Maple syrup could be the latest superfood
Posted April 1, 2011 3:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s time to fry up some pancakes or break out the spoons: U.S. researchers have found that maple syrup is good for you.
The iconic Canadian food could be the latest superfood according to University of Rhode Island assistant professor Navindra Seeram, who specializes in medicinal plant research.
Seeram found more than 20 healthy compounds in maple syrup from Canada, including some of the same antioxidants already known to exist in foods like blueberries and flax seeds. Eight of them had never been found in maple syrup before.
He presented his findings on March 21 at a conference that was partially sponsored by Quebec’s agricultural development body, the Conseil pour le développement de l’agriculture du Québec (CDAQ).
“We know that plants must have strong anti-oxidant mechanisms because they are in the sun throughout their lives,” Seeram said in an article posted on The University of Rhode Island’s website. “We already know that berries, because of their bright colors, are high in anti-oxidants.
“Now we are looking at maple syrup, which comes from the sap located just inside the bark, which is constantly exposed to the sun.”
Seeram received a two-year, $115,000 grant from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers with the help of the CDAQ and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
