[ruch]

um.. so i had really bad luck with maca today. kind of weird since i was fine with it for awhile (though often forgot to take it, so it would only be a few times a week, and i would usually just stir it into water and gulp it down fast). i had bought raw maca a few weeks ago because it was cheaper. i have since learned more about raw maca and suggest people do not buy it. it can cause gastrointestinal distress because of toxins in it, and i read that it requires more to get the benefits. also, there can be bacteria and mold in it. peruvians never eat raw maca and all the raw maca gets exported out of the country.. and companies sell it because it is cheaper for them. this is what i have read. anyway, i took 1 tsp of maca, as i normally do.. but i stirred into it my oatmeal this morning. as i was almost finished eating my bowl, i started getting some upper stomach pains, and also started to break out in a cold sweat. i went to lie down till it subsided. luckily, it only took about 20min or so to subside. i wondered if it was the maca so i googled and sure enough, this is an experience you can have with raw maca. there is also suggestion not to take it on empty stomach because it can bother your stomach, so i wonder if this was the issue because i was fine before. when i got home, i decided to roast my maca in the oven to cook it. i laid out about 2 cups in an even layer in a pan and put it in the oven at 350F. i did not preheat the oven. after about 7 or so min, i went to check and noticed smoke gushing out of the hole from one of my burners. i opened the oven door and smoke poured out! then i noticed there was actually quite a lot of smoke in my kitchen.. and also saw it floating near the ceiling towards other rooms. i quickly took the pan and took it outside, where it continued to smoke. i went inside to get some water so i could throw it on the maca as i had noticed embers burning. when i went back outside, the damn pan was kind of on fire! yes, flames! now the maca is all black, and my apartment is still smoky (i have every window open).. and i think everything is going to smell like smoke for awhile. how do i get rid of the smell, especially in my clothes and upholstery, etc.? maca smells bad enough.. imagine burnt maca!

anyway, that was my day with maca. i totally don't want to take it now.. lol! i can't believe it got burned to that extent after only 7 min at 350F?? even my next door neighbours came outside to ask what was going on because they could smell smoke (and our houses are not attached). moral of the sorry is only buy gelatinized maca!!