Hello fellow steemians,
So i'm sure were all familiar with beet root and all it's health benefits. There is another root that's been causing a lot of buzz lately, especially among athletes. This one is called the "Maca root". Considered to be a natural "superfood"
This root is only grown in the high altitudes of the South American Andes, mainly in the Peruvian regions. There are 3 different types of Maca roots that I'm aware of, the yellow, red and black, each providing their own specific set of health benefits. They are usually consumed in it's powered form after being harvested and grounded down. The key benefits of maca root is it's positive effect on hormone balance, energy levels and health booster. 
Here are a ways maca root can benefit you:
1- For women, it helps with PMS, Menopause and women with PCOS.
Maca Root is well known to help with hormone balance that often contributes to improving the symptoms of PMS and Menopause. In females with PCOS, maca is believed to help by controlling estrogen levels in the body. Estrogen levels that are either too high or too low can make it difficult for a women to ovulate and become pregnant. Therefore balancing the amount of estrogen that a women produces, and in turn the amount of related progesterone produced, is very important for increasing reproductive health, fertility, and decreasing symptoms related to PCOS- like irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, and more.
2- For both men and women, maca has been known to increase libido. So ladies and gentlemen, if your couple has not been in the mood lately, add some maca to increase the mood, for maca has been known to be a potent aphrodisiac!
3- Maca can increase your energy levels, memory and mood. So folks, if you're having one of those days when your body simply isn't cooperating, instead of having an energy drink which does nothing good but make you crash after a few minutes, add some maca to your diet.
4- Maca is an anti-oxidant booster. Indeed, it not only improves your immune system and disease resistance, but it also helps balance proper levels of cholesterol in the body. Plus, it significantly improves glucose tolerance, by lowering levels of glucose in blood. This is especially important for those who need to worry about heart health and conditions like diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
5- Maca root powder is comprised of approximately 18% protein, 76.5% carbohydrates, 5% fat, and 8.5% fiber (indigestible carbohydrates). Over 20 amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids) a big reason why it's so popular among athletes!
Maca root powder should be available at your nearest organic food store. I always make sure to add it to my protein shake or cereal. It has a nutty taste so you really won't tell the difference. When buying either the red, black or yellow maca, please read the instructions to make sure it's the right one for you as each of them bring a specific set of benefits depending on what your looking for. Maca is also available in capsules but I really just prefer the powdered form.
Once again thank you for reading fellow steemians. Get yourself some maca and enjoy!