Is Maple Syrup Allowed In Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean Diet does not recommend artificial sweeteners. The focus of this way of eating is on real, whole foods and avoiding chemicals and processed foods. Artificial sweeteners fall entirely in the second camp.  However Concentrated on beneficial nutrients, maple syrup is considered a real panacea for health thanks to its restorative, purifying, and energizing potential. 

Often, however, another aspect of this product is ignored or neglected, which proves to be very useful in the slimming diet: maple syrup is in fact characterized by a considerable slimming potential and helps to lose the extra pounds if included in a low-calorie diet.

Where Does It Come From?

Maple syrup is obtained from the homonymous plant and is presented as a liquid with an amber yellow color that, usually, is used as a natural sweetener. There are some variations based on the gradation of color, from the lightest to the darkest, depending on the refining process used to process the sap extracted from the tree.

Diet: Is Maple Syrup Useful For Weight Loss? Here Are Its Nutritional Values And Calories

Maple syrup is the third least caloric sweetener that exists, immediately after stevia and molasses. It contains 250 calories per 100 grams. Its composition boasts - in addition to sucrose, fructose, and glucose - essential nutrients very important for those who follow a healthy diet: minerals, vitamins (especially those of group B), and amino acids make it decidedly “healthy” to be a syrup, so much so that 60 ml provide 7% of the daily intake of calcium and iron, 5% of potassium, 8% of magnesium, 37% zinc. A real panacea to purify the body!

Let’s not forget, moreover, that maple syrup contains 32% water and 67% carbohydrates, while proteins, fats, and fiber are completely absent. There are also various volatile compounds, first of all, vanillin, which characterizes its sweet taste.

Because of its low-calorie content, maple syrup is recommended as a sugar substitute for the Mediterranean diet: one of its teaspoons sweetens more than a teaspoon of sugar and with fewer calories. In addition, its purifying properties and low glycemic index help to eliminate excess fluids and reactivate the thermogenesis of fats, which allows the body to burn them faster. Be careful, however, not to overdo it: swallowing maple syrup certainly does not work miracles if you want to lose weight!

An Aid For The Stomach

Finally, maple syrup can also be useful and beneficial to keep at bay some disorders of the gastrointestinal system such as gastritis, spastic colitis, and intestinal constipation. It can be easily found in herbalists, in common supermarkets, and in stores that deal with organic food.