt more peaceful and healthier than I had in years.
So was Maca to blame for my weight gain all along? No, not exactly. Rather, maca helped guide my body back to its natural equilibrium point – which included settling at a weight supporting my frame and activity levels when I nourished myself properly. Does maca root make you gain weight? Based on my experience, the answer is no.
Once I stopped fighting my body’s wisdom, I reached a place of intuitive balance where I continue thriving on Maca feeling my personal best to this day.
Key Takeaways: Does Maca Cause Weight Gain?
After taking a deep dive into the science and my own experience, here is what you need to know about maca root and potential weight gain:
- Maca itself does not directly increase weight or body fat
- Maca helps restore hormone balance and health which may influence weight settling at a natural set point
- Those significantly under set point weight may gain some pounds, which can be a positive
- People already at healthy weight unlikely to gain with maca
- Give the body time to stabilize at a happy equilibrium point with Maca’s help
So in summary, no–maca root in isolation does not cause weight gain. But accepting some extra weight may be part of your journey back to total body-mind wellness with maca’s balancing benefits.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped shed some light on the common concern of maca and potential weight gain. Does maca root make you gain weight? While maca itself does not directly increase pounds, it excels at restoring balance. For many nutritionally deprived and stressed out folks, that return to equilibrium may involve a few digits on the scale.
But rather than getting frustrated, I encourage you to embrace this newly stabilized weight as a sign your body is reaching its natural healthy set point again with Maca’s assistance. Let go of unrealistic expectations, make self-care a priority, practice patience through the process, and trust you’ll settle at your ideal weight in time.
Have your own experience with weight changes while taking Maca? Share your story in the comments to help others!
References
- Turgud FK, Narinç D. Influences of Dietary Supplementation with Maca (Lepidium meyenii) on Performance, Parameters of Growth Curve and Carcass Characteristics in Japanese Quail. Animals. 2022;12(3):318. [PMC free article]
- Wang S, Zhu F. Chemical composition and health effects of maca (Lepidium meyenii) Food Chem. 2019;288:422–43. [PubMed]
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