Pure Syrup Vs. Imitation Syrup

 I've been on a bit of a health kick lately.  Don't get me wrong, I still have my weak moments and I keep a "candy bucket" in my pantry! ha ha  Perhaps, I should clarify what I mean when I say "health kick".  I  mean I am paying more attention to what ingredients are in my food.  I am constantly reading the ingredient list and comparing foods before I buy them.  So, here's my latest experiment/discovery. :)

  

I have never had "100% Pure Maple Syrup" (at least not to my knowledge, who knows what they give you in restaurants but for multiple reasons, I'm thinking its not the real stuff).  I decided to give it a try, because if you've ever looked at the back of a syrup bottle (doesn't matter what brand) the ingredients are anything but healthy.

I was a little scared to taste the "Pure" syrup,  only because throughout our lives we train our taste buds.  Of course my taste buds enjoy and are used to the infamous imitation syrup.  Anyways,  I popped some waffles in the toaster and put my apprehensions aside.  I put on some butter (there's another "food" I could discuss but we'll save that for a different post) on those hot, delicious, little cylinders and started pouring away, with the "Pure" syrup.  I anxiously took my first bite, and.... "hum, not bad, not bad at all."  It tasted very similar to the imitation syrup.  Not too surprising, I assume that's what the makers of the imitation stuff strive for.  It was very sweet, but in a natural way, if that makes sense. ha ha  It didn't taste like high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, or any other commonly used artificial sweetener.  Just the way an apple tastes sweet, naturally, that's the way this syrup tasted, naturally sweet.

So, with all that being said, what are the pros and cons to each syrup?

Pure Maple Syrup 

Pros                                                                                                           

1.     It has many health benefits.

a.     Contains Manganese (good for energy production & antioxidant defenses.)

b.     Contains Zinc, which is good for your heart & cells.

c.     Zinc & Manganese increase your immune system function.

d.    Especially beneficial for men, the zinc aids in reproductive health and helps prevent prostate cancer.

e.     It has anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties.

f.      ¼ cup has more calcium than ¼ cup milk, and has more potassium than a  banana.

2.     1 tablespoon is only 52 calories (I think that's good, but I don't calorie count.)

3.     It tastes just as good, if not better than imitation syrup.

Cons

1.     It’s more expensive. (However, if you can find it in bulk, you can save up to 30% buying it this way.)

Imitation Syrup

Pros

1.     It’s cheap.

2.     It tastes very close to the “real” thing.

3.     Many varieties/brands.

Cons

1.     Primary ingredient –high fructose corn syrup.  (if you buy the "sugar free" or “lite” versions they are then using aspartame or other artificial sweeteners.

2.     They have no genuine maple content.

3.     They are produced to be much thicker than the consistency of true maple syrup.

4.     Flavored with sotolon, which imitates the maple syrup taste.

5.     High in calories. (depending which kind you buy.)

6.     Many of the artificial ingredients have been shown to lead to much more serious health problems including cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver disease.

  It's everyone's right to decide what they put in their body.  I can't point fingers, I bought another bottle of the imitation syrup just in case I didn't like the "Pure" syrup.  However, now after tasting it and seeing the benefits, I think the pros out-weigh the cons, FOR ME. :) This is simply to share with you what I have found in my research and taste testing. ha ha Now, you decide! :)

On a related topic, Eggo waffles aren't "healthy".  I never thought they were, but lets face it, they are fast and easy!  However, I had been buying the Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat waffles thinking they HAD to be better than the regular, I was wrong.  After reading the ingredients I found that these two waffles are almost the exact same thing!? The first listed, primary ingredients are the same! Later down the list they change a little, but not by much. Basically, don't let marketing trick you, check the back of the box when you THINK your getting the healthier alternative!

"Those who think they have no time for healthy eating will sooner or later have to find time for illness." - Edward Stanley

-A full tummy and a sweet tooth, Allie Be

http://www.puremapleproducts.com/health_benefits_maple_syrup.html

http://www.getrealmaple.com/why-you-should-try-pure-maple-syrup/health-and-lifestyle.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup