Maca Mango Smoothie for Natural Hormone Balance

Originally published at kindearth.net and reproduced here with permission

I must confess… maca has been one of those foods that have made a big difference in my life. I swear by the stuff! I am super sensitive to the hormonal shifts in my body, feeling every nuance of these ebbs and flows.

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I also pop into ‘fight or flight’ mode easily – it’s just the way I’m made. I feel overwhelmed in crowds. I feel everyone’s stuff. My ‘time of the month’ always used to feel like a plunge into the fiery depths.

Don’t get me wrong here, I am actually a pretty calm person (in general) – largely due to the fact that I have learned to find my centre, to stay present, grounded and spend a lot of time on my own. My lifestyle is rather conducive to being calm and relaxed – that’s the way I’ve created it (out of necessity). Hormone balance is something I have to constantly stay on top of though. I guess I am just wired with a super sensitive system.

Natives from Peru have used maca for centuries

Maca changed everything for me. Not only does it help with the obvious hormonal things, it supports me with stressful situations, where my fight or flight mode has a tendency to go into total overdrive. Natives from the mountains of Peru, have actually used this plant to counteract hormonal issues (including menopausal and post menopause symptoms) for centuries.

Maca for all-around hormone support for everyone

Sexual and reproductive health and libido are usually the first things that spring to mind when we think of hormones – all of which are greatly supported by maca – however, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Hormones are in fact chemical messengers that tell our cells what they need to do, regulating the balance of our entire body. Hormone function includes digestion control, sleep regulation, brain development, mood, heart behaviour, blood pressure, fat metabolism, skin health, mental health, immune system, reproductive health, sexual health, bone maintenance. Hormones also manage our fight or flight response, induce calm, and control the rate at which we age. Maca’s powerful ability to balance hormones make it one incredible plant-food to include in your daily life.

Personally speaking, it’s the best I’ve ever found.

There is a lot to contend – for all of us – within our unnatural world of unnatural everything, chemicals all over the place, distractions, demands chaos. The stress is on us all!

I eat gelatinised maca every day for my hormone health

I include maca in my diet every day for maintenance purposes. A heaped teaspoon, usually in a smoothie usually does the trick. Whilst going through challenging timesin life, if I miss it out for more than a week in a row, I notice a difference in myself too.

I use gelatinised maca powder because it is more concentrated and easier to digest than raw maca and much closer to the form that native peoples would consume it.

You can read my in-depth article about maca for lots more information on it (including the difference between raw & gelatinised and maca’s ethics, history etc.) here: All about maca and it’s amazing benefits

Anyway, I think it’s time for a maca smoothie!

With many different smoothie blends that we can make, today I am sharing one of my favourites. I also include flaxseed, tahini, ginger and mangoes in this one – which are all full of nutrients that help to regulate hormones.

This recipe is delicious, nutritious. Drinking this sort of thing daily, coupled with a healthy, plant-based diet, can really help with hormone balance.

Maca Mango Smoothie for Natural Hormone Balance

yield: 1 GLASS

prep time: 2 MINUTES

total time: 2 MINUTES

A super healthy maca and mango smoothie to help balance the hormones naturally. Using helpful ingredients like flaxseed and tahini too.

Ingredients

200g frozen mango
1 ripe banana
1 heaped teaspoon maca powder
1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds
1 tablespoon tahini
150ml plant-based milk (or water)
1 teaspoon ginger (optional)

Instructions

Finely grate the ginger if you are opting to use it.
You can also use fresh mango for this, although you might want to leave out a little of the liquid if you are choosing not to use frozen (frozen keeps the smoothie thick).
Put all of the ingredients into a blender.
Stop and scrape down the sides if necessary.
Blend until creamy smooth.
Enjoy immediately.

Where to get your Maca Root Powder from?

Your health is important, so be sure to buy

Certified organic
GMO free
Peruvian Maca

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for inferior products for convenience, but it’s not worth it. You would probably only use between a teaspoon and tablespoon every day. Therefore a 500g (1lb) packet could last you up to three months. A small price to pay for such healthful properties.

I only recommend products that I have used, tried and tested myself. The following two companies both have excellent ethical standards and I’ve been in touch with them personally. Here are my suggestions…

UK and Europe

My favourite company in the UK is Sevenhills Wholefoods. They sell the maca that I use almost all of the time. Sevenhills are very much in contact with their farmers, and are proud of the direct-supply line they have established, with ethics, fairtrade, organic and sustainability as priorities. Their price is very good value.

Check it out here:

Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Gelatinised Maca Powder 500g

North America

My favourite brand the USA is now Terrasoul. I was looking for an alternative to the Sevenhills one that I use, for my mother who lives out there. The grown it with small family-owned, organic farms high in the Peruvian Andes and selectively harvest their roots. I’ve used this when I visit the USA and love it

Check it out here:
Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Gelatinised Maca Powder

About the author:

Plant-based workshop leader, retreat chef, recipe developer and life coach Anastasia was born in England and is currently nomadic. After a profound spiritual awakening in 1995, she recognised that all things are deeply connected and adopted a lifestyle of compassion and respect for all sentient beings. With a deep affinity with Mother Earth she founded KindEarth.net a space dedicated to compassionate, heart-centred living, plant-based recipes, meditation and reconnection with nature. Having enjoyed a vegan diet for over 24 years, she has experienced optimal health along the way, publishing several cook books and developing a plethora of original high vibe recipes. Anastasia invites us all to rise up from our deepest depths, to honour our true calling and is always delighted to hear from others who resonate on this journey back to a higher paradigm of love and respect.