Pour More! Pure Maple Syrup Is Surprisingly Good for the Body
For many people, pure maple syrup brings back happy memories of enjoying pancakes or waffles drenched with the sweet stuff as kids. However, if you maintain a healthy diet and devour it in its simplest form, maple syrup doesn’t just have to be a thing of the past. Did you know that this popular sweetener actually has several important health benefits?
Before diving into the positive health effects pure maple syrup can offer those who prioritize a healthy diet and lifestyle, let’s take a closer look at the history of this sweet substance and how it came to be.
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What Is Pure Maple Syrup? A Brief History
Pure Maple syrup is a thick, sweet liquid made from the sap of maple trees. Though maple syrup is commonly used around North America today, the vast majority of the continent’s bottled maple syrup sold in stores is harvested from Canada (specifically from the province of Quebec).
How Was Pure Maple Syrup First Used?
The Iroquois people were the first to use maple syrup. They are a Native American tribe indigenous to the northeastern region of America. They discovered that they could tap maple trees for their sap and that the sap could be congealed into a sweet consumable syrup.
Maple trees accumulate high levels of starch in their trunks and roots, which makes it easy for the tree’s sap to convert to sugar.
Maple sap is usually collected to make syrup during the spring when the sugar within the tree’s trunk and roots has risen up and is mixed with water within the tree to create the sticky texture we usually associate with tree sap.
How is Pure Maple Syrup Made?
Professional maple sap collectors tap maple trees for their sap in a similar but slightly more efficient way than the Iroquois people did thousands of years ago. Once the maple sap is collected, it is processed to remove the water content so that only the thick, concentrated syrup is left.
The sap has to be carefully heated at a specific temperature to remove the majority of the water content without compromising the taste or texture of the finished product. After the water has been removed, the syrup is heated to a specific temperature and density to ensure that it has the desired color, flavor, and consistency. Since maple syrup is a naturally occurring substance, the process shouldn’t involve the addition of any extra sweeteners, chemicals, or preservatives.
Grading System for Pure Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is separated into different categories based on color and flavor.The grade system for maple syrup was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the early 20th century, with input from the maple syrup industry. The original system, which was introduced in the 1920s, included four grades based on color and flavor.
Over time, the system was revised and expanded, and in 2015, the USDA introduced a new grading system that simplified the previous system.
Grade A Golden syrup is the lightest color and most subtle flavor, and these characteristics are based on when the sap was collected during the season.
The next category is Grade A Amber syrup, which has a slightly sweeter and richer flavor along with a darker color to the syrup.
Next comes Grade A Dark syrup, which is a few shades darker than amber syrup and has an even more robust flavor profile. While lighter grades of syrup can have hints of other flavors, such as vanilla, dark syrup has a definite maple flavor.
The final grade is Grade A Very Dark syrup, which is true to its name with a dark color, intense flavor, and strong sweetness. This grade is the most common type of maple syrup used in cooking, and most table syrup used on food items is of the dark or very dark variety.
Pure Maple Syrup Taste and Texture
Though the specific flavors of maple syrup can vary slightly based on the grade, there is a general flavor profile, no matter the color.
Maple syrup is known for its strong maple flavor, its sweetness, and its thick and sticky texture, which is slightly thinner than molasses. When mixed into liquids or recipes, maple syrup tends to blend into the texture of the other substances present while still providing a strong sweetness and maple flavor. People have likened the taste to a mixture of vanilla, caramel, and prune.
What Can I Use Pure Maple Syrup For?
Though you may have used maple syrup as a topper for a few specific dishes, there is a huge variety of ways to use maple syrup and enjoy its health benefits as well as its delicious taste.
Breakfast Foods
As you can probably guess, maple syrup is most commonly used for breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles. Want to enjoy your favorite childhood breakfast while still supporting a healthy diet? Make your pancakes and waffles with whole grains and top them with lots of healthy fruits in addition to some of your favorite maple syrup!
Another great way to increase the health value of your delicious breakfast is by adding some protein powder to your pancake or waffle recipe. This way, you can still enjoy the tastes and textures you love while making sure that your meal is as healthy and satiating as possible.
Smoothies
Everyone loves a good smoothie from time to time, but smoothies can actually be a great regular part of an overall healthy diet when made with the right ingredients. Toss a bunch of your favorite fruits into a blender along with some leafy greens, and add a small amount of maple syrup to sweeten.
You’ll love the taste of your smoothie and can feel good about the health benefits of your sweetener of choice.
Beverage Sweetener
Many people opt for low-calorie or calorie-free artificial sweeteners for beverages like coffee and tea in order to reduce the amount of sugar they include in their diet. However, these sweeteners can pose health problems for some people, especially when consumed in excess.
Adding a few drops of maple syrup to your coffee or tea can help to sweeten it naturally while adding a delicious maple flavor.
Baking Ingredient
If you’re a health-conscious person, you may be hesitant to bake your favorite treats too often, as baked goods tend to contain high levels of sugar and saturated fats.
With maple syrup, however, you can not only sweeten your baked goods naturally, but you can also add less sweetener without sacrificing taste when you use darker-grade maple syrups with robust flavor.
There are many other ways to healthify your baked goods in addition to using maple syrup, such as sweetening with ripe bananas or dates, using sugar-free chocolate chips, or adding protein powder to your recipe for extra nutritional value.
Best Superfoods to Pair With Maple Syrup
Superfoods are food items considered to be particularly nutrient-dense, making them an important part of a healthy diet. Here are some delicious and nutritious superfoods that could pair well with maple syrup for a healthy and tasty snack.
Berries
Berries like raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries are packed with vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants, which can help fight inflammation and prevent disease.
Though berries are already a sweet snack, a light drizzle of maple syrup creates a healthy and decadent dessert that’s low in calories and free of refined sugars.
Yogurt
In addition to health-boosting compounds like protein and potassium, yogurt contains probiotics, which help support good gut health. Additionally, it makes a thick and creamy base for a healthy snack or dessert and mixes well with maple syrup’s sweet flavor. Add some berries or nuts on top to make a well-rounded, healthy treat!
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts like almonds, brazil nuts, and walnuts, as well as seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds, are more than a crunchy, delicious snack — they are packed with protein, antioxidants, and other health-improving compounds.
Turn this savory snack into a sweet one by drizzling some maple syrup onto your trail mix or even soaking it in maple syrup overnight to create a sweet, hardened coating.
Ginger, Cinnamon, and Turmeric
Though ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric each have their own distinct health benefits, they are often combined in powder form for smoothies, acai bowls, teas, and other foods and beverages to combine their health benefits into one.
Lattes using some combination of these three superfood powders are all the rage, and a few drops of maple syrup can help to add some natural sweetener while increasing the health benefits of your tasty beverage.
Sweet Potato
Most people think of the holiday season when they think of sweet potatoes, but this nutrient-packed root vegetable can (and should) be enjoyed throughout the year.
Want to include more sweet potato in your diet but don’t love the flavor? Contrary to popular belief, sweet potato doesn’t have to be served in a savory setting. Add some maple syrup to your recipe, and make your sweet potato dish even sweeter and more delicious for a unique and healthy treat!
Pure Maple Syrup Health Benefits
Now that you’ve learned a bit more about pure maple syrup and how it can be used to sweeten your diet without compromising your health, let’s take a closer look at the distinct health benefits of this delicious product.
Lower Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can put people at risk for multiple negative health outcomes, including chronic pain, heart disease, strokes, and gallstones. According to some promising animal studies, maple syrup may have cholesterol-lowering effects as well as the ability to help prevent liver inflammation.
Antioxidant Properties
Antioxidants are naturally-occurring substances found in the body, as well as several food types that help remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are damaging agents created by internal oxidation, and antioxidants help to prevent oxidation from occurring when consumed regularly.
When it comes to boosting your antioxidant levels through food, the best things to eat would be berries, avocado, nuts, leafy greens, and many other superfoods. However, some studies suggest that maple syrup may have substantial amounts of antioxidants.
Darker maple syrups, such as dark or very dark grades, likely have higher antioxidant levels than lighter grades.
Boosted Brain Health
Though the research on maple syrup’s effect on brain health is still in the early stages, some promising findings suggest maple syrup’s ability to help prevent the clumping of certain proteins within brain cells.
These protein clumps are directly linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, which means maple syrup could help lower your risk of developing such conditions.
Packed with Health-Boosting Minerals
Maple syrup is a naturally occurring substance packed with various healthy minerals, including manganese, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These minerals can have disease-fighting properties and help strengthen your immune system, metabolize carbs and fats more effectively, and regulate your blood sugar.
Better for Digestion than Artificial Sweeteners
Though artificial sweetener options for beverages and baked goods can help save calories, they can cause bloating and other gut issues for some people, especially when consumed regularly. Artificial sweeteners provide no nutritional benefits and can actually disrupt the digestive system in some cases. Some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners can alter the gut microbiome, which can lead to digestive issues and even contribute to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Maple syrup on the other hand contains natural sugars, as well as trace amounts of vitamins and minerals that can help support digestive health. For example, maple syrup contains zinc, which can help boost the immune system and aid in the digestion of carbohydrates. It also contains manganese, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and support bone health. Since maple syrup is a natural sweetener, it is unlikely to cause any gut issues, especially since its strong flavor and sweetness make it easy to use sparingly.
Are There Any Health Risks From Maple Syrup
Though maple syrup has several health-boosting properties, you should still moderate how much you consume.
Since pure maple syrup has very high levels of naturally-occurring sugar, it is a high-calorie food at around 13 calories per tablespoon, which means that those watching their calorie intake should be wary of how much maple syrup they use on a daily basis.
Similarly, maple syrup has a high sugar content without any fiber, and this can cause large blood sugar and insulin swings, making it dangerous for diabetics. If you are diabetic, ask your doctor if maple syrup is safe for you to consume.
Foods that are high in any type of sugar, whether naturally occurring or refined, can cause tooth decay, especially if regular dental health maintenance isn’t kept up. Be wary of how much maple syrup and other sugary foods you consume, as they can cause cavities. Also, make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day to prevent tooth decay.
How to Properly Store Maple Syrup
Maple syrup can remain usable for roughly one year after opening as long as it’s stored correctly. The best place to keep it is in the refrigerator since it does not contain any preservatives and can grow mold if left at room temperature.
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Disclaimer: The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Consult your doctor before using any health treatment, including natural remedies, and tell your doctor if you have a serious medical condition or are taking any medications.
If you’re unsure whether maple syrup would be a healthy addition to your wellness routine, ask your doctor if any of your health details might make maple syrup unsafe for you.