Maca is a root from the Andes, dried and ground into a pale, butterscotch-colored powder with a nutty, malty smell. It's built a reputation as a natural booster for energy, mood, and sex drive. People have used it for centuries, and modern studies are slowly catching up. The research is early in places — but where it exists, it's surprisingly solid. Here's what we know about maca's impact on libido, stamina, and emotional balance, and why it's in our ENERGY smoothie.
What maca can do for your sex drive
Maca's claim to fame is that it can help with libido. Several small studies suggest it might be true. In one trial, men who took 2 grams of maca a day for 12 weeks showed a significant increase in sperm concentration — with no major changes in testosterone levels. So it's not acting like a hormone; it's doing something else.
Maca may also support sexual function in women. One study looked at postmenopausal women on antidepressants, who often report decreased libido. After taking 3,000 mg of maca daily for 12 weeks, those women had better scores for sexual desire and function than the placebo group. Another small study found that maca reduced menopause-related symptoms like hot flashes, mood dips, and sexual dysfunction. The samples were small, but the results are promising across genders.
Mood, energy, and what maca actually does
There's a reason people take maca even when sex isn't the goal. Maca belongs to a class of roots and mushrooms — adaptogens — that may help the body handle stress and rebalance energy. Animal studies show better endurance and less fatigue. In humans, the effects are early-stage but real. One study tracked people living at high altitudes — where energy tends to tank — and found that 3 grams of maca a day for 12 weeks improved both mood and energy levels.
There's overlap here: when you're tired or stressed, your libido takes a hit. Maca seems to support both sides of that equation. A 2024 review linked maca to better mood and well-being in men, while early research in postmenopausal women showed decreases in anxiety and depression. None of it's definitive, but the trend is clear: maca could be a low-key way to feel a little more up, emotionally and physically.
How to take it
Maca root is usually dried and ground into a powder with a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. Most studies use around 1.5 to 3 grams daily — roughly a teaspoon. You can mix it into smoothies, oatmeal, or baked goods. It blends best with sweet ingredients and plays well with cacao, banana, and berries.
It's considered safe at typical doses. Studies haven't flagged major side effects at up to 3 g/day over a few months. Still, it's smart to ease in slowly and check with your doctor if you have specific health conditions or take medication.
Why it's in our ENERGY smoothie
We put maca in ENERGY because the science lined up with what we wanted the drink to do: sustain energy and mental focus well past the point where caffeine alone gives out. It's built on cold brew, cacao nibs, and dates over a chocolate protein base, then carried by ginseng and rhodiola rosea — two more roots in maca's adaptogen family — plus CoQ10, finished with coconut whipped cream.
Maca adds a slightly malty note to the smoothie and rounds out the whole profile against the dark, coffee-forward base. The result is a drink that tastes indulgent but works hard behind the scenes — built for the hour after a workout, or any afternoon that needs steadier fuel than a shot of espresso.
Bottom line
Maca's not a miracle root — nothing dried and ground into a powder ever is — but it has a solid case behind it. It may help support sexual function, elevate your mood, and give your energy levels a lift, without acting like a hormone or stimulant. That's why it's in our glass.
Come taste it for yourself. ENERGY is on the menu now, in Lisbon and Santos.