The ‘superfood’ you’ve never heard of that ‘gives you a Kim K-style butt and improves your sex life’

It’s supposed to give you a perky butt, echoing the curves of Kim Kardashian and co.

But doctors are now warning that maca, dubbed the superfood you’ve never heard of, might not be so good.

Capsules and powders containing the tuber, which can only be found deep in the Peruvian Andes, sell online for as little as £5.

In addition to being sold with the promise of creating a bigger butt and wider hips, sellers also claim that maca can increase fertility and improve mood.

However, experts warned today that there is “little evidence” to prove these claims.

Online advertisements lashing out at the powder also claim that the supplement can help enhance curves and enhance ‘wider hips’. In an eBay ad, seller @lafruta, who has sold more than 6,000 items, stated that users should take “three units per day, before meals if possible.” A two-month supply of ‘women’s only’ pills was priced at about £39.61 ($51.48)

In another ad from the same vendor, a three-month supply of 8.9 oz (252 g) of powder promised a “bigger butt”, “wider hips” and “thicker legs”.

Maca boasts an impressive nutritional profile, including fiber, essential amino acids, vitamin C, copper, and iron.

The root of the plant is taken as a capsule or, more commonly, dried and ground into a fine powder, which can be added to smoothies, juices, baked goods, and plant-based milk.

Used as a natural remedy for 2,000 years to treat ailments such as respiratory conditions and joint problems, limited Research has also shown that root powder can improve sexual function and fertility.

A 2010 review found that maca might improve erectile dysfunction in men and might have a positive effect on sexual function in menopausal women by increasing energy levels.

In 2020, scientists in Spain, who tested its effect in 69 men, with half taking 2g a day for 12 weeks, found that sperm count increased, although there was no effect on semen volume or motility.

Online advertisements lashing out at the powder also claim that the supplement can help enhance curves and enhance ‘wider hips’.

In an eBay ad, seller @lafruta, who has sold more than 6,000 items, stated that users should take “three units per day, before meals if possible” to help “increase stamina, build mass muscle” and relieve stress.

The two-month supply of ‘women’s only’ pills priced at around £40 ($53) would also help ‘grow the hips and butt’, he said.

The packaging did not clarify the quantity of a ‘unit’.

In another ad from the same vendor, a three-month supply of 8.9 oz (252 g) of powder promised a ‘bigger butt’, ‘wider hips’ and ‘thicker legs’.

The 75-day supply which costs about £31 ($41) could also “protect against osteoporosis”, he claimed.

However, Joshua Gibbs, a plant-based nutrition researcher at the University of Warwick, told MailOnline: “I wouldn’t recommend anyone taking maca supplements these days for two main reasons.

“First, despite a handful of studies showing improved sexual function, including improvements in sexual desire and erectile dysfunction, the number of trials and overall sample size are too small to draw firm conclusions about effectiveness and supplement safety.

“This is compounded by poor methodological quality, which limits the certainty of the findings.

“More robust studies are needed before we can make any safe recommendations.”

He added: ‘Secondly, maca has been reported to induce psychological symptoms, such as mood swings, anxiety, hallucinations and even addictive behaviours, in some people.

“Overall, the potential benefits of maca supplementation do not outweigh the risks at this time.”

But the supplement has become a favorite of some Hollywood stars.

Friends star Jennifer Aniston and Victoria’s Secret angel Miranda Kerr have previously revealed that they use the powder, mixing it into smoothies.

Friends star Jennifer Aniston (left) and Victoria’s Secret angel Miranda Kerr (right) have previously revealed that they use the powder, mixing it into smoothies.

The eBay ad, by seller @lafrutato, also claimed that the tuber could help “increase stamina, increase muscle mass” and relieve stress.

The 75-day supply of maca that costs about £31.30 ($40.68) could also “protect against osteoporosis,” the eBay seller claimed.

It’s supposed to give her a perky butt, echoing the curves of Kim Kardashian (pictured) and co. But doctors are now warning that maca, dubbed the superfood you’ve never heard of, is simply snake oil.

In an interview with Well+Good in 2021, Ms. Anniston said she makes almond milk with chocolate, cinnamon, cocoa, matcha powder and spinach with maca berry.

Ms. Kerr told Net-A-Porter in 2013 that she includes maca powder in her morning smoothie because it’s “really energizing and revitalizing.” She also adds coconut water, acai and raw cacao powder, goji berries, spirulina, chia seeds, and vegan rice powder.

Videos on TikTok extorting the benefits of ‘hormone balance supplement’ and the ‘holy grail of fertility’ also racked up more than 3.3 million views on the platform.

In a video viewed more than 17,000 times, @rachelsheppick, who has more than 57,000 followers and 6.6 million likes, claimed the supplement was a ‘power plant’.

‘Do you want a higher sex drive? Drink maca. Improve [your] mood and energy? Drink maca,’ she wrote.

She added: ‘Produce a higher sperm count? Drink maca. Does it help control anxiety and depression? Drink maca.

Meanwhile, in a video viewed more than 18,000 times, @luisafranzen claimed that the ‘superfood’ is ‘incredible for women’s health.’

The powder is “incredible for when you’re going through stressful times” and “helps with your concentration and calms your nervous system,” she said.

However, Dr Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and senior lecturer at Aston University also told MailOnline: ‘TThere are many claims about maca being a superfood.

“However, almost all of this work comes from animals, mostly in rats and mice, with almost no evidence from human studies.

“There is little evidence regarding dosage and side effects.”

A 2012 clinic trial conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases — which is part of the US National Institutes of Health — also suggested that while the powder’s side effects are “rare and mild,” it can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms and headaches.