What reminds you of warm winter mornings with a stack of pancakes? Yes- maple syrup! But this isn’t just for breakfast anymore.
Here is where we got this yummy goodness. Early settlers in the U.S. Northeast and Canada learned about sugar maples from Native Americans. Various legends exist to explain the initial discovery. One is that the chief of a tribe threw a tomahawk at a tree, sap ran out and his wife boiled venison in the liquid. Another version holds that Native Americans stumbled on sap running from a broken maple branch. From the 17th century onward, dairy farmers who wanted to supplement their income from milk — or who just needed a source of sweetener that was better and cheaper than sugar or molasses — drilled small holes in the trees during the brief weather window between winter and spring. (Sap typically runs out of maple trees on days when the temperature is around 40 degrees following a night when the mercury dropped below freezing.) The farmers called the maple tree stands “sugar bushes” and hung buckets under the drilled holes. Every day or two — depending on how fast the sap was running out of the trees — the farmers would empty out the buckets into larger containers or tanks and haul the watery substance to a “sugar house” usually built in the woods. Sugar makers boiled off most of the water over a wood fire — what they were left with was brown sweet syrup. Hello maple syrup!
Why should we eat this you may ask? The various health benefits of maple syrup can be attributed to the presence of various vitamins and minerals that are present in it. Let’s explore some of these important health benefits below.
Health Benefits of Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is not only tempting and yummy but is also a hoarder of ample health benefits. Let’s take a look at its beneficial effects on our body.
Antioxidants: Maple syrup has various antioxidant properties that are essential for healthy living. Antioxidants are important for the body as they neutralize free radicals, which may cause various health ailments. Mitochondria are one of the cells that are responsible for energy production, but during this process, free radicals are produced within the mitochondria. This function requires enzymes that are prone to damage or harm by other microorganisms in the body. It is the function of manganese present in the maple syrup to supply the superoxide dismutase which is an oxidative enzyme. This enzyme helps in disarming the dangerous free radicals that are produced by the mitochondria when performing its normal metabolic functions.
Healthy Heart: The health benefits of maple syrup also include giving you a healthier heart. It is one of the body’s organs that is susceptible to different kinds of diseases such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular conditions. The presence of zinc in the body is one of the best ways that has been proven to protect the heart against such diseases. Maple syrup contains zinc and its consumption may protect and prevent against various cardiovascular disorders. Zinc also enhances the performance of the endothelial cells by protecting them against damage due to the existence of excess cholesterol, together with other oxidized lipids. The blood vessels are comprised of different components of the endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of these vessels. A low level of zinc exposes the linings to injuries, which in return can affect the normal operations of the heart.
Male Health: The consumption of maple syrup may also help in maintaining male reproductive health. There are certain minerals, such as zinc, found in maple syrup, that is useful for a healthy reproductive system, particularly the prostate gland. Reduction in the levels of the minerals increases the risk of disorders, such as prostate cancer. This is why it is advisable for men to always try to consume foods that contain the right amount of this mineral. Maple syrup is one of such food that is easy to acquire, readily available, and enjoyable as well.
Immune System: Studies carried out over the years have confirmed the importance of the presence of zinc and manganese in the body. A lack of these minerals could easily lead to a reduction in the number of white blood cells, which affects the response of the immune system. Supplementing these minerals is the only way known to restore their levels to the proper state. Maple syrup is a good source of both zinc and manganese, which play a key role in strengthening the immune system.
One of the main reason we love maple syrup at Cuisine For Healing is it is a real whole food. The process of making maple syrup does not involve any use of chemical additives, preservatives, or agents which follows our mission.
Which grade to chose?
Grade A sounds like the best. You might think it means premium quality, like Grade A beef or Grade A eggs. But when it comes to maple syrup, it’s Grade B that’s our current favorite. Maple syrup grades have nothing to do with quality or nutrition. Instead, they simply refer to the color of the syrup, and thus, its flavor.
The lightest and mildest syrups, which are generally harvested at the beginning of the season, are called “fancy grade A” or sometimes “grade A light amber”; At the middle of the spectrum are “grade A medium amber” and “grade A dark amber.”
Finally, there’s “grade B”, the dark, thick syrup that packs a strong maple punch with caramel undertones. It’s also called cooking syrup, as it is more commonly used for cooking and baking, rather than serving at the table with a stack of flapjacks.
The good news about “grade B” is due to its sweetness you typically use less of it.
Hurry over to Cuisine for Healing and try our Blonde Coconut Macaroon with Cranberries. They fly off the shelf so you better order on line!
Happy Healthy Eating,
Dana
http://time.com/3958051/history-of-maple-syrup/
http://www.organicfacts.net
http://www.thekitchn.com/good-question-maple-syrup-grad-46292
