Is Maple Syrup Bad For You?
Short answer
In moderation, maple syrup is not bad for you. It is rich in minerals and antioxidants, and it boasts fewer calories than honey. Just make sure you pick pure maple syrup over the processed kinds.
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A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
It’s hard to imagine breakfast without maple syrup. The tasty topping for french toast, pancakes, waffles and oatmeal seems like it’s been around forever—and it has. Long before European settlers came to North America, the indigenous people were collecting and using maple syrup for a variety of purposes. Settlers embraced the delicious natural byproduct and refined the process.
As the name suggests, maple syrup is made from the xylem sap of maple trees. To obtain the syrup, you must drill through the trunk to collect the sweet sap. The sap must then be heated in order to evaporate much of the water, creating maple syrup’s thick, signature consistency.
Since maple syrup is created naturally, it can’t be that bad for you... right?
In its pure form, the occasional serving of maple syrup is good for you. It's rich in antioxidants, which help your body fight off cell-damaging free radicals and the diseases they cause—cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and more. Syrup also provides manganese and zinc minerals, both of which Wayne State University in Detroit found to offer crucial immune-boosting benefits. In addition to its powerful nutritional content, maple syrup is also relatively low in calories compared to other sweeteners. For example, pure maple syrup only includes about 52 calories per tablespoon, while honey contains around 64.
However, there are overly processed types of maple syrup (Mrs. Butterworth comes to mind) which are bad for you. In fact, some of these popular store-bought syrups don’t contain any actual maple at all—they use high-fructose corn syrup instead! The high sugar and calorie content of these syrups can lead to tooth decay, obesity and other serious health problems when consumed too frequently.
So how do you know the different between pure and processed maple syrup? Check the label! But don’t be fooled by products that label themselves as “pure,” “organic” or “all-natural.” Those are just marketing terms used to sell the product, and they aren’t regulated by anyone.
Instead of relying on the label, flip the product over and scan the ingredient list. Avoid syrups that contain high-fructose corn syrup and “maple flavor.” Look for the ones that are made from 100% pure maple syrup—no blends. Some hybrid products mix pure maple with corn syrup in order to tout health benefits coupled with a sweeter taste. However, the added sugar and calories in these types of maple syrup far outweigh any nutritional perks.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- tooth decay
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obesity
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diabetes
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other effects depending on the additives used
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- heart health
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hair health
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reproductive system health
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improved immune system
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great source of antioxidants
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Coombs Maple Syrup
- Organic certified
- Grade A quality
- Dark robust flavor
- 32 Fl Oz bottle
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