Organic Gelatinized Maca Powder 1lb

Red & Black Gelatinized Maca are Back

Hey Everyone!

I know it’s been a long time (since 2019), and I’m thrilled to announce that our Gelatinized Red and Gelatinized Black Maca are finally back in stock!

This is Big Time!

As you are about to learn in this Newsletter, each color of maca contains different quantities of bioactive compounds and excels in supporting different functions and benefits throughout the human body.

What’s absolutelycrazy is that we can now target with both red and black maca in theirgelatinized form!

I am a big fan of Gelatinized Maca over Raw Maca.

With Gelatinized Maca, they take Raw Maca and put it through a specialized gelatinization process. This process removes all of the unnecessary starches, fibers, and non-active bulk—essentially stripping away the dead weight. What you’re left with is a more concentrated form containing only the most Potent and Active constituents of the maca root.

Because all that filler material is removed, what would normally make up a large portion of the weight in 1lb of raw maca is gone—meaning you get far more bioactive compounds packed into each pound of Gelatinized Maca. On top of that, this process also makes it much easier to digest by removing the tough starches and fibers that can cause bloating or discomfort in some people, so most experience no digestive issues when taking it. Lastly, gelatinization cracks open the cell walls of this superfood, greatly enhancing its absorption and effectiveness.

When you see what red and black maca excel in, you might get as excited as me that they are available once again in the gelatinized format.

Since we last carried these different colors of gelatinized maca, a recent 2024 comprehensive review here, titled “Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses” by Minich et al. was published, bringing together over two decades of scientific research and highlighting how different maca colors vary in their nutrition, phytochemical profiles, and potential clinical applications.

Their skin colors reflect genetic variations and growing conditions (e.g., altitude, soil, UV exposure), which influence concentrations of secondary metabolites like glucosinolates, macamides, macaenes, alkaloids, polyphenols/anthocyanins, and others. These compounds are thought to drive most of the adaptogenic (hormone balancing), reproductive, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects.

What’s absolutely crazy is that the Red Gelatinized Maca is the best at balancing hormones and Bone Health. Red Gelatinized Maca is highest in the glucosinolates, antioxidant polyphenols, and phytonutrient density. The glucosinolates are precursors to isothiocyanates, which are linked to hormone balance, antioxidant, and reproductive effects. The polyphenols in Red Gelatinized Maca are linked to Bone Health by reducing oxidative stress and influencing bone remodeling (helping maintain the balance between bone-building osteoblasts and bone-breaking osteoclasts).

As you are about to see in these animal studies further below, Gelatinized Red Maca helps with bone health without strong estrogenic uterine effects in females, and it also decreases the prostate size in males. It appears that Red Maca balances hormones in both men and women. However, it doesn’t act as a direct hormone, it supports healthy hormone signaling and hormone-sensitive tissues in both men and women.

Before we jump into Red Maca and the other color variations, it’s helpful to understand how maca actually works…

Maca is an adaptogen, a natural substance that helps your body adapt to stress and maintain balance. It doesn’t contain hormones or phytoestrogens like aguaje, but it works by supporting the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, the control centers of your endocrine system. These glands regulate the production of key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and cortisol, which, when elevated by stress or other factors, can throw your entire hormonal system out of balance.

Maca’s bio-active compounds, like macamides and glucosinolates, interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian/testicular (HPO/HPT) axis, as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These communication pathways control hormone production and stress response. Maca doesn’t just raise or lower hormones—it adapts to what your body needs. If estrogen or progesterone is too low(like in midlife hormonal changes), maca boosts their production by fine-tuning signals from the hypothalamus and pituitary. If levels are too high(like in estrogen dominance), it dials them back to restore balance. Maca acts like a tuner, adjusting hormone levels based on what your body needs at the time. It doesn’t uniformly raise or lower hormones but rather modulates them to restore balance.

As seen in the studies [ kZM0>
1, s1>
2, fS0>
3] women with low estrogen (like in midlife hormonal changes), about 1/2 teaspoon of gelatinized maca daily significantly increased estradiol (E2) and progesterone levels while lowering FSH. This lead to major relief from hot flashes, night sweats, nervousness, mood swings, sleep disruptions, fatigue, stress, headaches, low libido, and even occasional low mood. Plus, rising estrogen levels were linked to improved bone health, as bone density markers increased during supplementation.

On the flip side, in cases of estrogen dominance as seen in studies [ aE0> 1, nJ0>
2], maca helped fine-tune pituitary signals the other direction to reduce excess estrogen production, normalizing hormone ratios through FSH and LH modulation. This is what makes maca so unique, it tunes your hormones up or down depending on what your body needs most.

Maca’s versatility extends beyond estrogen balance and into broader hormone regulation. In men with low testosterone due to high aromatase activity (which converts testosterone to estrogen), maca may support pituitary signaling and improve hormonal sensitivity to help restore balance. In women with PCOS, where excess androgens or estrogen can dominate, a case study here showed that maca normalized LH and FSH ratios, improved estradiol levels, and helped restore ovulation and menstrual regularity. Meanwhile, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial here found that men taking maca experienced increased libido and improved well-being, without altering serum testosterone, suggesting maca may influence hormone function without necessarily increasing circulating testosterone.

Further studies reinforce maca’s balancing nature. In one randomized trial here, maca improved estrogen levels only when they were low, without overstimulating estradiol past normal physiological levels. And in a separate trial from Hong Kong here, maca significantly improved mood and lowered blood pressure even without changes in estrogen, reinforcing that maca can support multiple body systems without acting like a hormone or driving hormone levels beyond their normal physiological range.

So, let’s get back to Red Maca.

As seen in this study here, different maca colors were compared in male rats for their effects on prostate health. Red maca significantly reduced ventral prostate size, whereas yellow and black maca had no significant effect. Red maca also prevented testosterone-induced prostate enlargement and reduced prostatic epithelial height after 42 days of treatment. These changes occurred without affecting circulating testosterone or estradiol levels, suggesting that red maca may support hormone-responsive tissues through mechanisms other than simply raising or lowering circulating hormone concentrations. This unique effect is likely linked to red maca’s distinctive phytochemical profile, including higher levels of certain glucosinolates.

As seen in this study here, different maca colors were compared, and both red and black maca showed protective effects on bone structure in ovariectomized rats (a model of midlife hormonal changes). Both also outperformed yellow maca, which showed little to no significant improvement in bone-related measures. Importantly, neither red nor black maca produced strong estrogen-like stimulation in uterine tissue, suggesting the benefits may occur through mechanisms resembling those of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM-like activity), rather than by acting like estrogen itself.

Although black maca performed comparably to red for bone protection in this same recent 2024 comprehensive review here, red maca is still often highlighted for hormonal and bone support. It has the strongest evidence for prostate size reduction (an effect not seen with black or yellow) and red/purple varieties generally contain higher levels of certain polyphenols, antioxidants, and glucosinolates. These compounds are thought to contribute to red maca’s bone-protective and hormone-supporting effects. Reviews such as Minich et al. (2024) mentioned above note that while both pigmented colors are beneficial, red maca’s overall phytochemical profile has made it one of the most frequently recommended varieties for women’s hormonal health.

I know that in the past I’ve shared the studies above showing how regular gelatinized maca significantly balanced hormones in women (increasing estradiol and progesterone while lowering FSH, with major relief of midlife hormonal discomfort and improved bone markers). Those impressive results in that study came from a specific proprietary gelatinized blend called Maca-GO, which is just like ours and closely mirrors natural field proportions: roughly 60-70%+ yellow, 20–25% red, and 10–15% black. This multi-color synergy — with yellow providing a strong adaptogenic base, black contributing additional neuroprotective and fertility support, and red delivering higher levels of polyphenols and glucosinolates — appears to be key to the powerful hormone-tuning effects seen in the human trials.

That being said, pure red gelatinized maca is the best single-color choice for focused hormonal/bone support (especially for women in midlife/postmenopause), because it’s higher in certain polyphenols and glucosinolates, which targets beneficial effects on hormone-sensitive tissues and bone.

My idea formaximizing hormonal support would be to combine red gelatinized maca with regular gelatinized maca to increase the proportion of red maca beyond its typical 20–25% content. That way, you may get a greater intake of bioactive compounds that are often associated with red maca’s hormone-supportive properties, while still benefiting from the broader synergy of all three maca colors working together in order to balance hormone levels. Heck, I’d even combine it with black gelatinized maca to push those beneficial compounds even further while adding black maca’s unique strengths to the mix! The red and black varieties have the highest pigments and bring additional pigment-associated compounds into the mix, including polyphenols (and anthocyanin-like compounds, which boost antioxidant effects) along with the unique bioactive compounds found in red maca that I mentioned above, and now… let’s get into what makes black maca so special.

The Black Gelatinized Maca is still my absolute favorite — incredibly powerful, potent, and in a class of its own.

Black Maca, the rarest and often considered the most potent in targeted studies, comprises only about 10–15% of the harvest. Now we’ve got the black maca in the super potent gelatinized form, lol! A rare golden/black gem.

What’s absolutely fascinating is that Black Maca appears to shine in a completely different direction than Red. Black Maca tends to be richer in compounds associated with performance, energy, libido, neuroprotection, and vitality, including higher concentrations of certain macamides, alkaloids, antioxidants, and other neuroprotective compounds. Its dark pigmentation is also associated with elevated phenolic compounds.

Black Maca has become especially popular for those looking to support energy, endurance, stamina, focus, libido, and performance. In comparative male reproduction studies (humans and animals) [ f0> 1, q70>
2, yK0>
3], Black Maca consistently stood out for supporting male reproductive health, showing the strongest effects on sperm production, sperm count, and motility. In other studies [ i0> 4, wBGP_0>
5], it has also shown some of the most promising results for cognitive performance, memory, learning, and neuroprotection compared to other maca colors.

But here’s what surprised me… women absolutely love Black Maca too. While Red often gets the spotlight for hormone support, many women gravitate toward Black because of how they describe feeling while taking it: more energized, mentally sharp, motivated, physically resilient, and with stronger libido and overall vitality. Women looking for support with drive, workout performance, productivity, focus, and everyday energy often become huge fans of Black Maca.

So while Red feels more like the “hormone tuner,” Black feels more like the “performance optimizer.” If your goal is vitality, stamina, sharpness, drive, and feeling switched on—Black Maca might just become your new favorite.

Don’t get me wrong,all colors of maca share overlapping benefits — including energy, mood support, libido, adaptogenic effects, antioxidant, and nutritional support (vitamins, minerals, amino acids) — but differences in their compound profiles appear to give each color its own strengths in research.

And this is where Yellow Maca deserves more credit than it usually gets.

Yellow Maca is the most common natural expression of the root and is often considered the “standard” maca used in many human studies. While it generally contains lower levels of certain pigment-associated polyphenols compared to red and black varieties, some analyses show it still contains robust levels of glucosinolates and delivers a well-balanced phytochemical profile overall.

This balanced composition may help explain why yellow maca has become the go-to choice for broad daily support and the foundation of many human maca studies. Across human studies using yellow maca or yellow-dominant blends has been associated with general vitality, sustained energy, mood support, libido and sexual desire in both men and women, fertility support, and overall wellness. Because of its milder taste and more balanced effects, Yellow Maca is often the ideal starting point for beginners or anyone looking for an easy daily adaptogen rather than a more targeted approach.

While each maca color has its own unique benefits, they all share something powerful in common… their ability to help your body maintain balance when modern stressors push your hormones out of sync.

And that’s where maca becomes truly fascinating. Chronic stress can elevate cortisol levels through the HPA axis, throwing off the balance of estrogen, testosterone, and other key hormones. This hormonal chaos is especially common today and can lead to everything from fatigue to mood swings to weight gain.

And here’s where maca shines again. Thanks to its adaptogenic properties, maca helps lower cortisol by modulating the hypothalamus and pituitary, reducing stress-induced hormonal chaos. In multiple human trials [ q0> 1, w2>
2, k1>
3], just 1/2 teaspoon of gelatinized maca per day led to significant drops in cortisol and ACTH levels, along with improved hormone ratios and reduced feelings of stress. However, in women in midlife specifically, maca elevated progesterone and ACTH. The fact that maca can lower ACTH in one group (stressed individuals) but raise it in another (women in midlife) shows its ability to support multiple branches of the endocrine system simultaneously depending on individual needs and where your body needs the most help. In short, maca doesn’t just fight stress—it helps safeguard your entire hormonal system from breaking down under it.

So how exactly does maca pull all this off? Let’s zoom in for a second and see what’s really going on under the cellular hood.

At the cellular level, all colors of maca contain unique compounds—including macamides, glucosinolates, alkaloids, and antioxidant polyphenols—that help influence how your brain communicates with your hormone-producing organs. The proportions of these compounds vary by color, which helps explain why Red and Black Maca each excel in different areas. These bioactive compounds help your hypothalamus send the right signals called GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) to the pituitary gland, which then tells your ovaries or testes to produce sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone—whatever your body needs most. On top of that, maca is loaded with antioxidants that protect these glands from oxidative stress, helping them function more smoothly and keeping your hormonal signals firing on all cylinders.

In the women in midlife’s study mentioned earlier, maca only began showing its full hormone-balancing effects after two full months of continuous use—so don’t give up after just one! While not every study specifies a two-month minimum, many of the clinical trials showing real benefits started to show effects around 6 to 12 weeks, making two months a realistic window to expect results. In that same study, participants took the equivalent of 1/4 teaspoon twice daily, though other trials used 1/2 teaspoon once a day. Either way, it averages out to the same daily dose. So stick with 1/2 teaspoon daily (split or all at once) for at least two months to give your body the time it needs to respond.

All of the Gelatinized Macas taste superb. I always say that it has a malty halvah taste to it, lol. When making chocolate peanut butter cups or any chocolate recipe, it gives it that malty edge. It’s absolutely perfect for smoothies.

Each color even seems to bring its own subtle personality to the flavor. Yellow is balanced and mild, black has a slightly deeper and richer profile, while red is often considered the sweetest of the bunch with a smoother, more rounded finish. It’s one of those superfoods that actually tastes so good you start looking for excuses to add it to things.

As with any food or supplement, maca is generally considered safe for most people, but if you have thyroid concerns, a hormone-sensitive condition, are pregnant, or take medications, it’s always a good idea to check with your healthcare practitioner before adding it to your routine.

So after going through all of this, my takeaway is simple… there isn’t really a bad choice here. Yellow shines as the balanced daily foundation, Red appears to specialize more toward hormone-sensitive tissues and bone support, and Black seems to excel in energy, performance, focus, vitality, and reproductive support. Each one brings its own unique phytochemical fingerprint and strengths to the table — and now for the first time in years, we can actually choose how targeted we want to be instead of relying on only the standard blend.

I’m just happy we have this more targeted approach in gelatinized form again now. Whether you want to stay with the classic synergy of all three colors or dial things in with focused Red or Black support, Red & Black Gelatinized Maca are Back… and I couldn’t be more excited.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Sincerely,
Matt