Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Superfoods

Name: I cannot speak highly enough about how incredible this school is. All of the instructors are extremely skillful and masters of their craft, diligent and meticulous in caring for each and every student of any level, and welcoming and kind! My wife and I joined as complete beginners and have grown to love martial arts, and the students and teachers at Elite!
Item: Elite Training Center
Rating: 5
Author: Andrew Balogh

I know what you are thinking. Another blog or article about Açaí …No. As a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and someone that has experienced Brazilian culture many times over, I don’t like the smell or taste of Açaí . It makes me sick. I originally liked it the first time I visited Brazil; however, when Açaí started arriving in the United States in New York City and Philadelphia, it started making me sick. To each his own because Açaí is a superfood from Brazil and for jiu-jitsu people it’s our thing. The benefits are amazing. But not for me. I can accept Açaí in the pill form, yet not as the meal or dessert!

“Okay “little” Tony what do you want to say?” Not Açaí…what? MACA….maca, maca, maca… Have you tried it yet? It is a Superfood from Peru. Comes in the liquid, pill or powder form. You can add it to your smoothies and another mixes.

Maca:
Lepidium meyenii, known commonly as maca, is an herbaceous biennial plant of the crucifer family native to the high Andes of Peru around Lake Junin. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl (a fused hypocotyl and taproot), which is used as a root vegetable, a medicinal herb, and a supposed aphrodisiac. Its Spanish and Quechua names include maca-maca, maino, ayak chichira, and ayak willku.

Bla bla bla… Let me give it to you straight: Maca is from the radish family. And has been coined as a little joke as the “Peruvian ginseng” (despite the fact that it is not a member of the ginseng family), due in part because it is used as a folk remedy to increase stamina, energy, and sexual function. So what can it do for me? Remember this and I made it up to make the benefits simple: MME VSS….

Mood- maca works to help balance anxiety, stress, depression and mood swings…and more.
Menstrual- for women maca helps relieves menstrual issues and menopause. It alleviates cramps, body pain, hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings and depression. If you are pregnant or lactating you should avoid taking maca.
Energy- with in a few days of taking maca, you will experience boost in energy. Many athletes take maca for peak performance.
Vitamins-maca provides vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E. It also provides plenty of calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids.
Sex- maca promotes sexual function of both men and women. It serves as a boost to your libido and increases endurance.
Skin- you can take maca if you have skin issues, as for some people it helps to clear acne and blemishes.

I started taking maca last week and I feel like a better person inside out. When the person the told me about superfoods, I asked what are some examples? He went on to show me bags of maca and other things. This person told be how the maca helped his wife with her monthly cycle, pain and moods. I thought what man wouldn’t want the lady in his life to be more relaxed and less stressed with all that…

My best,

Prof. Tony Pacenski 2nd Degree Black Belt BJJ Revolution Team

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Superfoods

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Superfoods