Hi there, @natashahall, and thanks for sharing your recipe. However, maple syrup is still sugar, so it isn't actually a sugar-free recipe. If you look at all the processed sugars sold commercially in the U.S., molasses has the highest antioxidant content. It's still devoid of fiber, however. Best of all is a whole food sugar, e.g., date sugar. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-healthiest-sweetener/
You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
Hi @innerlight, thanks for commenting. I think you'll find that we're looking at two different definitions of sugar here. There's the ingredient sugar, derived from the cane plant and often processed, and then there's sugar molecules, a chemical compound found in many fruits and vegetables in their natural state.
Maple syrup contains sugar molecules such as sucrose, fructose and glucose, however it does not contain the ingredient sugar (derived from the cane plant). Maple syrup is very low in the sugar molecules that break down quickly in the body like fructose and glucose. And high in the molecules that break down gradually in the body, sucrose (which are much better for you).
Sugar as a processed ingredient, not the molecule, is not present here. That's what I'm referring to, as far as it being sugar-free. I should have clarified that. And this type of sugar is processed so that all that's left is the simple sugars (that break down very quickly in the body) and are in fact not very good for you.
And yes, definitely dates are a wonderful natural sweetener. I incorporated this into my chocolate avocado pudding recipe a few posts back :) But I think you'll see that the amount of sugar (from the sugar molecules) in dates is about 4.5 g per date, which is the same as in one tsp of maple syrup. And both are low in simple sugars, break down very gradually in the body, and are very healthy natural sweeteners. The main difference being the fiber content in dates which is higher.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my recipe and comment. Cheers!
Thank you for the thoughtful response. However, the body recognizes maple syrup and sugar both equally as sugar and processes them much in the same way. The fiber in date "sugar" and in other fruits actually helps blunt the insulin/blood sugar spike and provides many other benefits as well. If you like maple syrup, that's the reason to eat it, but it definitely is not a health food.
Which body is this?
I'm afraid I would have to disagree. And there are many sources to support my claim that organic maple syrup is in fact a health food. All the best :)
Sources:
https://draxe.com/maple-syrup-nutrition/
https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/nutrition/2010/03/22/heres_why_maple_syrup_is_very_good_for_your_health.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/maple-syrup.html
http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2014/11/02/pour-it-on-maple-syrup-is-good-for-you/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/foodbeast/maple-syrup_b_5128955.html
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrition-pure-maple-syrup-vs-honey-1756.html
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20464527,00.html#youth-booster-0
Unfortunately, this is why people are so confused about what's healthy and what's not, because they don't know the difference between "health" hype (all of your listed sources) and credible science. Please check the link I referenced, which is backed by the research of 20 scientists combing through the latest peer-reviewed scientific literature.
You’re completely entitled to your opinion here from your research :)
This study appears to only be based on one variable: antioxidants. But I think that there are many other health factors involved when comparing these sweeteners. I would have to look at the actual studies that the claim in this video is based on to assess whether or not I believe this would mean that maple syrup is a health food or not.
Thank you for your input.