15 July 2015

Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

One of the popular sweeteners today is maple syrup.

It is a 100% natural sweetener that is claimed to be more nutritious and healthier than sugar.

Maple syrup is made in 2 steps:

Step 1: A hole is drilled in the maple tree. Then the sugary circulating fluid leaks out and is collected into a container.

Step 2: The sugary fluid is boiled until most of the water evaporates, leaving a thick sugary syrup, which is then filtered to remove impurities.

Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

1. Antioxidants

Maple syrup has various minerals and antioxidant properties that are essential for healthy living. 100 grams of maple syrup contain:

§  Calcium: 7% of the RDA.
§  Potassium: 6% of the RDA.
§  Iron: 7% of the RDA.
§  Zinc: 28% of the RDA.
§  Manganese: 165% of the RDA.

It is the function of the manganese mineral present in the maple syrup to supply the superoxide dismutase which is an oxidative enzyme. This enzyme helps in disarming the dangerous free radicals.

2. Healthy Heart 

As maple syrup contains zinc, it can protect and prevent against various cardiovascular disorders. Zinc enhances the performance of the endothelial cells by protecting them against damage due to the existence of excess cholesterol, together with other oxidized lipids. A low level of zinc exposes the inner lining of blood vessels to injuries, which in return can affect the normal operations of the heart.       

3. Male Health

It helps in maintaining male reproductive health. This is because certain minerals found in maple syrup are useful for a healthy reproductive system, particularly the prostate gland. Reduction in the levels of the minerals increases the risk of disorders, such as prostate cancer. 

4. Immune System

A lack of zinc and manganese in the body could easily lead to a reduction in the number of white blood cells, which affects the response of the immune system.

But even though maple syrup does contain nutrients and antioxidants, it is also high in sugar content. And so consuming it in excess can lead to obesity.

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