Maple syrup is healthier than you think! Incorporating it as a sweetener can help you reach your weight-loss goals (and we're not talking about the Master Cleanse). Maple syrup can be pretty pricey, so you’d better be sure you know what you’re in for when you splurge on a bottle. Between all the grades and shades of maple syrup out on the market (not to mention the imposters!), it can all get a little confusing. But I’m here to guide you to the best bottle for your taste.
First things first: Always make sure your maple syrup is “maple” syrup. The good, pure stuff comes from maple trees, whose starch is converted to sugar between winter and spring, resulting in sweet, runny sap. That sap is boiled down to make syrup — and it’s boiled down far more than you may imagine. For example: At Baker’s Maple in Bainbridge, NY, every 39 gallons of sap make just 1 gallon of maple syrup. Now do you understand why a jug of syrup is so expensive?
Pure maple syrup is not to be confused with “breakfast syrups” or “pancake syrups” , or basically anything you get at diners and fast food restaurants. Those aren’t made from maple sap at all, but from high fructose corn syrup flavored with an aromatic compound called sotolon, which contains the scent of fenugreek, curry and burnt, caramelized sugar.
There are two major grades for maple syrup: Grade A and Grade B. Grade A is considered the premiere type that’s meant for eating, while Grade B is so dark that it’s generally only used for cooking or baking. Grade A is broken into three subgrades, which are measured by their translucence: Light Amber, Medium Amber and Dark Amber.
The state of Vermont, which produces 5 percent of the world’s maple syrup, actually has its own separate grading system that utilizes slightly higher standards of product density. Vermont inspectors enforce strict syrup grading regulations, and can fine producers for falsely advertising their product as maple syrup.
Here are three reasons to keep some maple syrup in your pantry.
- It steadies blood-sugar levels: Maple syrup is a natural sugar, versus a modified (agave syrup) or refined sugar (glucose, sucrose, etc). It's got a similarly low glycemic index to honey, and it's loaded with antioxidants to keep you from crashing. This means you're more sustained and less likely to constantly reach for more sweets.
- It's got high levels of zinc and magnesium: Magnesium is known to up your testosterone, which can help burn fat and build muscle. Zinc may also aid in weight loss.
- It helps with digestion and bloating: This glorious amber liquid is low in FODMAPs, which means less bloating and irritation — especially if you have IBS. Your body can digest it more easily than a table sugar, so you can swap maple syrup into your baking recipes.
What’s your favorite kind of maple syrup? Leave us a comment
Happy Green Life
Xo Gia
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