Did you know that besides being delicious, maple syrup is also beneficial to your body? While it may seem unhealthy to some, pouring maple syrup over your pancakes and waffles me be a good thing. There are various studies that suggest this type of syrup can be beneficial to a person’s health in many ways. Here are the reasons why you should include maple syrup in your diet.
Researchers at the University Rhode Island learned that maple syrup is rich in antioxidant compounds which help prevent certain diseases such as diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. It is ironic that this natural sweetener can prevent a disease such as diabetes which is caused by insulin resistance. It contains phenolics which can inhibit two carbohydrate hydrolizing enzymes which are important in managing Type 2 diabetes by balancing blood sugar levels.
Maple syrup is also good for the heart. Besides acting as an antioxidant, zinc also helps slow the progression of atherosclerosis. Zinc is also important in the proper function of endothelial cells which helps prevent damage caused by LDL cholesterol on the heart. Endothelial membranes are more prone to injury if it is low in zinc. If you are not familiar with these terms (and most of you probably are not unless you are well-versed in medicine), endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels. The study also suggested that individuals who are deficient in manganese will benefit from maple syrup as it is rich in the said mineral. Lack of manganese can lower the level of HDL or “good” cholesterol in the body.
One of the reasons why maple syrup is good for you is because it is rich in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, calcium and potassium. Zinc and manganese are known to be important in having a strong immune system. There are many types of immune cells that depend on zinc to function properly. This is true particularly for kids. There are various studies which reveal that deficiency in zinc can have an effect on an individual’s immunity and this includes the number of white blood cells. The study showed that zinc supplementation helps in getting the immune system’s condition back to normal. Besides protecting you from colds and viruses, zinc is also good for the reproductive health. Manganese on the other hand helps the body reduce inflammation, promote healing and is an immunostimulant.
Maple syrup has a lot of benefits particularly for men. Because zinc is more concentrated in the prostate than in any other human tissue, low levels of zinc in the prostate can increase a man’s risk for cancer. The mineral is considered as important not only in preventing prostate cancer but also in treating it. Zinc is used by medical experts to reduce the size of the prostate. When it comes to a man’s reproductive health, manganese can be beneficial as it is involved in the production of sex hormones.
If you have problems with your digestion, you may want to increase your consumption of maple syrup. This is because it settles digestion issues and helps people have regular bowel movement. You should consider replacing the sugar in your food and baking recipes with maple syrup. You will notice that the usual gas and bloating you experience after consuming processed sweeteners will be reduced. When you replace sugar with maple syrup, you should reduce the amount in the recipe by about half a cup as the syrup is much sweeter than sugar. It is also ideal to use pure maple syrup which you can buy from different food or health stores in your area or online.
