White Sugar VS Maple Syrup

According to Canadian Sugar Institute, estimated sugar consumption in Canada is 12 – 13 teaspoons a day, and this is substantially below US consumption by about one-third. These are staggering numbers, and are the cause of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, fatigue, tooth decay, candida and cancer, and sadly this includes children

Refined white sugar is empty food with calories used only for its taste, but other sweeteners are also considered as sugar with adverse health effects. Sugar is added to more than your typical sweets like cakes, muffins or soft drinks. Many processed foods such as condiments, sauces, crackers, bread, soups, preserved meats, beer, yogurt and salad dressings to name a few, are packed with sugar so it is important to read your labels

Here is a list of common sugars used and what you should know

Refined white sugar: stripped of all nutritional value and produced from up to 65 percent of GMO sugar beets

Evaporated cane sugar: made from sugar cane and is slightly less refined than white sugar

Raw organic cane sugar: this sugar is less processed than refined white sugar, thus retaining some original nutrients. Since it is organic, you will not be exposed to commercially used pesticides

Brown sugar: same as refined white sugar, only with added molasses for additional flavour and colour

Coconut sugar: Contains a small amount of fiber, some nutrients and a slight amount of fructose

Corn syrup: Made from corn starch and one of the worst sweeteners for your health. Other uses for corn syrup are taste in sealable envelopes, stamps and aspirin

The good news is, in recent years sugar consumption has been declining, and many people are choosing a healthier option to replace refined white sugar. Pure maple syrup is one natural option that is healthier than refined white sugar and here is why

Maple syrup is made from the sap of maple trees, this is the sticky fluid that leaks from the trees. A hole is drilled in maple trees and the sap leaks out and is collected in containers. It takes 40 liters of sap to make 1 liter of syrup. The syrupy liquid is boiled until most of the water evaporates forming a thick syrup, which is filtered to remove impurities.

Maple syrup comes in different grades from light to dark, the main difference is that the darker syrup is harvested later in the season and also contains more beneficial antioxidants. Pure maple syrup contains calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese and antioxidants. According to URI scientist Navindra Seeram, there are 54 beneficial compounds in pure maple syrup. In conclusion, pure maple syrup helps nourish and revitalize your body

While pure maple syrup is much better choice than refined white sugar, it is important to know that it is still sugar and should be consumed in moderation

More on delicious recipes made with pure maple syrup >>>

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice