Why You Should Choose Maple Syrup and Coconut Oil for Superior Health Benefits?

Sugar and oily foods are often indulgent causes for several thousand people across the world. They would always have time to eat sweet waffles and pancakes and pastries and to enjoy their sunny day. It all seems very tasty and delightful until you realize that it all comes with a lot of risks and health issues.

We welcome you to consider healthy alternatives for sugar and refined oils without compromising your love for eating sweeter things. You may go for maple syrup and coconut oil respectively, and you can find our discussion about their health benefits below:

Part 1: Maple Syrup

Also known as maple sugar, maple syrup is made and processed after treating the xylem sap of various maple trees. These include sugar maple, red maple, black maple, and some other maple species found in the Americas.

These trees are found in colder climates. As the winter season intensifies, these trees start storing starch in their trunks and roots. As the spring season sets in, this starch volume converts to natural sugar. Qualified professionals can then drill holes in the tree trunks to collect the sap.

The resulting mixture is dried in the sun to evaporate water, as per the concentration of the syrup required. The fewer the chemicals used, the healthier the syrup is.

Benefits: Is Maple syrup healthy?

When compared to processed refined sugar, maple syrup is certainly a healthier alternative. It is 100% natural, pure, and free of any coloring or additives. It is obtained by tapping the sap of the maple tree in a simple, two-step process.

The best quality of chemical-free and naturally-prepared maple syrup offers the following benefits:

1. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients

2. Rich in zinc, calcium, and potassium

3. Has more minerals than honey

4. A healthy, natural substitute for sugar

5. Boosts energy levels instantly

6. Improves metabolism

7. Fights inflammation

8. Makes skin softer and brighter

9. Has lower Glycemic Index

10. Improves cardiac health

These are just some of the benefits of pure maple syrup- consuming it every day in moderate amounts can help you live a healthier life. You can bring all this goodness to work if you could use it sensibly in your food daily.

Nutritional value: What vitamins and minerals are in maple syrup?

Maple syrup also contains a range of essential vitamins and minerals at fairly good levels. It has zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, and iron that are all great for boosting immune function. It also has manganese that helps in making skin healthy and bones stronger.

Vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and B6 are also found in maple syrup. It is also very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and this makes the syrup more nutritious than refined sugar.

Here is the nutrition value of maple syrup:

Maple Syrup

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz.)

The above values are taken from Wikipedia and are verified by USDA.

Rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are vitamins and nutrients that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Common health conditions related to free radicals include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and degenerative disorders. Eating foods that are high in antioxidants may help in delaying or preventing such free radical-induced illnesses.

Pure maple syrup contains many active antioxidant elements. Studies have found that maple syrup contains up to 54 different antioxidant substances, especially in the darker B-Grade varieties. Several of these antioxidants are known to have anticancer and antibacterial properties, another plus for maple syrup lovers.

Tip: You can also find the same antioxidants in berries, fruits, and nuts, and these foods may be more satisfying and nutritious overall than only gorging on maple syrup for your antioxidant intake. We recommend going ahead with these tasty berry recipes for weight loss.

Lower glycemic index (than refined sugar)

Using maple syrup to sweeten your food will give you the same sweetness but 30% fewer calories. This free natural sweetener has a lower glycemic index (around 54) as compared to refined sugar (65), so the spikes in blood sugar levels will not be affected much.

However, it may still affect the way your body metabolizes insulin and can also lead to other serious health problems such as diabetes or any kidney-related ailments. We recommend you check for the same with your healthcare service provider.

Side-effects of maple syrup

Here are some commonly observed side-effects of maple syrup:

1. No fiber, high carbs

2. Can affect BP, blood sugar

3. Can hurt the liver

4. May cause dental issues

5. May cause urinary diseases

Caution: You should choose your maple syrup wisely. Some food manufacturers may sell impure or spurious grades of product- be sure to read your labels carefully to make sure you are consuming the real deal.

Part 2: Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a mild-flavored edible oil prepared from coconut palm fruit. It occurs in nature as solid fat that remains in the molten form at room temperatures. It may be given a fragrance when chemically treated and maybe then used as a body or hair oil. It is used in South Asia as a cooking oil and as a catalyst in the cosmetics and detergent industries.

Health benefits of coconut oil:

Here’s why you should include coconut healthy in your daily diet:

1. Rich in saturated fats

2. Has antimicrobial properties

3. Improves digestion

4. Makes skin and hair healthier

5. Hastens weight loss process

6. Has anti-inflammatory properties

7. Keeps skin moisturized

8. Increases good cholesterol (HDL)

It contains a high proportion of medium-chain fatty acids and antioxidants. These arise from plant nutrients and may potentially prevent cancerous cells from forming. It is best to consume no more than two tablespoons of coconut oil any day.

Nutrition Table

Here is the nutritional table for coconut oil:

Coconut oil

Nutritional value per 100 g

The above values are taken from Wikipedia and are verified by USDA.

How do you use coconut oil for weight loss?

Coconut is widely available across supermarkets and health food stores. Half a kg of its oil costs around £5 and usually lasts for several weeks, depending on the use. It keeps well at room temperature and despite its lard-like appearance, it quickly turns to liquid when heated and solidifies again when cooled.

You can also use it as a health drink. It packs a complete punch with its health benefits, thanks to its nutrients and minerals. Foods cooked in it get direct assimilation of all the goodness of this oil.

Here is a free resource explaining why you should start your day with coconut milk to lose weight.

What can you use coconut oil for?

Cooking

You can use coconut oil for cooking instead of using other oils such as olive or sunflower oil. It gives cooked food a light coconut flavor which is very pleasant and if you don’t appreciate it initially, it doesn’t take long until you barely notice the flavor.

Baking

This oil is ideal as a substitute for butter, margarine, or sunflower oil in baking. As it doesn’t convert to fat in the same way as other oils and fats, it is considered to be a much healthier alternative in baking. If you use it with honey, stevia, or dried fruit to sweeten baking, it is possible to enjoy baked goods as part of a low-calorie diet.

Hunger

Because of the way fatty acids are metabolized, coconut oil can reduce your hunger and can significantly affect body weight over a certain duration. This can directly affect your weight loss plans and can also make your skin shinier.

Coconut oil is quickly becoming a staple ingredient in many kitchens across the country and around the world and when taken regularly and used within a low-calorie diet, it is now believed that coconut will bring significant health benefits as well as aid weight loss.

Benefits of using coconut oil on skin and hair

Many health professionals claim that coconut oil is unlike most other oils because it contributes to keeping our bodies healthy and can also stimulate weight loss. Its hair-related benefits are just as remarkable.

For skin:

1. It reduces inflammation

2. Cleans skin pores

3. Draws out toxins

4. Kills bacteria

5. Treats skin disorders

6. Acts like a natural moisturizer

8. Cures minor cuts and burns

9. Reduce wrinkles and dark spots

For hair

1. Provides nutrition to hair roots

2. Reduces dandruff and flakes

3. Treats split ends and breakage

4. Reduces protein loss

5. Makes hair shinier and healthier

Side-effects of coconut oil:

Despite all its goodness, coconut oil may also cause some health issues like:

1. Causes digestive system disorders

2. Raises cholesterol levels (HDL and LDL)

3. Clogs heart arteries

4. Has too many saturated fats

5. May clog the skin pores

6. Cause headache and dizziness

7. Pains and chills

8. May cause allergy

Ask a Wellness Expert to Know How You Can Include Maple Syrup and Coconut Oil in Your Daily Diet

Switching to Mother Nature and natural products is always a better decision. Not only do they have healthier benefits, but they also serve you with a better understanding of Her gifts. Choosing maple syrup and coconut oil over their artificial counterparts is a good way to start.

We also recommend consulting a wellness expert virtually through audio or video conferencing. You can avail of this service on-demand using your smartphone, anywhere and anytime. All you would need to get online with an expert of your choice is a valid MevoLife account and a willingness to try the new normal.