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SELENO HEALTH MACA AND CACAO
Ethically Sourced, Farm-to-bottle Maca and Cacao
Sacred gifts from the Earth Mother
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FARM-TO-BOTTLE
Seleno Health believes it is up to us as consumers, suppliers and retailers to protect the incredible heritage, culture and history behind maca in Peru and to create an ethical and sustainable way to produce it that benefits all involved.
They have a direct partnership with the farm, farmer and community and are committed to offer protection from exploitation. They allow full production of the final product to be carried out by the farmer in Peru, so in essence they are selling his product on his behalf and sharing back profits with him.
It’s about producing farm-to-bottle products and that benefit and uplift the communities that produce them.
PROPERLY PREPARED
As a starchy root vegetable Maca always needs to be cooked before consumption and should not be eaten raw. Eating raw maca can actually be detrimental to your health.
When it comes to raw Maca vs gelatinized Maca (also known as activated), it is best to choose the heat treated option as it is gut safe and contains equivalent or higher levels of bioactive macamides. The process also helps to remove compounds that can negatively affect the thyroid and molds.
Seleno Health only uses heat 'activated' maca (gelatinized maca) which is pre-cooked safe to consume in your smoothies, plus it tastes much better.
ANCIENT TRADITIONS
Maca is the most sacred plant of Junin for the indigenous people who cultivate it. Cultivation of maca is as much spiritual as it is physical for the locals.
All of the maca Seleno Health produces is prepared with respect for Pachamama and in-line with all of her sacred ancient traditions.
They follow the practice of Pagapu – payment to Mother Earth in order to fill the nurturing soil with love and intention.
In return Pachamama provides healing medicine for us all to consume. The spiritual practices surrounding the planting and harvesting of maca are as important as the techniques used as the spirit of maca is what nourishes our bodies.
We believe if we are lucky enough to have access to these ancient plants then we should all treat them with the respect they deserve. Not all Maca is equal and not all companies comply with these sacred requirements.
RESCUING ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF CACAO AND FARMING PRACTICES
The cacao is produced farm to bottle as well. It is cultivated surrounded by native jungle the way it has been done for thousands of years.
Hand-picked, blessed in ceremony with reverence and supported with ancestral knowledge, education, and ancient tools for you to better connect.
RESCUING FARMERS AND FAMILIES FROM THE DRUG TRADE
After years of violence from terrorists and drug traffickers in the cacao growing region of Peru due to the cocaine industry, these farmers now have an opportunity to grow artisanal cacao instead of being lured into the drug trade because of a lack of other opportunities.
Seleno Health's cacao farmer also gets substantially higher profits by being able to sell their cacao directly without brokers or intermediaries taking a cut.
RESCUING THE AMAZON AND ENVIRONMENT FROM DEFORESTATION
The cacao is agroforestry ’shade-grown’ under the shadow of many native fruits, with an organic canopy protecting crops like banana and papaya.
Cacao naturally loves to grow under a forest canopy, so there is less stress on the tree, it promotes biodiversity, improves soil fertility and sequesters 30% more carbon than non-shade grown cacao.
It also helps to protect the Amazon rainforest from deforestation.
