The Health Attributes of Maple Syrup and Other Maple Products
Maple syrup is popular because of its sweet and unique taste that blends perfectly with waffles, pancakes and other pastry foods. Nonetheless, aside from its sweet tase, maple syrup is good because promotes the health of our body.First and foremost, maple syrup is 100% organic. It is made by boiling sap fresh from maple trees until it fully thickens into syrup. There are certainly no added preservatives! It has also a lower amount of calories compared to sugarcane but is 3 times sweeter! Therefore, it is a perfect sweetener and ideal for the diabetics. Instead of using white sugar or honey for your coffee or baked pastries, many people are using maple syrup as the substitute. In the US, organic grade b maple syrup are classified that way based on their color and flavor. No matter if you choose Canadian maple syrup or some other variety, you will be healthier for it. The health benefits of maple syrup supplies are numerous.
Maple syrup also contains manganese, which is very essential for antioxidant defenses and in the production of energy. This is because mitochondria, the energy factories of our body, need manganese in its functioning. The enzyme superoxide dismutase that functions in oxidation by disarming free radicals also needs manganese to function properly. Just an ounce of maple syrup is enough to provide our bodies with the daily needed amount of manganese which is 22%.
In addition to this, maple syrup contains zinc making it good for the heart. Besides functioning as an antioxidant, zinc also promotes the health of the hearth by decreasing substantially the development of atherosclerosis. It is also needed by the cells in the heart’s endothelium for proper functioning. It has been established that endothelial cells with low levels of zinc are more susceptible to injury.
These two minerals, zinc and manganese, contained in maple syrup are also important factors in the functioning of our immune system. Many immune system cells depend on zinc to properly function optimally, specifically in children. Studies have also shown that poor immune response and an increase in the number of white blood cells are some of the effects of low zinc levels. Also, manganese helps in reducing inflammation of wounds and other sores, thereby promoting healing. Furthermore, it functions as a refreshment for the immune system.
Maple syrup is also very beneficial to reproductive health, especially that of men. This is because the prostate is where zinc is more highly concentrated than in any other tissue in the body. Studies have also shown a link between zinc deficiency and higher risks of prostate cancer and prostatitis development. In fact, zinc is used as a therapeutic by numerous health care specialists for reducing the size of the prostate. On the other hand, reproductive health also benefits from manganese because is participates in the production of hormones that stimulate sexual drive.
