Early menopause and a $7 superfood may have eased one doctor's symptoms

Dr Anna Cabeca says she experienced premature menopause at 39 and later reports that adding maca and other diet and lifestyle changes coincided with a return of menstruation and reduced symptoms.

Dr Anna Cabeca, a triple board-certified OB-GYN in Texas, reported she entered premature menopause at age 39 and was told she was infertile. She later travelled to multiple countries and was introduced to maca and other foods and herbs. After returning to the U.S. she developed a powder called Mighty Maca Plus that includes maca and other ingredients she encountered. Cabeca says she menstruated again at 41 and conceived, and that by age 56 she reached menopause with few symptoms. Key facts: - Cabeca reported that doctors diagnosed her with premature menopause around age 39 and that she experienced vaginal dryness and other symptoms. - During extended travel she was introduced to maca root and other plants such as turmeric, acerola cherry, mangosteen and cat's claw, which she later incorporated into a supplement. - The article notes that research on maca is limited and cites some animal studies and small reports about effects on sexual function and libido. - Cabeca says she adopted a "keto-green" diet, prioritized alkaline foods, increased walking and focused on lowering stress and boosting oxytocin. - She reports menstruation resumed at 41 and that she ultimately went through menopause at 56 with minimal symptoms. Summary: Cabeca credits a combination of dietary changes, supplements and lifestyle shifts with a later return of menstruation and reduced menopausal symptoms, and she developed a product that includes maca. The article also acknowledges that scientific evidence on maca and many so-called superfoods is limited. Undetermined at this time.