Maple Syrup vs Honey: Which is healthier (2024)

FAQs

Maple Syrup vs Honey: Which is healthier? ›

For example, maple syrup is lower in calories than honey, and therefore may be the better choice for someone looking to lose weight. Pure maple syrup also has fewer carbohydrates and is lower on the glycaemic index than honey, which may make it healthier for certain diets.

These sugars are primarily derived from simple sugars fructose. They also have a trace of carbohydrates and even lesser amounts of sucrose. Between honey or maple syrup, maple syrup is the healthier alternative because it contains less sugar as a whole. And essentially, it has less fructose.

Maple syrup gives you carbohydrates in the form of sugars without fiber. As a result, maple syrup can cause swings in blood sugar and insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that moves sugar in our blood to cells that convert it to energy. People with diabetes may have bad side effects from the sugar in maple syrup.

Replacing refined sugar with pure, quality maple syrup is likely to yield a net health benefit, but adding it to your diet will just make things worse. Maple syrup is a less bad version of sugar, much like coconut sugar. It cannot objectively be labeled healthy.

The study looked at how the molecule in maple syrup, quebecol, affected known substances in the human body that relate to inflammation. The experiments showed that quebecol was effective in preventing many of these substances from causing inflammation, further concluding that it is a great anti-inflammatory agent.

Natural sweeteners, such as Stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, may provide health benefits over refined sugar. Benefits may include lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Reducing your intake of refined sugar can be tough, but given how incredibly harmful sugar can be, it's definitely worth the effort ( 1 ).

In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.

What grade maple syrup is healthiest? Whether it's for use in a master cleanse or as a topping for your pancakes, Grade A Dark will be better for you. It has more antioxidants and mineral content than the lighter colors.

Studies have shown that maple syrup can help lower cholesterol levels. This is because the phenolic compounds in maple syrup bind to cholesterol molecules, preventing them from being absorbed by the body. Maple syrup can improve blood sugar control.

And like broccoli and bananas, it's a natural source of beneficial antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to help prevent cancer, support the immune system, lower blood pressure and slow the effects of aging. Maple syrup is also a better source of some nutrients than apples, eggs or bread.

Does maple syrup need to be refrigerated? ›

Maple syrup should be kept in the refrigerator once it's opened so as to discourage mold from growing on the syrup. Should mold grow on maple syrup, it's safe and easy to remove. Just scoop the mold off the top of the syrup with a spoon and discard the mold.

Consuming maple syrup in limited quantities can help maintain an individual's heart health. It provides proper muscle function, maintains fluid balance, and may help control blood pressure. However, one should not consume syrup in extreme quantities as it still contains sugar and can impact blood sugar levels.

If sugar becomes a primary concern for you, stevia emerges as the superior choice. Stevia contains no added sugars, rendering it a completely low-calorie product. In contrast, honey contains natural sugars even though it does not have any processed sugar in it. It could still impact individuals with diet restrictions.

The daily limit, according to the Food and Drug Administration, is no more than 10 percent of your daily calories, or 50 grams (about 12 teaspoons) for someone on a 2,000-calorie diet. The American Heart Association recommends consuming even less—no more than 25 grams for women per day and 36 grams for men.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Maple syrup has many anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the gut. Mild laxative effects: Maple syrup has mild laxative properties. This can help maintain regular urine flow and prevent constipation, as well as aid digestion.

Because maple syrup nutrition supplies inflammation-reducing polyphenol antioxidants, it can be considered part of a healthy diet that's helpful in preventing certain diseases like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease or heart disease.

These components do make sweeteners like honey, molasses and maple syrup marginally more nutritious than refined granulated sugar, so swap them in where you'd normally use sugar, but that doesn't mean it's healthy to consume them in excess. The trace amounts of nutrients are still outweighed by the excess energy.

Pure maple syrup is not only high in antioxidants, but every spoonful offers nutrients like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Oxidative damage, which is caused by free radicals, is believed to be among the mechanisms behind aging and many diseases.

Coconut Sugar's flavor profile is similar to Maple Syrup's and the glycemic index and calorie content are lower than Maple's. However, Maple Syrup's health benefits and refinement process naturally crown Maple the winner in this head to head!