This weekend was very warm in Ontario Canada. So warm in fact that we started to think about the time old tradition of tapping Maple trees for Maple Syrup!
In addition to adding delicious flavour (and calories) to our pancakes and french toast, maple syrup provides minerals such as zinc (which can be beneficial for our immune systems), calcium (which is beneficial for bone health), and thiamine (helps the body convert food into fuel) as well as numerous antioxidants. The darker the grade of maple syrup, the higher the amount of antioxidants!
In 2010 research at the University of Rhode Island found 20 compounds in maple syrup that have been linked to human health. These have been shown to have an anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-bacterial properties. So next time you're eating your pancake breakfast and someone gives you a hard time for all that syrup, just think of all those anti-oxidants and anti-cancer/anti-bacterial properties the syrup may have!
One note of caution however! This only holds true for true REAL maple syrup (preferably Canadian of course), the imitation table syrup is just not the same!
As I continue on my maple syrup making adventure (as sadly I am a newbie this year) I will update my avid readers with my progress! We're hoping that Mother Nature will co-operate and provide us with enough sap for a good panacake breakfast at the end (grain free of course!)
Thanks for reading!
- Dr Kendra Clifford ND
The information in this post is for educational purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice.