A new study revealed that consuming two tablespoons of pure maple syrup instead of refined sugars reduces several factors that increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in humans.
This study was conducted on humans, and its results were published in the Journal of Nutrition on October 16. The study was conducted by a team from Laval University in Canada, led by Dr. Andre Mariette from the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute and Dr. Marie-Claude Vohl, from the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods.
Maple syrup is prepared by boiling the sap (the liquid found in plant stems) taken from many species of maple trees, especially sugar maples.
Dr. Andre Mariette stated – according to the Eurek Alert website – that “from decades of research we know that maple syrup is more than just sugar. It contains more than 100 natural compounds, including polyphenols, which are known to prevent disease in part through their anti-inflammatory effects.” Because the basic chemistry of maple syrup is unique, I wondered whether consuming maple syrup instead of an equivalent amount of refined sugar would differently affect heart health, metabolism, and microbiome. “The results were very encouraging. I did not expect to see so many improvements in risk factors over a relatively short period of treatment.”
Maple syrup vs sucrose
42 volunteers from the greater Quebec City area, Canada, participated in the study, aged between 18 and 75 years in good health, and with a body mass index of 23-40. Participants cut 5% of their daily calories (equivalent to two tablespoons) from sugars and consumed Canadian maple syrup or artificially flavored sucrose syrup. Each phase lasted 8 weeks, with participants switching between the maple syrup and sucrose syrup groups 4 weeks after taking the first treatment.
Maple syrup wins
The bodies of the study participants – who drank maple syrup – were able to control their blood sugar levels better after eating, and blood pressure also decreased in people who drank maple syrup during the experiment.
Dr. Maret commented, “Lowering blood pressure remains an important factor in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Natural sweeteners, such as pure maple syrup, when replaced with refined sugars, can be part of the overall solution to help prevent metabolic disease.”
The maple syrup trial showed that abdominal fat mass decreased significantly in the maple syrup group compared to an increase in the sucrose solution group. Visceral fat, which is the deep fat that wraps around the internal organs in your abdomen. It can increase an individual’s risk of developing serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Healthier gut
An unexpected finding was improved levels of beneficial gut bacteria and decreased levels of harmful gut bacteria in the maple syrup participants.
“The study results are very important both individually and collectively. The combined reduction of these major risk factors may help reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Mariette noted.
Committing to lifestyle changes and small adjustments to our daily diets is important and can be a powerful tool in preventing future diseases.
Two tablespoons of maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese. It is a good source of riboflavin, calcium, thiamin, potassium, and copper.