More and more people want to avoid conventional sugar and therefore resort to healthy alternatives – for example maple syrup. But is maple syrup really that healthy and is it actually better than sugar ? And what about Honey – is maple syrup or honey healthier? In our article we would like to clarify how healthy maple syrup is and whether maple syrup is substitute for sugar and honey can serve.
- Is maple syrup healthy?
- Is maple syrup a healthy sugar alternative?
- Which is healthier – honey or maple syrup?
- 11 ideas how to use maple syrup
Is maple syrup healthy?
Before we answer the question of how healthy maple syrup really is or how maple syrup positive effects on health can have an impact, we would like to clarify what maple syrup actually is and how it is produced.
maple syrup (in English Maple syrup is a thickened liquid obtained from the sap of maple trees. Maple syrup is an extremely popular sweetener and is often Pancakes , waffles, French toast, yogurt, ice cream and other dishes and desserts. Maple syrup is usually used in Canada and the northeastern United States produced – where maple trees are found in large numbers. In spring, the sap of the maple tree is extracted by drilling into the trunk and then boiled. In this process The excess water evaporates, which concentrates the syrup. Depending on how long the maple syrup is boiled, the Color and The taste of the syrup. For one liter of maple syrup, around 40 liters of maple sap are needed. Since maple syrup contains important minerals and antioxidants, it is often considered healthier alternative to other sweeteners such as sugar. Let's take a look at how healthy maple syrup really is.
Maple syrup provides our body with important minerals and vitamins
Maple syrup contains important minerals and vitamins that supply our body. A portion of 60 ml of maple syrup already covers 100% of our daily requirement of manganese, 37% of riboflavin, 18% of zinc, 7% of magnesium and around 5% of calcium and potassium. In addition, maple syrup provides us with the important vitamin B . This is important for our metabolism and blood formation as well as for the function of the nerves and the immune system. The truth is, however, that we would have to eat quite a lot of maple syrup to complete with minerals. Maple syrup contains rather small amounts of minerals. This means that maple syrup is a contribute to a healthier diet can, provided that it is in addition to a balanced nutrition.
Maple syrup keeps us healthy thanks to antioxidants
Maple syrup is not only a healthy sweetener alternative, but also rich in antioxidants that help our body fighting free radicals Free radicals are molecules that damage cells, are responsible for many diseases and can cause inflammation. In total, maple syrup contains over twenty phenolic compounds which intercept and neutralize oxidative influences.
In addition to these benefits, the antioxidants contained in maple syrup also support Absorption of sugar . Compared to traditional household sugar, maple syrup has a lower glycemic index This means that our body can absorb the sugar contained in it more easily without triggering a strong insulin release. For this reason, maple syrup can also be used by diabetics in moderation be consumed.
By the way: Did you know that dark maple syrup even more more antioxidants than the light version? A study has shown that the antioxidant content increases with increasing darkness of the syrup. This makes dark maple syrup an even healthier Choice.
Maple syrup has a low glycemic load
The glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) are a measure of how carbohydrate-containing foods affect blood sugar levels. The lower the glycemic index, the less and slower the blood sugar level rises. While the glycemic index indicates how much the carbohydrates raise the blood sugar level, the glycemic load deals with the amount supplied of carbohydrates. In this sense, the glycemic load is the product of the glycemic index and the respective amount. This is also the reason why experts refer to the glycemic load as relevant parameters view.
Loud Glycemic Index The glycemic load of maple syrup is 43.5 . Compared to glucose, which has a glycemic load of around 94, dark corn syrup with a GL of around 89 and even honey, which has a glycemic load of around 46, the Maple syrup a healthier alternative represents.
Is maple syrup a healthy sugar alternative?
The question of whether maple syrup is a healthy alternative to sugar is actually irrelevant if you have read the text carefully up to this point. We are happy to summarize the most important points once again for you. Maple syrup is healthier than sugar because in comparison:
- One lower glycemic load and thus allows blood sugar to rise more slowly and evenly
- One variety of antioxidants that can fight free radicals in the body
- Us with more minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and zinc
- A pure, natural product and does not need to be heavily processed
But that is not all. If you take a look at the If you look at the nutritional content , you will quickly see that maple syrup with 260 kcal per 100 g has around 33% fewer calories than sugar with 387 kcal per 100 g. So maple syrup can even support you in losing weight if you do not want to give up sweets completely and enjoy maple syrup in moderation. In addition, maple syrup has a lower fructose content . Excessive consumption of fructose can lead to health problems such as obesity and insulin resistance lead.
And nature also benefits if we choose maple syrup instead of refined sugar. Maple syrup is extracted from trees without the trees having to be felled. As a rule, these trees can several decades harvested as long as they are “ properly” To ensure that the trees do not suffer any damage, there are also strict laws and regulations, which in turn strict monitoring In contrast, sugar cane is often grown on large plantations, which in turn negative impacts on the environment can have.
By the way: Numerous specialist magazines like that BBC goodfood or Maine Maple Producers recommend natural maple syrup and in their articles explicitly mention the advantages of the “liquid gold” with regard to Health Bestselling author Anthony William, the brain behind Medical Medium , when choosing a sweetener preferred with maple syrup .
Which is healthier – honey or maple syrup?
Maple syrup and honey are two popular natural sweeteners that are used in many kitchens around the world. Both have their own taste and character – but when it comes to Health maple syrup could easily have the edge. Compared to honey, maple syrup has fewer calories and less sugar per serving. The glycemic load of maple syrup is also, as already mentioned, slightly lower than that of honey, which makes maple syrup a better alternative – especially for people with diabetes or insulin resistance. Please note that you can still consume maple syrup in moderation and you should always consult a doctor if in doubt. People with allergies to certain plants or pollen may honey allergy So here too, maple syrup, which does not contain any allergens, is the much better choice. The content of antioxidants is slightly higher in maple syrup than in honey, which can provide better protection against cell damage caused by free radicals. From time to time, beekeepers use maple syrup to treat diseases in bees. antibiotics which can lead to the honey antibiotic residues Maple syrup, on the other hand, does not contain any of these residues, as it is natural way Also in terms of nutrient density maple syrup performs slightly better. Minerals and trace elements such as potassium, manganese and zinc, which are found in large quantities in maple syrup, are important for healthy eating and can protect the body from diseases and ailments. In addition, maple syrup contains less fructose , which makes it a healthy alternative for people with a sensitive gut or fructose intolerance. Last but not least, compared to the purely natural and plant-based maple syrup, honey is an animal product that is not suitable for people who follow a vegan diet.
11 ideas how to use maple syrup
Now that we have clarified which health benefits Finally, we would like to tell you about the benefits of maple syrup some recipe ideas We will show you how to use maple syrup and how to integrate it into your cooking. What dish comes to mind first when you think of maple syrup think? You are probably like most people and the answer is “Pancakes and waffles”. That's absolutely correct, but maple syrup can do so much more. Be sure to try it:
- to French toast
- with fried bacon
- in yogurt and porridge
- to baked beans (very popular in North America)
- as a marinade or glaze for grilled meat
- as a topping for ice cream
- for sweetening tea or coffee
- for baking muffins, cakes and cookies
- with oven-baked vegetables or fried potatoes
- in salad dressing
Maple syrup can not only healthier choice compared to honey and sugar, it is also a real all-rounder and gives a variety of foods and dishes a delicious, characteristic note . Just try it out and see for yourself. In our shop you will find a Wide selection of flavours and variations of what is probably the purest maple syrup in the world from Crown Maple!
