02 MAPLE SYRUP -

Including bottled sugar on this list might seem, erm, off brand, but – as ever – the Canadians manage to nail it. Maple syrup is minimally processed: trees are tapped, then the sap heated and filtered. You don’t want to glug it over everything (you’re sweet enough, etc) but as a Sunday morning treat, it’s not without its benefits. University of Rhode Island studies found that it contains 54 beneficial compounds, many of which are antioxidants, while further research shows that it protects brain cells from developing harmful plaques that can lead to neurodegenerative conditions, such as dementia. It’s worth paying the difference to buy Canadian over American, though – as researchers note that US counterparts often contain nutritionally vapid golden syrup enhanced with maple flavouring. Avoid.