Maca for Women Over 40: The Hormone Support I Didn’t Know I’d Need Until Now

If you’ve been with me for a while, you already know this:my body has lived through a lot of chapters.

The bodybuilding chapter.

The over training chapter.

The healing chapter.

And now… the hormonal chapter — the one where we learn what our bodies actually need, not what we used to force them to do.

And somewhere along that whole journey, maca has shown up twice in my life — first when I didn’t really understand it, and now at a time when I’m more grateful for it than ever.

Let me tell you how it all started.

How I First Found Maca (Thanks to the Best Coach I Ever Had)

When I was competing, I was surrounded by every trick, supplement, and “secret backstage tip” you can imagine. Some of it questionable, some of it useless… and some of it surprisingly legit.

My first introduction to maca came from my good friend and coach, Claudio Hait — honestly the best coach I ever had during my bodybuilding years.

Claudio wasn’t dramatic or trendy about supplements. If he recommended something, he knew exactly why. And he told me maca could help with:

• stamina

• recovery

• mood

• that mental “push” you need in the final stretch of prep

So I started using it because Claudio said so — not because I understood anything about adaptogens or hormones or long-term health. At that stage of my life, maca was just something that helped me train harder and get through those long prep days without mentally unraveling.

I had no idea that years later, maca would become something I leaned on for an entirely different reason.

Fast Forward to Life After Bodybuilding… And Suddenly Maca Made Sense

Here’s the part nobody warns you about:

When you stop competing, your hormones don’t just “go back to normal.”Your body doesn’t magically reset the stress you put it through. And once you cross into your late 30s and 40s?Everything starts shifting — even if you’re healthy and active.

Energy hits different.

Sleep hits different.

Mood hits different.

Cycles change.

Recovery slows down.

Stress feels heavier.

It’s like your body finally speaks up after years of you pushing it — and it has a LOT to say.

And that’s when maca came back into my life…not as a performance booster this time,but as a grounding force.

What Maca Actually Is — And Why It Helps So Many Women After 40

Most people think maca is a “superfood trend,” but it’s not new at all. It’s a root that grows high in the Andes, and women there have used it for centuries for energy, mood, fertility, and general vitality.

Not because it’s magic. Because it has a mix of nutrients and plant compounds you don’t really get from other foods.

Here’s the real-world version:

Maca doesn’t act like a hormone — it helps your hormones stop acting crazy.

It doesn’t replace estrogen.

It doesn’t boost testosterone.

It doesn’t force anything.

It simply supports the part of your body that manages hormones.

It’s like giving your internal system a deep breath and saying,“Okay… let’s get it together.”

And it doesn’t give you a “rush.” It gives you stability.

Women often notice:

• more stable mood

• better energy

• improved libido

• better stress tolerance

• fewer crazy swings

• smoother cycles or perimenopause phases

• better stamina for workouts (and life)

Not in a dramatic way — in a “wow, I feel like myself again” way.

Why this matters more after 40

This is when hormones get unpredictable.

When stress hits harder.

When sleep gets weird.

When cycles change.

When your body feels sensitive in ways it didn’t before.

Maca doesn’t fix it all. But it gives your system a kind of steadiness that feels like relief.

And trust me — after bodybuilding, stress, kids, perimenopause… that steadiness is priceless.

How I Use Maca Now (Completely Different From My Competition Days)

Back then, it lived in my protein shakes because Claudio told me it would help.

Now?I use it for hormonal balance, emotional steadiness, energy, and libido — all the things that feel different after 40.

My routine is simple:

• 1 teaspoon in my morning smoothieor

• Capsules if I’m heading out the door

And if I’m having a heavier training day or feeling run-down, I’ll take a little more pre-workout — it gives me quiet, clean endurance.

I also choose gelatinized maca because it’s easier on digestion.

How You Can Use Maca Without Complicating Your Life

Maca for women over 40 and how Maca plays well with almost anything:

• your protein shake

• oatmeal

• collagen coffee

• yogurt

• smoothie bowls

• or just capsules

It has a warm, slightly nutty, caramel-ish taste that becomes comforting once you get used to it.

What You Can Pair Maca With (These Combos Are Gold After 40)

Maca + Magnesium Glycinate

For sleep, anxiety, PMS, irritability.

Maca + Collagen

For skin, hair, nails, joints, and recovery.

Maca + Omega-3

For inflammation + mood support.

Maca + Ashwagandha

For stress, cortisol, and emotional balance.

Maca + Protein

For metabolism, muscle, and shape — a MUST after 40.

These combos don’t “boost” hormones — they support them.

Who Should Skip Maca

Just to be safe, you should avoid maca if:

• you’re pregnant or breastfeeding

• your doctor has restricted adaptogens

• you have uncontrolled thyroid conditions

• you’re on medications that require clearance

Otherwise, most women tolerate it very well.

If Your Body Has Felt “Off”… Maca Might Be Exactly What You Need

Not to fix everything.

Not to replace healthy habits.

Not to perform miracles.

But to help your body stop feeling like it’s fighting you.

Because at this age, we don’t need harder.

We need support.

We need balance.

We need to feel like ourselves again.

Maca has been that kind of support for me — from my competition days with Claudio…to this chapter now, where hormone balance matters more than ever.

And if you’re in that stage too? It might be exactly what helps you feel grounded again.