Top 12 Health Benefits Of Maple Syrup You Should Know In 2023
You may have tasted various sweeteners, but you have yet to discover a sweet but natural one with multiple benefits. That's maple syrup.
In Canada, approximately 17.4 million gallons of maple syrup are produced yearly, with a record high estimated for 2022. This figure projects every year due to its increasing demand.
Research studies reveal maple syrup contains more nutrients and antioxidants than honey. Maple syrup, a famous condiment, has become a main ingredient in cuisines like pancakes, oatmeal, waffles, doughnuts, and porridge.
Origin of Maple Syrup
The maple tree is the primary and natural source of maple syrup, of which ten species are native to Canada.
Let's head over to the production of maple syrup.
Trees store starch in their roots during summer and fall, whereas long-term accumulation converts starch into sugar. When spring arrives, the xylem vessel combines the sugar with water to form sap.
The natural maple sap is rich in minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and organic acids. This sap is extracted through tapping and evaporation and transforms into a light, golden maple syrup.
Health Benefits of Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is the only sweetener with nutritious elements and has countless health benefits. You will find beneficial elements in maple syrup, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and Manganese.
It is an excellent source of Vitamin B6, Vitamin B5, and Vitamin C, which help break down carbohydrates into glucose. The body uses glucose when the energy level lowers down.
Move ahead to discover the health benefits of maple syrup.
- Rich in Antioxidants
According to research studies, natural syrup is filled with numerous antioxidants essential to promoting and maintaining overall health.
There's a substantial difference in the antioxidant content of natural maple syrup and artificial sweeteners. In addition, refined sugar contains fewer free radicals, while maple syrup has higher antioxidant activity.
It has a good amount of antioxidant activity, while its neutralizing capacity helps it fight against free radicals. Free radicals significantly damage the body's organs, causing inflammation at different sites of the organs.
Some primary antioxidants in maple syrup are gallic acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, quercetin, rutin, and catechin. Such antioxidants also reduce the downsides of the sugar content consumed by the body.
- Reduce Oxidative Stress
As a major cause of oxidative stress, free radicals outperform the aging mechanism and expose you to life-threatening diseases.
Lighter syrups, like a grade A syrup, have a high antioxidant capacity, which kills free radicals that badly affect your body's organs.
Even a single serving of dry nuts or berries can't increase the antioxidant level as much as maple syrup. Therefore, it is better to use maple syrup than white sugar since it can reduce oxidative damage and keep you healthy.
- Improves Heart Health
Have you ever noticed the performance of your heart?
If not, then notice it today.
Is your heart beating at a regular rate?
Artificial sugars increase cholesterol and oxidized lipids, which harm the heart. While excess consumption of artificial sweeteners finally makes your heart susceptible to strokes, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorders.
Zinc is an essential nutrient in maple syrup that helps the heart to perform a normal function. It promotes endothelial cell or blood vessel cell performance and protects the heart's inner lining.
However, zinc deficiency causes the heart lining to damage, resulting in fat deposits that block blood vessels and lead to atherosclerosis.
A healthy heart can help you lead a healthier life, so quit using artificial sweeteners and opt for natural maple syrup.
- Boosts Immunity
Manganese and zinc play a vital role in regulating and activating immune functions in the body.
Firstly, zinc is a gatekeeper of the immune response that promotes growth, relieves oxidative stress, and helps in the normal functioning of immune cells. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that regulate the activity of white blood cells.
On the other hand, Manganese activates immunity, heals wounds, inhibits inflammation, and strengthens and supports the spinal bone in aging women. It also acts as a facilitator for defense against infections.
- Boost your Energy Level
Low in energy or feeling exhausted?
There comes maple syrup to boost your energy level. It is similar to an energy drink that improves physical and mental health. When your energy levels drop, this sweet syrup provides carbohydrate content, fueling the body.
One of the trace minerals in maple syrup, Manganese, is an energy booster. Maple syrup is filled with nutritional value, containing 72% manganese.
Whether you are out for a workout or heading for an athletic performance, maple syrup is the best to boost your energy, as your body requires electrolytes for a better daily routine. It improves energy production, prevents cramping, and initiates muscle recovery.
Next time, if you lose energy, nibble on a spoonful of maple syrup and revitalize your strength in no time.
- Low Glycemic Index
Have you become a victim of the sugar crash?
Do you know what a sugar crash is?
A "sugar crash" refers to a high sugar level in the blood. As the liver metabolizes refined carbohydrates or sugars, increasing refined sugar or high nectar, consumption raises insulin levels, resulting in a sugar crash. Hence, lower blood glucose levels lead to diabetes and obesity.
To avoid such diseases, quit refined sugar and add maple syrup to your cuisine. It's because maple syrup has a lower glycemic index than white sugar and benefits your health.
- Protects Against Cancer
Maple syrup is a much safer option than artificial sweeteners. Since maple syrup supplies antioxidants, it protects the cells and prevents DNA damage or mutations.
However, artificial sweeteners harm body cells by promoting obesity, which initiates uncontrolled cell growth and DNA mutation. It ultimately spreads tumors throughout the body, resulting in sporadic cancer.
Furthermore, maple syrup has been used to create anti-cancer drugs that effectively inhibit growth and do not interfere with cancerous cells.
So you won't have to give up sugar because maple syrup is a natural substitute.
- Improves Digestion
Fed up with indigestion?
Then keep in mind that refined sugars and corn syrup cause indigestion, leaky gut syndrome, bloating, constipation, and immune diseases.
To eliminate such issues, consume natural maple syrup and keep your digestive system healthy.
Use maple syrup in baking and cooking, or drizzle it over your pancakes, waffles, yogurt, and coffee. Thus, make your diet healthy to keep your digestive tract healthier.
- Reduce the Risk of Diabetes
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that is good for health compared to white sugar or an artificial sweetener. Using maple syrup can reduce the harmful chemicals consumed in synthetic white sugar granules.
Moreover, research shows maple syrup contains some healthy acids that benefit human health. One of these is abscisic acid, which helps fight against diabetes.
Abscisic acid commands the muscles to absorb the sugar, which is helpful for diabetic patients. Thus, people with diabetes should add maple syrup instead of granular sugar.
- Inhibits Inflammatory Disorders
Here is another mind-blowing benefit of maple syrup.
Maple syrup contains polyphenol, an inflammation-reducing antioxidant, which contributes to its ability to inhibit inflammation. It suppresses arthritis, heart disease, and other inflammatory disorders.
Nevertheless, oxidative stress causes aging, weakens the immune system, and leads to risky diseases like inflammation of organs or their linings.
But if you consume maple syrup, your body gets enriched with antioxidants, ready to protect your body from harmful agents.
- Maintains Male Reproductive Health
Maple syrup is vital to maintain the health of the male reproductive system. Minerals like zinc are beneficial for the prostate gland.
Every body part needs a proper amount of minerals and vitamins for proper functioning. Similarly, an increase or decrease in the number of minerals can cause various problems, including problems with the male reproductive system.
Therefore, it is recommended to include foods or supplements in your diet that contain the proper ratio of minerals required by the body. And maple syrup is one of them, filled with such nutritious minerals. It helps you lead a healthy life.
- Fewer Calories
Maple syrup is as sweet as sugar but has fewer calories.
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that doesn't have the same amount of calories as white sugar. One tablespoon of pure maple syrup contains 53 calories and 12 grams of carbohydrates; the same white granulated sugar has 60 calories and 16 grams of carbohydrates.
However, refined sugar does more harm to your immune system. It increases the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, and cancer.
So if you're trying to watch your weight or avoid processed foods, maple syrup is an excellent choice for sweetening your coffee or tea!
Final Thoughts:
If you're tired of using white sugar in your recipes, there are many other options, and one of the best is maple syrup.
Maple syrup has unlimited health benefits, making it an excellent choice for those who want to reduce their sugar intake or eat healthier food.
Limit your intake of white sugar and add maple syrup as a supplement to affect your diet positively.
Craving for sweets? Get maple syrup now; it's far better than sugar and honey.