Ever bought frozen dessert only to look at the list of ingredients after and kind of felt cheated? And somehow tasting the thing didn’t make things better either?
That’s sort of how it goes with maple syrup: there’s the real stuff made from maple sap that comes from actual maple trees, and then there’s the unauthentic version made with who knows what. Well, we actually know what: chemically processed ingredients that lead to health problems faster than the speed of Formula Rossa.
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Think of it this way: Australians already consume processed foods, confectionery products, and soft drinks worth of 20 teaspoons of sugar on a daily basis. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Physicians recommend six teaspoons of sugar consumption per day.
But since we are already consuming that much sugar, shouldn’t we at least make sure we’re choosing the lesser of evils?
Now back to maple syrup.
The liquid syrup known as maple syrup mostly consists of glucose and water, which means it’s considered healthier, that is when not consumed excessively.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are those so-called this and that syrups that mostly contain high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, preservatives and other nasty ingredients that you should really avoid. Your body’s digestive system can only put up with so much processed food before breaking apart. But that’s an entirely different story.
The main point here is that you should spend your money on genuine maple syrup and not on imitation syrups. Sugary as it may be, maple syrup at least contains some nutritional value.
Why maple syrup is better than maple flavored syrup
First and foremost, 100% natural pure maple syrup is evidently healthier than the chemically processed version simply because it is produced naturally, without any additives. The syrup is obtained by boiling maple sap until the water evaporates, resulting in a dense, sugary liquid with various degrees of flavor.
Second, maple syrup, as opposed to fake syrup, actually contains nutrients that help the body. For example:
- Manganese promotes healthy bones and regulates blood sugar level.
- Zinc fights cancer and can reverse heart disease.
- Potassium enhances muscle strength and benefits the nervous system.
- Calcium helps maintain bone and dental health.
- Riboflavin maintains healthy blood cells and healthy eyes.
And yes, maple syrup contains all the nutrients above whereas maple-flavored syrup contains zero nutrients and lots of sugars.
How to distinguish real from fake
It’s actually very simple. Real maple syrup always costs more than its fake counterpart, so when you are at the store and in front of the grocery aisle where dozens of maple syrups line up before you, the first hint is to look at how much they cost.
Check for labels that say “pure maple syrup” and read the list of ingredients which should only list one ingredient: maple syrup.
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Maple syrup has a strong flavor that many people, particularly children, don’t find very attractive. But there are healthier options to imitation syrups such as homemade versions. Diluting the maple syrup with water and adding spices is a great way to substitute imitation maple syrup.