Maca Powder: Magic or Snake Oil? Plus Green Eggs and The Easiest Iced Tea Recipe—Ever!

It doesn’t take much to convince me to buy a food or drink or supplement that I’ve never tried, but something that sounds like it could be beneficial to any of my symptoms surely piques my interest. So, when blogs and forums and other sites started buzzing about maca powder, I knew I had to try it for myself.

I did some research and what intrigued me the most were claims like this:

“Scientists and doctors are now finding maca to be one of the most optimal and natural ways to balance and support endocrine health by aiding in the regulation of healthy hormone production with its adaptogenic qualities.”

Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/029101_maca_root_adaptogens.html

As someone who likely has all sorts of hormonal issues with symptoms ranging from overbearing visits from Aunt Flo to sodium-sensitivity and water retention to metabolic syndrome to insulin resistance to high blood pressure, I’m always interested in the latest remedies and treatments and medicine (especially in the form of food).

I was so interested (and hopeful) that I just HAD to make a trip to Mother Earth’s in Kingston last night to buy some of this purported “magic” maca powder.

I’m a huge fan of Navitas Naturals’ products, so I wanted to be sure to buy this brand to try it out. I am in love with their cacao nibs, chia seeds, and flax meal, so I’m hoping the maca powder is one more of their products to add to my love list.

I haven’t tried it yet because I just bought it last night and my antibiotics say not to take any supplements 6 hours prior or 2 hours after it, so I might have to wait a few days before I try it, although, I really don’t want to. With HER visiting this week, I really, really want to try it NOW! But being I’m already knee-deep in antibiotics, waiting a few more days won’t kill me. I hope. heh I’ll definitely do follow-ups on this. I’m just as curious in the potential results as some of you might be. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know!

I may have also bought a $5 raw chocolate maca bar while I was at Mother Earth’s.

I used one of their itty bitty shopping carts that you build with the hand baskets as a portion-control method, hahaha. I managed to fill both baskets up anyway. Couldn’t resist these beauties! x 2

Organic grass- and bug-fed free-range eggs in assorted colors, including green – only $4.55 a dozen! Ok, I say ONLY $4.55/dozen because the last time I bought eggs like these, they were $6 for HALF a dozen. So, I think $4.55 for local, healthful eggs is a bargain.

Easy Iced Tea Recipe

You guys know how much I’ve been enjoying unsweetened iced tea lately, right? Well, I’m going to show you how I make it!

1. Fill a microwave-safe container with 4 cups of water and add in 7-8 teabags. Heat on high for 3 minutes or until it’s hot enough; Let steep for 1-2 minutes after reaching boiling point. *The small metal staple of the teabag is generally considered safe if submerged in water. I have always put them in without any issues, but that’s just me. You can heat the water without them and add them in immediately after taking the water out if you feel that’s the safer course of action. Or use a teapot or boil water on the stove. There is no wrong way to boil water for tea!

2. When tea is at desired darkness or flavor-level, remove teabags from water.

3. Pour tea into larger 8-cup pitcher and fill to the top with cold water. Let sit on counter to cool, then refrigerate. Serve chilled or add ice to glass to serve right away.

So easy that it takes about 5-6 minutes to make. I like the concentrated method as it’s easier to transfer just 4 cups of water to a pitcher than 8.

With our forecast…

…I’m going to be making A LOT of iced tea! Dustin and I are SO getting out of this un-air conditioned house Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Where will we go? I’m not sure yet! Today and tomorrow we’re going to get all most of our work done for the week so we can take half days the rest of the week.

I talked to the nurse at my doctor’s office today and my doctor agreed to fax in my old prescription. Yay, so happy about this. Not happy to need them as much as I do, but relieved to at least get back to my version of normal… for the time being. So much investigating to do still.

I had a delivery from UPS today! Dustin bought me something that I was NOT expecting, but it’s so awesome!! I wonder what it could be? Find out in my next post!

Tagged as: eggs, hot and humid, iced tea, loot, maca, maca powder, Mother Earth's, Navitas Naturals, shopping, summer, weather