“Can you pass the maple syrup?” is what Buddy asks in Elf (2003), and as it turns out, he might have been onto something. If you’ve only been using the sweet condiment on your breakfast dishes, you might want to add it somewhere else, like your coffee.
A new study suggests that maple syrup is a good replacement for sugar in your coffee and can improve your health. According to a team from Laval University in Quebec, having 2 tablespoons of maple syrup in place of two tablespoons of refined sugar could significantly reduce some of the major factors for diabetes and heart disease.
The lead scientist, Dr. André Marette, explains the findings, stating, “We know from decades of research that maple syrup is more than just sugar. It contains over 100 natural compounds, including polyphenols, that are known to prevent disease in part through their anti-inflammatory effects.”
More about the maple syrup study
Published in The Journal of Nutrition, this study focused on 42 volunteers, aged 18 to 75, and all healthy. Their BMIs (body mass indexes) ranged from 23 to 40, so from normal to obese. “These volunteers replaced 5% of their daily calories with either maple syrup or a refined sugar syrup during two separate eight-week periods, with a four-week break between,” according to the study.
The findings were remarkable, significantly affecting key health factors such as blood pressure and blood sugar control among others. The maple syrup volunteers’ bodies managed blood sugar levels much more effectively compared to the refined sugar volunteers.
Similarly, the systolic blood pressure of participants in the maple syrup group decreased by 3 points, but it slightly increased for participants in the refined sugar group. The maple syrup group also saw a decrease in visceral fat — which is linked to heart disease and diabetes — as well as harmful gut bacteria, with an increase in the beneficial gut bacteria.
Maple syrup is more than just sweet — it’s nutritious!
When we think of maple syrup, we often think of slathering it on as a way to sweeten our breakfast pancakes, but the sweetener actually has many nutritious benefits. Maple syrup offers 35% of daily manganese, a mineral essential to human health such as cell protection, energy production, wound healing and blood clotting. The condiment also has 15% of your daily allowance of riboflavin, a vitamin that is essential for cell growth/function, immune system support and healthy hair, nails and skin.
Maple syrup contains 12% fewer calories than light corn syrup, as well as small amounts of calcium, thiamin, potassium and copper—all important nutrients for the human body.
Why choose maple syrup over refined sugar
The findings of the study are quite significant as the results show. As Dr. Marette says, “The combined decrease of such key risk factors may help to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
One participant in the study says it changed their view on consuming maple syrup. “Before the study, I would consume pure maple products regularly but not consistently. Today my routine is to replace refined sugars with 2 tablespoons of pure Canadian maple syrup daily,” the participant says.
Give this new maple syrup hack a try and your health may thank you in the long run. Just ask Buddy the Elf: he might not have known how to properly choose a gift, but he seems to have been ahead of the curve on a better way to sweeten his day.
This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.
