Ashwagandha or Maca? If you’re asking this question, then you may be wondering about the difference of these two supplements.
They are both commonly available as supplements in health stores, but they are different and taken for different purposes.
The purpose of this article is for us to take a detailed look at both Ashwagandha and Maca and their benefits, and then also take a closer look at comparing the two.
The health and fitness supplements industry has boomed in recent years, and that means more choice than ever when it comes to picking the right product for you.
But the extra choice and information can also make it more difficult to pick out the best supplement for your needs.
We’re going to break this article up into the following sections:
• What is Ashwagandha?
• What is Maca?
• Ashwagandha vs Maca
• Anything Else To Consider?
• Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s start taking a close look at both Ashwagandha and Maca to see the difference between these two popular food supplements.
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What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha has a long history of use in traditional Indian medicine (Photo: Adobe Stock)
In case you didn’t know, Ashwagandha is a herb that has a long history of use in traditional Indian medicine.
It’s a common ingredient many supplements and is also sometimes sold on its own as a separate product in health stores.
Ashwagandha is a short, tender perennial shrub which grows mainly in the drier regions of India, and is also found in Nepal, China and Yemen.
This herb has a very long history of traditional use. It is estimated that it has been used for as many as 3,000 years.
Ashwagandha’s botanical name is ‘Withania Somnifera’, and it is also sometimes referred to as ‘Indian Ginseng’ or ‘Winter Cherry’.
It is claimed to have a number of potential benefits, and some people choose to take it regularly for that reason.
Now that we know a little bit more about Ashwagandha, let’s start taking closer look at Maca to find out more.
What is Maca?
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Maca is a root (cruciferous) vegetable which grows in central Peru. It is in a similar family of vegetables to broccoli, cauliflower and kale.
It often referred to as a supposed ‘superfood’ and is usually served as a fine powder, which is light brown in color.
Maca has a high nutritional profile. It contains a lot of important vitamins and minerals, including Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc as well as some B vitamins. It is also a good vegan source of both Copper and Iron.
Like Ashwagandha, Maca is sold on its own as a food supplement. It is usually taken in powder form – but it is also available in capsule and tablet form.
So, now that we’ve introduced Maca, let’s start taking a closer look at Ashwagandha vs Maca to see how these two supplements compare.
Ashwagandha vs Maca
As we have already worked out, Ashwagandha is a herb that has a long history of use in traditional Indian medicine.
Maca, meanwhile, is a root (cruciferous) vegetable which grows in central Peru and is often sold as a powdered supplement.
If you’re wondering whether to choose Ashwagandha or Maca, then it’s worth bearing in mind that they are generally taken for different purposes.
For example, Ashwagandha is regularly touted as a supplement which could help with Anxiety.
In contrast, Maca is seen more as a ‘vitality’ ingredient. Maca is also rich in some important nutrients such as Iron and Copper.
Both Maca and Ashwagandha are sometimes classed as ‘nootropic’ supplements.
They are sometimes sold on their own, and sometimes included alongside other ingredients in supplements featuring a number of different substances.
When it comes to deciding between Ashwagandha and Maca, the most important thing to realize is that these supplements are generally taken for different purposes, and so it’s not easy to compare them directly to one another.
We recommend taking a close look at the benefits of both supplements before making a decision about which one is best for you.
The bottom line here is that Maca and Ashwagandha are considerably different supplements.
Anything Else To Consider?
As we always like to remind our readers, you should always speak to your doctor before thinking about taking any supplement for the first time.
You should not take any new supplement without seeking medical advice, and that is particularly important if you have an underlying medical condition or are taking any prescription drugs.
The pillars of good overall health are good diet, regular exercise and plenty of rest.
You should always make sure that you are doing those things before even thinking about any kind of supplementation.
That being said, Maca or Ashwagandha could suit your needs. We just strongly recommend doing your research first.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our look at Ashwagandha and Maca.
We’ve walked you through the basic facts about both of these popular supplements.
We’ve explained how Maca is more of a ‘vitality’ supplement, while Ashwagandha is often used for its supposed ability to help with Anxiety.
All in all though, these two supplements are pretty different, and you should do some thorough research yourself before thinking about trying either of them for the first time.
