Maca slice – why your thyroid needs it.

This slice was originally created a few years ago and has done the rounds many times since.  It’s one of our most featured recipes (alongside our pumpkin curry) and it is a real family favourite.  Whilst it isn’t fructose free, it is free from refined sugars – so as a special treat (you know, a real sometimes delight). It is super easy and you can switch up the recipe to add in whatever you like!  But most of all, I’m re-sharing this today because it utilises Maca, a brilliant super food that helps your thyroid.  In the spirit of announcing my upcoming Melbourne event – Debunking your Thyroid (click here for info) we want to help make your thyroid happy.  Maca is unique because it is an adaptan, meaning it adapts to what your own thyroid needs. If it is under-active, it helps to give it a gentle push along and if it is over active, it helps to calm it down.

If you are using Maca as a supplement, it’s important to establish just how much Maca you should be having.  I say 1/2 – 1tsp. daily but I advise many women to take it just for the second half of the cycle. In any case, give it a go – it’s a winner!

5 minute super-fertility slice

2 cups of medjool dates
1 cup of loving earth buckinis
1/2 cup of shredded coconut
1 tbsp. maca

For the topping

The darkest rawest chocolate you can find. I love the blackout variety.

In a food processor or thermomix, combine dates, maca and coconut. Once combined, add in buckinis and only blitz a few times to mix through. The base is best rough.
Press into a small baking dish or loaf tin lined with baking paper and allow to set in the fridge.
Melt the chocolate using a double boiler until runny.
Pour over the top of the slice and allow to set.

Slice up, boil the kettle and take 5!

+ you might like to switch-a-roo the base. You could use cacao, chia seeds, cacao butter, acai berries – whatever you desire really!

 

15 Comments

  • April 24, 2015 By Sophie 8:50 am

    Hi Nat, at what point does the maca go in? I can’t see it in the recipe method. Thanks! 🙂

    • April 26, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 8:59 am

      Sorry Sophie – recipe updated to fix the missing ingredient! x

  • April 24, 2015 By Carmen 9:57 am

    What can I sub for buckinis?
    Assuming I put maca in with/at time of buckinis.

    • April 26, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 8:59 am

      Yes – thanks Carmen, not sure what happened there! You can substitute anything you like really. Sesame seeds would be nice.

  • April 24, 2015 By Nicola 12:19 pm

    Love this slice so much – super delish!!!

  • April 24, 2015 By Krissy @ Pretty Wee Things 5:54 pm

    i love maca, but other than adding to oats and smoothies I struggle to find uses. Totally giving this recipe a go, it sounds delicious!

  • April 24, 2015 By Sanne 9:10 pm

    Thanks for the lovely recipe and the interesting information on Maca. You say for some women it is advisable to take Maca just in the second half of their cycle. In which cases and why is that? Thanks!

    • April 26, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 8:58 am

      It really depends on the person. I find this useful for some women – especially those with strong PMS symptoms.

  • April 27, 2015 By Rachel 10:23 pm

    Love this Nat, can’t wait to try!! I’m 40 with a low ovarian reserve and hubby and I have been trying to conceive for 4 years. We’ve done everything from IVF to seeing a natural fertility specialist in Sydney and are sticking with this for now. My body seems to crave MACCA but since I’ve been taking daily my cycles have gone from 26/27 days to 50-60 day cycles. I was interested to hear you talk about using in the second half of the cycle… Maybe I should try this. Would the MACCA delay my ovulation? Love your work Nat xxx

    • April 27, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 10:41 pm

      Hey Rachel – quite possibly yes! Ovarian Reserve really is irrelevant (I find it the most ridiculous test on the planet) because you can certainly turn that result around. Try taking it for the second half of the cycle and see! x

      • April 27, 2015 By Rachel 10:53 pm

        Thanks so much Nat, I’ll definitely give that a go. Fingers crossed with a few little tweaks I’ll be back to 28 day cycles (or even pregnant)!! xox

  • April 28, 2015 By Catherine 6:53 pm

    Hi Nat,
    In regards to your advise for many women to have maca in the second half of the diet. What would you suggest for those of us women with PCOS who are never quite sure where we are in our cycles due to the ever changing length of them?

    • May 1, 2015 By Nat Kringoudis 4:17 pm

      Seed cycling – I’ve written about it on here – using the moon calendar to mimic cycles is ideal.

  • February 5, 2016 By Julie 10:03 pm

    Hi Nat, I live in the UK and wanted to say how much I look forward to receiving your email in my in box. I was reading through the recipe for the Maca slice and was scrolling through the comments when I came across something that really resonated with me. It was a post from 27/4/15, in reply to Rachel’s query, you said “Ovarian reserve really is irrelevant (I find it the most ridiculous test on the planet) because you can certainly turn that around.” I was wondering whether you could elaborate on that comment? To be truthful it had me awake last night wondering ‘what could have been’. Have you thought about writing a book devoted to the subject of fertility?

    • February 5, 2016 By Nat Kringoudis 11:50 pm

      Julie! I’d love to help put your mind at ease. I find the test really useless. I don’t think it’s a true indication of our fertility based on several factors. The main being that women who have come to me with low AMH levels and who have followed my protocol have tested 3 months later only to find it’s back within normal ranges. That either tells me the test is not accurate or that we aren’t born with all of our eggs! Either way, improving our fertility begins with what we do day to day, not what we do necessarily in our doctors office. My book Well & Good is completely focused on hormone health – if you don’t have it I’d love you take a look xo

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