Pure Maple Syrup Has Some Oh-So-Canadian Health Benefits

Oh, Canada! Our beloved home, and also the home of the liquid gold known the world over as pure maple syrup.

Maple syrup is as Canadian as hockey, snow, and our classic red and white. But did you know that this liquid gold also has genuine nutrition benefits?

Yes, it's almost a dream come true -- the pure maple syrup that we so love DOES have nutritional value!

But let's go back to the roots (pun intended) of how maple syrup was discovered. My dad was a maple syrup harvester for a short time and LOVES telling me the history of pure maple syrup. Early European settlers in the U.S. Northeast and Canada learned about sugar maples from indigenous peoples.

Various legends explain the initial discovery. One is that a tribal chief 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.

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup because sap is about 98 per cent water. The sugar water is boiled over a wood fire -- and what's left is the brown, sweet syrup with which we're familiar. Some sugar makers heated the sap further, creating crystallized sugar.

So, what is it about maple syrup that has health benefits?

1. It contains antioxidants.

Antioxidants help to fight the damage that toxins and unhealthy habits and foods cause to our bodies, which eventually result in sickness and disease. In a study done comparing the antioxidant capacity of natural sweeteners, pure maple syrup has shown intermediate antioxidant capacity, along with black strap molasses (which actually have the highest antioxidant capacity. White sugar (refined), corn syrup AND agave syrup all showed MINIMAL antioxidant activity.

In fact, pure maple syrup has 24 known antioxidants. When available, choose Grade B maple syrup -- which is darker -- as it has a higher antioxidant capacity.

2. It contains manganese

Pure maple syrup offers a sweet dose of the important mineral, manganese.

Manganese is often overlooked, but it is a vital mineral in our enzymatic systems for carrying out energy production, bone formation, and protein metabolism. Soil mineral loss related to high tech farming has created a depletion of the mineral manganese, making it more necessary to consciously seek ways to increase our intake of this mineral.

Now, let's put it into action!

Pecan Maple Date Scones

Makes 16 scones

The smell of these coming out of the oven is heaven on earth. The creamy texture of ground almonds and pecans and the natural sweetness of dates and maple syrup... a favourite to wake up to!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ground pecans
• 2 cups ground almonds
• 1⁄2 cup pecan halves + 1⁄2 cup raisins or chopped dates
• 1/2 teaspoon each of sea salt, baking soda
• 1/3 cup of melted coconut oil + 1/3 cup of maple syrup
• 2 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Pre-grease a baking sheet.
3. In a large bowl combine all the dry ingredients.
4. In a second large bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients.
5. Fold dry ingredients into wet half a cup at a time, and blend.
6. Drop batter two tablespoons at a time, two inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.
7. Bake for 12-17 minutes and enjoy heaven!

While we often associate pure maple syrup with sweet dishes, here is a way to use that goodness with your veggies for a more savoury option. I love serving this simple salad with grilled salmon or tempeh.

Maple-Mustard Salad Greens

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of honey Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
• 1 package( 454 grams) of organic mixed salad greens

Directions

1. In a bowl, add maple syrup, vinegar, mustard and lime juice. Whisk together until well combined.
2. Slowly whisk in olive oil until salad dressing is emulsified.
3. Add oregano, and season to taste with sea salt and pepper.
4. Let stand for minimum 1 minute for flavours to infuse.
5. in a large bowl, toss salad greens with dressing; serve immediately.

Want to learn more about living SMART? Learn to see food not as the enemy in your health journey, but as a friend, with Kathy Smart's five-week Live the Smart Way Program.

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