Why you should swap your table sugar for pure maple syrup

Nothing is more quintessentially Canadian than pure maple syrup. Its health benefits offer another reason to indulge your sweet tooth (as if you needed one).

1 Maple syrup is an unexpected source of essential minerals, including calcium, zinc, magnesium and potassium. Two tablespoons provide half of your recommended daily intake of manganese, which is important for bone health, metabolism and brain and nerve function.

2 A unique polyphenol, quebecol—named after Quebec, the world’s largest producer of maple syrup—is found in maple syrup. A diet rich in polyphenols (also in some fruit, green tea and red wine) helps reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune system.

3 Maple syrup contains inulin, a prebiotic fibre that acts as food for good gut bacteria and aids in healthy digestive and immune systems.

4 Darker-hued syrups have a higher antioxidant activity, which helps protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer.