Maple
syrup
Acer
known as maple is a genus of trees or shrubs. The genus is places in the
Sapindaceae family. Most species are deciduous, but few in southern Asia and
the Mediterranean area are evergreen. Prominently
use of the maple leaf as
a Canadian symbol.
Maple
syrup is a healthy alternative to cane or beet sugar if it is used moderately. Maple tree syrup, or more accurately sap, has been used
for centuries. The dominated sugar in sap is sucrose 66%. Sucrose is a
disaccharide, within a glucose and a fructose molecules are bonded. The leaves
of plants produce sugar during photosynthesis, which is stored as starch in the
roots. During the winter months taphole is drilled, a tube is inserted and a
bucket is attached. When spring comes the fluctuation of temperature increases
the pressure within the tree causing the sap to flow from the taphole into the
bucket. So unlike refined sugar, which undergoes complex of processes: harvest,
washing, milling, extraction, filtration, purification and crystallisation,
maple syrup is natural unrefined product, which depends only on the chemicals
introduced to the soil.
Nutritional values of maple
syrup:
Maple syrup contains proteins,
fat, carbohydrates, water, sugar, minerals such as calcium, magnesium,
phosphorous, sodium, potassium, zinc and iron and vitamins such as thiamine,
riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6.
Health benefits of maple syrup:
·
Maple syrup holds
various antioxidants in the form of phenolic compounds, which are helpful for
reducing free radicals that can cause various chronic diseases. It may help
protect against cancer.
·
The presence of zinc
is beneficial for the heart and cardiovascular disorders.
·
Glycemic index score
of maple syrup is lower than regular refined sugar.
·
Maple syrup nutrition also supplies inflammation-reducing
polyphenol antioxidants helpful in preventing certain diseases like arthritis.
·
Zinc found in maple syrup helps in maintaining
male reproductive health particularly the prostate gland.
·
The maple syrup
extract may help the antibiotics work better.
The maple
syrup nutrition impacts your blood sugar levels a bit less drastically than
table sugar does and it also supplies some trace minerals and antioxidants,
while sugar lacks both of these.
