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Is Maple Syrup Healthy Or Unhealthy?

So, is maple syrup actually unhealthy? Compared to refined sugars, no – due to the fact it is lower G.I and contains the vitamins and minerals... This being said, as with any sugar, maple syrup should be consumed in moderation and sugar consumption kept to within recommended guidelines.

Whilst there are some health benefits to be gained from eating maple syrup, the high sugar content outweighs any positives. Essentially, sugar is sugar and no matter whether it be Glucose, sucrose, maltose, corn syrup, hydrolysed starch, invert sugar, fructose, and molasses – they all mean the same thing: sugar.

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Featured

 Is Maple Syrup Good for You?

On pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, and more, Americans love maple syrup. The rich flavor is one reason why it’s so popular, as is its reputation as a good-for-you "natural" sweetener. But don’t fall for the sweet talk. While there’s some reason to choose maple syrup over refined table sugar, it’s definitely not a “superfood.”

 Sweet Hype for Maple Syrup

You can tell that it’s sugaring off time because sappy articles about the health benefits of maple syrup start flowing from media outlets.

 Unlocking the secrets of maple syrup, one molecule at a time

The composition of phenolic compounds of maple syrup is even more impressive. Since the beginning of the 20th century, researchers have discovered more than 100 of these molecules in plants. Many of them are antioxidants, and contribute to the taste, aroma, colour of maple syrup. They are primarily responsible for its recent superfood status.

Articles of Interest

A Brief History of Maple Syrup

From the 17th century onward, dairy farmers who wanted to supplement their income from milk — or who just needed a source of sweetener that was better and cheaper than sugar or molasses — drilled small holes in the trees during the brief weather window between winter and spring. (Sap typically runs out of maple trees on days when the temperature is around 40 degrees following a night when the mercury dropped below freezing.)

Are Honey and Maple Syrup Really Healthier Than Sugar? We Asked Nutritionists

In particular, "[p]eople [who need to watch] their blood sugar should treat honey, maple syrup, and sugar very similarly in that they are all still sugar, and all of these sweeteners will spike blood sugar to a certain extent," says Jenna Volpe, RDN, LD, CLT, functional dietitian nutritionist. And there's certainly no need to start adding them to your diet if you don't use any sweetener to begin with. "One shouldn't be looking at honey or maple syrup as a 'source of antioxidants,' but rather, as a tasty meal time addition," adds Rachel Fine, RD.

Breakfast at Your Desk: Surprise! Maple Syrup Has Health Benefits

Do you buy real maple syrup or imitation? I'm all for the real stuff (even though it does cost so much more!), so I was thrilled to hear this news, out this week, about the surprising health benefits of real maple syrup (love this!) ...

Bye Bye Grade B Maple Syrup

New international standards for labeling maple syrup have come into effect such that Grade B is no longer used. The new system for categorizing maple syrup is designed with the express purpose of eliminating discrimination against the darker syrup. As a result, all maple syrup is now Grade A with four identifying colors: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark.

Could maple syrup help cut use of antibiotics?

Syrup extract found to make antibiotics more effective against bacteria.

Grade Inflation In The Maple Syrup Aisle: Now Everything Is An 'A'

Why would you choose a B grade if you can get an A? Ask a baker. They'll tell you that if you like richer, darker, more intense maple syrup, you should pick Grade B. But the idea that B beats A seems counterintuitive to lots of consumers who are just looking for something sweet to pour on their morning pancakes.

How Maple Syrup Played a Surprising Role in the Abolition of Slavery

The pancake topping has a remarkably political history.

Is maple syrup the new athletic superfuel?

A low glycemic index, numerous antioxidants and high mineral content make for an appealing energy source for athletes, prompting one legendary Vermont ski family to take a chance on the gooey delight as the next big performance booster.

Maple Syrup as a Cancer Fighter?

Maple syrup as a cancer fighter? That’s what a press release from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers claims. “Recent studies have shown Canadian maple syrup to contain more than twenty antioxidant compounds which are known to slow cancerous growth.”

Maple Syrup Goes To Dinner — And Drinks

This product, common on American breakfast tables, is not easy to make. It's an involved process that requires not only skill but also patience.

Maple Syrup Making Also Boomed as a Pandemic Hobby

At-home evaporators sold out, and attention to the maple sugaring classifieds surged.

Maple Syrup Meets Rye Whiskey and WOW Is It Delicious

See what our food and nutrition editor is whipping up for you guys this weekend!

Maple Syrup Truths Revealed: Time to Switch Brands?

Since maple syrup is a completely natural product that is derived from trees that are decades old in most cases and rarely if ever sprayed, I’ve always assumed that conventional maple syrup is basically the same as organic. Why pay more for maple syrup that has the organic label which is an expensive certification for producers to procure?

Maple Syrup Vs Honey: A Comparison

Honey and maple syrup are natural sweeteners with many similarities, but they have differences too. These amber-coloured liquids are the best alternatives to table sugar. While some view maple syrup as a healthier option than honey, others think the other way. The significant differences between honey and maple syrup involve their nutritional composition. And it helps you to determine which one is better and healthy for your diet.

Maple Syrup: Why the Real Stuff Makes All the Difference

Real maple syrup is worth the extra expense. Here's why and what to look for.

Pour It On! Maple Syrup Is Good for You

“Everything the tree filters out from Mother Nature and all of the good minerals, antioxidants, and everything it is doing for the food for the tree, stays in the sugar,” explains Thomas. “[Sap] has complex components that are things we also need to stay healthy, just like the trees.”

Sticky and sweet: 17 delicious ways with maple syrup – from pecan pie to a whisky sour

Sticky and sweet: 17 delicious ways with maple syrup – from pecan pie to a whisky sour If you’ve been saving it to pour over pancakes, here are some brilliant new options, including bacon lollies, mouthwatering aubergines and some very grown up Rice Krispies.

Sweet News: Maple Syrup May Have Serious Health Benefits

Good news, Mrs. Buttersworth: Extracts from pure maple syrup might help reduce disease-causing bacteria, including strains that are resistant to antibiotics, according to new research from McGill University in Canada.

Syrup and sin

Mobsters take on Quebec’s maple monopoly.

Syrup Is as Canadian as a Maple Leaf. That Could Change With the Climate.

Canada produces roughly 70 percent of the world’s maple syrup. That was worth about $370 million in 2017. Warm weather can hurt syrup production because the process depends on specific temperature conditions: daytime highs above freezing with nighttime lows below freezing.

The Controversy Over Maple Syrup

There's a controversy over how to label the sugar naturally found in maple syrup. The Food and Drug Administration says it should be labeled as "added sugar." Maple syrup producers are balking.

The Maple Syrup Cartel

More than 70 percent of the world's maple syrup comes from the Canadian province of Quebec. Producing maple syrup is very dependent on the weather, but global demand doesn't quit just because of a bad spring. So the maple syrup producers of Quebec set production quotas to control over-production and a reserve, to make sure the supply never runs dry. That's right, there's a global strategic reserve of maple syrup.

The Mystery of the Maple Syrup Smell

There was no doubt about it: she woke up smelling like waffles. A writer tries to get to the bottom of an enigmatic aroma.

The Season’s Secret Ingredient: Maple Syrup

At this sugar shack in rural Quebec, maple syrup brings a certain je ne sais quoi to every rustic, riotous meal. Bring the feast home with these deeply comforting recipes.

You’re Doing It Wrong: Granola

But its ingredients list? Not so much. Granola starts out with rolled oats, nuts, and dried fruit—so far, so good on the wholesomeness front—but takes a sharp turn for the decadent with a thick coating of fat and sugars, which turn crunchy and caramelized as the granola bakes. Granola is basically an oatmeal cookie in cereal form.

Resources

7 Facts You Didn't Know About Maple Syrup

Maple syrup's nutritional advantage—plus 6 other fun facts.