Treat Osteoporosis with Maca

Osteoporosis, a condition where the bones lose their density, is brought about by the disruption of the cohesion of the bones. It is a symptom of the aging process. As we grow past our 30s, the creation of new bone becomes slower. The calcium content in our bodies leaches and the bones become brittle and weak.

In layman’s terms, osteoporosis means the bones become weak and porous and more prone to injury. With women, this condition is brought about by menopause. Taking calcium supplements cannot completely correct this condition because without the presence of silica, we cannot absorb calcium. In fact there are medical experts that say isolated calcium supplements actually increases the leaching of the calcium in our bones.

Usual Treatment for Osteoporosis
Doctors usually recommend HRT or hormonal replacement therapy. This will induce the increased production of oestrogen to slow down the bones’ aging process. However, its effectiveness in producing these extra hormones have serious side effect. It adversely affects the other organs and increases the risk of uterus and breast cancer.

Maca Was Used For Treatment of Disease By The Incas
Thankfully, we now have a more advantageous and effective treatment against osteoporosis. It is maca, an all natural product derived from the maca root plant that originates in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia. The maca root plant has been used for hundreds of years by the ancient Incas of Peru for treating their disease and enhancing their sexual function, as well as their fertility.

Where Maca Comes From
This root plant is indigenous to the mountain regions of Peru and Bolivia. It is the only plant that can survive in the inhospitable climate in these mountains. The special combination of these inhospitable weather conditions and the special minerals in these places are believed to be the reasons for maca’s many potent substances.

Maca’s Chemical Substances That Can Treat Osteoporosis
Maca’s chemical substances are very effective in the treatment of osteoporosis as, some studies and research have shown. There are about 31 minerals in this product, One of the most important minerals in maca that can treat osteoporosis is calcium.

In about one hundred grams of maca, there are about 350 to 500 milligrams of calcium. This is larger than the quantity of calcium in milk. Calcium is an essential element in the formation of the skeleton and teeth and is important for the efficient functioning of the heart and kidneys.

Other Chemical Substances in Maca That Can Improve Your Health
If you have a healthy immune system you will be able to ward off all types of disease, including osteoporosis. There are also other chemical compounds that are present in maca in significant amounts that can help build up your health.

Chemical analysis of maca has confirmed that it contains glucosinates, which can enhance fertility. There are also proteins such as polypeptides, which make up about 11 percent of its chemical composition. Magnesium and potassium are present in considerable amounts. Other minerals include silica, iron, manganeses, sodium, copper, zinc and traces of iodine.

The vitamin contents of maca include ascorbic acid, thiamine and riboflavine. There are also amino acids and proteins in maca, including serine, cystine, tyrosins, alanine, valine, arginine, sarcosine, lysine, hoproline, methionine, praline, isoleucine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

Positive Results Using Maca for Osteoporosis
There are several medical professionals who have experienced positive results when maca was used in osteoporosis treatments. Dr. Jorge Aquila Calderon, an internist in Lima, Peru said: “Maca has a lot of easily absorbable calcium in it, plus magnesium, and a fair amount of silica, which we are finding very useful in treating decalcification of bones in children and adults.”

A group of medical researchers from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, led by Carla Gonzales, studied the effects of this root plant on human bones. By using maca, they found a way to repair damaged bones caused by osteoporosis and bring them back to a healthy state. The team is now determining how maca will affect other oestrogen-related organs like the uterus and the breasts. They even predicted that maca will replace conventional osteoporosis treatments around the world in a matter of years.

The first scientific study on the effects of maca on osteoporosis was done by Chinese scientist Yong-zhong Zhang in 2006. He induced osteoporosis on 30 lab rats to compare the effects of maca against the synthetic hormone replacement treatment estradiol. Half of the rats were given estradiol while half was treated with maca.

The rats treated with maca developed an unbelievable ability for bone regeneration, far better than the rats treated with the synthetic estradiol. His report stated: “With estadiol the pores in the bone shrunk and the effects of osteoporosis diminished. With maca, the same happened, but on a far greater scale. But the biggest benefit is that the weaving of the bone is not damaged like it is with hormone replacement. What’s more, maca is far less expensive.”

The Power of Maca For Improving Overall Health
Maca is effective in improving general health and treating many types of disease, because of its high concentration of beneficial substances. More than an alternative medicine, it is actually a high quality food, consisting of 60% - 75% carbohydrates, 10% - 14% proteins, 8.5% fibers and 2% lipids. The amino acids are mainly the carbohydrate contents of maca. These amino acids regulate and enhance fertility for both men and women.

The best maca root plant grows in soils rich in minerals in the mountain regions of Peru and Bolivia. That is the reason why it contains significant amounts of calcium, silica and all the other minerals mentioned previously.

The Benefits of Maca
Aside from being an effective treatment for osteoporosis, you can also use maca to get the following benefits:

• You can use it treat chronic fatigue syndrome
• Menopausal women can use it to alleviate PMS symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, tender breasts, emotional stress
• You can also use it to enhance your energy and increase your stamina for physical activities
• Both men and women can use it to treat their infertility

A Word of Caution
Osteoporosis, if not properly treated, can lead to serious physical disability and can even shorten life. Although there are studies that show maca can treat this condition, you should only use it under the guidance and supervision of a professional medical practitioner.