Game Changer!
I usually don't write reviews, but this stuff has been a total game changer for me!  I keep thinking it can't be making a huge difference, but then I'm reminded just how essential it is for me.  I tried a different brand about a month ago and this last week I must have gotten a bad batch because the taste was a little off.  Both times, I immediately felt the difference.  I started breaking out, I was getting irritable, having intense cravings, feeling exhausted, and gaining weight.  As soon as I ordered a new bottle and started taking it again, within a few hours, I was back to feeling better.  I've always had hormones from hell!  This last year, I had a total hysterectomy, which was a huge blessing!  The dr put me on an estrogen patch, which made a significant difference... sometimes, but I would always get major swings between the days I had to change my patch, and I had to keep upping my dose, which was dangerous with my clotting problems.  So, I started searching for other options.  I've known about maca for a while, but it never really stood out to me.  I came across a study that talked about how it actually works on the pituitary gland, which is basically the part of your brain that controls all your hormones.  This caught my interest, because I felt like I just kept swinging myself up and down trying to figure out how much estrogen I needed, since I'm super sensitive.  The maca works by balancing everything out and prevents the guessing game.  When I first started taking it back in February, I had to take it about every 4 hours, otherwise, I would feel the symptoms creeping back.  It usually takes a couple of weeks to build up in your system and notice the difference, but after a while, you don't have to take as much.  Now, I only take it 2 to 3 times a day, depending on how I feel.  My mom also had a hysterectomy and didn't want to get off of her patches, but she finally did and is doing great on the maca too.  It gets rid of her hot flashes.  She doesn't seem to notice a difference in brands, but for me, it made a huge difference.  There are also different types of maca.  The red maca is the best for hormones but isn't just for female hormones since it works on the pituitary gland.  The black is better for energy, but the red seems to give me a good amount of energy too.  This stuff has made it possible for me to lose almost 50 pounds now.  My hormones have been a major trigger for my autoimmune reaction.  I would gain 5 pounds in a single day and would get so swollen, painful, exhausted, and depressed that it was a struggle just to get out of bed.  On top of that, they would trigger severe sugar cravings.  It felt like I was thirsty all the time, but the only thing that quenched the thirst were carbs.  Hormones affect your neurotransmitters, and your neurotransmitters are made up of building blocks that you get from foods.  Sugar increases both your serotonin and dopamine, which make you feel better.  My poor family always knew that when I was hormonal, I NEEDED sugar or I would literally lose my mind.  Since being on the maca, I rarely get any sugar cravings.  Unfortunately, for me, losing weight hasn't been as simple as fixing my hormones and staying away from sugar due to the many foods that trigger my immune system.  However, I keep being reminded that the maca has been essential in my journey to better health, and I literally can't function well without it.  So, I wanted to share in case my experience could possibly help someone else too.
Rating: 5 stars