Benefits
- Less calories than white sugar or honey
- High mineral content
- Antioxidant agent
- Anti-inflammatory agent
- Anticancer agent
A recent article published in March 2011 mentions scientific studies done in 2007 by a renown researcher, Richard Béliveau, that confirm maple syrup’s role in the prevention of cancer, acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent1. This is due to the fact that maple trees produce protective phenolic substances to fight against bacteria, virus, fungus, etc. which is found in the sap used to make the maple syrup. These substances play a major role in our own immune system in the prevention of cancer.
Maple syrup is rich in essential minerals; 1/4 cup maple syrup covers 100% of our daily needs of Manganese, an important mineral for bone formation that also acts as antioxidant. This same amount also contributes to 37% of our daily needs in Riboflavin, 18% in Zinc, 7% in Magnesium and 5% in Calcium and Potassium.
Maple is considered the best sweetener compared to white sugar and honey as it contains the least calories. Maple syrup contains 12 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon compared to 15 g and 17 g for honey and white sugar2.
Its low calorie content coupled with its antioxidant powers and mineral content make maple syrup the sweetener to prefer.
Sources
1 – Madame.ca
2 – passeportsante.net
