Read about the nutrition facts, health benefits, nutritional value and calories found in Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup Nutrition

If you are worried about the excessive calories that artificial sugars are adding to your health charts, you need not worry. There are various other natural sweeteners that you can use without being concerned about the fat they add to your tummy. Amongst these natural sweeteners, the most famous are honey and maple syrup. While both provide high source of energy, maple syrup contains higher concentration of minerals. Maple syrup made from sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees. Apart from serving as a natural sweetener in foods, maple syrup offers a myriad of healthful advantages. The various health-promoting compounds possessed in maple syrup are one of the newly identified discoveries of researchers. Besides, it is blessed with 20 unique health-promoting compounds, 12 of which were never known before. Continue glancing further as the following sections provide an extensive list of wholesome benefits of maple syrup. Now, you need not think about what to accompany your stack of pancakes with. Pour a generous amount of maple syrup without worrying about your health.

 

History

Maple syrup is an age-old tradition of North American Indians who utilized it both as a food and a medicine. They used the traditional methods of making incisions into trees with their tomahawks and using birch barks to collect the sap. By applying a couple of methods like plunging hot stones into the sap or the nightly freezing of the sap, followed by the morning removal of the frozen water layer, these Indians condensed the sap into syrup. After the arrival of settlers to North America, new methods were introduced to reduce the syrup, such as using iron drill bits to tap the trees and thereafter, boiling the sap in the metal kettles in which it was collected. Since sugar from West Indies was quite expensive, maple syrup formed the main sweetener for colonists. Gradually, sugar became cheaper and replaced maple syrup as a sweetener. At present, maple syrup production has reduced to approximately one-fifth of its status compared with the beginning of the 20th century. There are just a few selected regions of North America where maple syrup-producing trees are found. It is prominently produced in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec, and in the states of Vermont and New York in the United States.

 

Health Benefits of Dviphal Shira (Maple Syrup)

 

  • Maple syrup is a good source of manganese which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. Manganese helps in the synthesis of the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which unarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria.

  • Maple syrup contains the antioxidant, zinc, which helps in decreasing the progression of atherosclerosis. This nutrient is also essential for the normal functioning of endothelial cells and prevention of endothelial damage caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol and other oxidized fats. Studies have proved that manganese present in maple syrup helps in maintaining the level of HDL.

  • Maple syrup is known to promote reproductive health and provide special benefits for men. The deficiency of zinc in the prostate gland can pose higher risk of prostate cancer. This deficiency is defeated by maple syrup due to the presence of zinc in high amounts.

  • Manganese present in maple syrup plays a significant role in supporting men's health as a catalyst in the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol. Manganese also participates in the production of sex hormones, thereby helping in maintaining reproductive health.

  • Zinc and manganese, found in maple syrup, are important boosters of the immune system. Zinc is vital for the optimal function of many types of immune cells. In children, the deficiency of zinc can lead to lessening of white blood cells. Manganese in maple syrup is an important constituent of the antioxidant SOD; it helps lessen inflammation, thereby supporting healing.

  • Maple syrup contains phenols which inhibit two carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes that are, in turn, highly effective in managing Type 2 diabetes.

 

Nutritional Value & Calories In Maple Syrup 

Amount: 1 cup

Weight: 322 g

 
Nutrients
Amount
Basic Components
 
Proteins

129 mg

Water

103 g

Ash

1.9 g

 
 
Calories
 

Total Calories

837

Calories From Carbohydrates

835

Calories From Fats

1.6

Calories From Proteins

0.43

 
 
Carbohydrates
 

Total Carbohydrates

216 g

Sugar

195 g

 
 
Fats & Fatty Acids
 

Total Fat

193 mg

Saturated Fat

23 mg

Monounsaturated Fat

35 mg

Polyunsaturated Fat

55 mg

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

55 mg

 
 
Vitamins
 
Thiamin

213 mcg

Riboflavin

4.1 mg

Niacin

261 mcg

Vitamin B6

6.4 mcg

Pantothenic Acid

116 mcg

Choline

5.2 mg

 
 
Minerals
 
Calcium

328 mg

Iron

354 mcg

Magnesium

68 mg

Phosphorus

6.4 mg

Potassium

683 mg

Sodium

39 mg

Zinc

4.7 mg

Copper

58 mcg

Manganese

9.4 mg

Selenium

1.9 mcg

 

How many calories in maple syrup (per 100 gm)

Maple syrup has about 260 calories per 100 gm of weight.

 

How to Buy Maple Syrup

 

  • In stores, maple syrup is easily available in both individual containers and bulk. There are certain variations in the quality of the syrup based on color, taste and consistency.

  • All available maple syrups are labeled with a grade by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Grade A maple syrup, there are three versions, Light Amber, Medium Amber and Dark Amber.

  • The lighter the color, the more subtle the flavor. Grade B maple syrup has the most pronounced taste and is usually reserved for cooking and processing foods.

  • Pure maple syrups are labeled differently to distinguish them from other flavored maple syrups. Even though they are more expensive, they are worth extra money due to their rich unique flavor.

 

Maple Syrup Storage Tips

 

  • Maple syrup should be stored in a cool, dry place. When opened, maple syrup containers should be kept in the refrigerator.

  • Maple syrup can be frozen but it should be defrosted before using since it is very viscous and hard to pour in the frozen state.

  • If you notice any signs of mold appearing in the syrup, you should throw away the entire container since it may be contaminated.

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