Guest post by Sharlene Styles, RHN of PURE Natural Health & Wellness

I often rave about maca in my ongoing quest to help my clients balance their hormones. Maca is a superfood food that is considered Peruvian ginseng, meaning it is a powerful adaptogen.

It is extremely helpful in boosting energy without stressing the adrenals, making it a key food to include when addressing adrenal fatigue or chronic stress. Some of the many attractions to maca are its ability to help improve focus and concentration, improve endurance, increase libido, reduce anxiety and stress, elevate moods, support low thyroid function and stabilize blood sugar.

For women, it can help with menstrual cycles, fertility, menopausal symptoms, improve bone health and muscle mass as well as help libido. For men, it helps with libido and energy levels, improves testosterone levels, improves bone and muscles mass, helps with prostate function, fertility and erectile dysfunction.

Maca’s nutty and smokey flavour may make it intimidating to use in recipes. I find it pairs well with chocolate, in sauces, in a tumeric latte or in this guacamole!

WHAT YOU NEED

1 organic avocado
1 tbsp maca powder (We stock it from Organika)
1/4 tsp sea salt
6 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 tbsp onion, chopped
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 clove organic garlic, chopped
Juice from 1 lime
1/2 cup chopped spinach (washed)
Chili pepper powder and black pepper to taste

WHAT YOU DO

• Peel and pit the avocado and mash in a bowl.
• Mix in the tomato, onion, cilantro (with or without stems), garlic, salt, maca powder, and lemon juice.
• Add chili pepper powder to taste, stir and enjoy with crudities or crackers of  your choice. I personally love this recipe with homemade plantain crisps.

Go on, give it try and share how you like to use maca best.

See Sharlene’s original post here, along with many others on her blog!