Not ALL Syrups Are Equal – Some CAN Harm Your Health!

Being that maple syrup is produced by simply boiling the springtime sap of mature trees growing in the forest, wouldn’t it only make sense that it is organic by nature (Learn More: The Hidden Truth About Maple Syrup)?

Well, I don’t know about you but I certainly would think so!

However, there is something sinister lurking among the pure maple syrup bottles on the shelves at your local grocery store. And you should beware of these “maple syrup-like” products.

These products are certainly cheaper, so I can see how that can be tempting. But after learning more about the ingredients in these maple impostors, I hope you will now think twice.

Let’s discuss a few of the more popular brands:

Log Cabin: corn syrup, liquid sugar (natural sugar, water), water, salt, natural and artificial flavors (lactic acid), cellulose gum, preservatives, sorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sodium hexametaphosphate, caramel color, phosphoric acid.

Aunt Jemima: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, cellulose gum, caramel color, salt, sodium benzoate and sorbic acid (preservatives), artificial and Aunt Jemima natural flavors, sodium hexametaphosphate.

Where is the maple syrup?!  Did you notice that none of these contain anything, well, maple!

Okay, okay, technically they don’t say “maple syrup”, but nonetheless they obviously want you to believe that it is.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t use similar packaging and names like “Log Cabin” and “Aunt Jemima” with a picture of pancakes!

So what is the deal?

Rather than using the real deal, they use genetically modified sugars, thickening agents, emulsifiers, artificial flavors and synthetic food dyes in an attempt to achieve the same flavor, texture, and color.

There are certainly no health benefits here!  Just the opposite in fact—most of these ingredients have known health risks.

For example, let’s check out some of those ingredients that are the problem:

• Corn Syrup produced from genetically modified seeds with unknown long-term effects. As evidence of the dangers of GMO foods grows, so does the controversy.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup has been linked to obesity, diabetes, high triglyceride levels and cardiovascular disease

Note: Log Cabin clearly states on the bottle “No High Fructose Corn Syrup”, yet the first ingredient listed is corn syrup. Though they are technically a bit different being that corn syrup is 100% glucose and high fructose corn syrup is about 45% glucose and 55% fructose (depending on the product), both are still highly processed sugar that originates from genetically modified corn.

• Sodium Hexametaphosphate has been associated with respiratory irritations such as coughing, shortness of breath and mild chest pain.
• Sodium Benzoate is another synthetic additive. Research suggests that Sodium benzoate may contribute to ADHD-related symptoms.
• Caramel color has been shown to cause cancer in animals.

Sugar Free: water, sorbitol. Contains 2% or less of: cellulose gum, natural and artificial flavor (caramel color), salt, phosphoric acid, aspartame, preservatives (sorbic acid, sodium benzoate), caramel color, sodium hexametaphosphate, citric acid, acesulfame potassium, neotame.

And as if this wasn’t bad enough, there is also a sugar-free version that includes even more toxic chemicals. Let’s look at one such example.

Log Cabin Sugar-Free “Maple Syrup” also has two very sinister ingredients: Acesulfame Potassium and Aspartame 

• Acesulfame Potassium is an artificial sugar.  Research has suggested that this ingredient may cause cancer.
• Aspartame is associated with inducing arrhythmia and sudden death as reported by multiple sources.

“…repeatedly reported the serious cardiovascular, ‘neuropsychiatric, metabolic and other adverse effects of aspartame products. (2-4) Among the first 1200 aspartame reactors in my data base, 193 (16%) had symptomatic arrhythmia’s, 85 (7%) atypical chest pain, and 64 (5%) recent or aggravated hypertension…”

So what is the alternative? How about REAL 100% Maple Syrup!

So just like anything else you purchase for consumption, be sure to read the label on the bottle to assure you are getting the natural stuff—syrup made simply from the sap of a maple tree and boiled in a sugar house, not the kind made in a processing facility!  The ingredient list should contain only one ingredient: pure maple syrup!

Fortunately, you don’t have to live in the back woods of sugaring country to get this plain old natural sweet sauce. Here are a few suggestions along with their ingredients:

Nature’s Place Organic 100% Pure Maple Syrup: Organic Maple Syrup

Maple Grove Farms 100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup: Organic Maple Syrup

Anderson’s Organic Pure Maple Syrup: Organic Maple Syrup

Now that you know that maple syrup is so much more than just a sweet pour to dress up your blueberry pancakes, consider taking advantage of the health benefits on a more regular basis!

• Drizzle it over butternut squash, carrots or Brussels sprouts before roasting.
• Add it to plain yogurt along with some organic granola.
• Drizzle over a baked apple for a sweet and healthy dessert.
• Sweeten a cup of tea.

So why not do yourself a favor, and the next time you want to enjoy the rich sweet flavor of maple syrup along with its amazing health benefits, make sure that you are buying the real thing – 100% Pure Maple Syrup! 

Dr. Michelle Kmiec

is a board-certified Chiropractic Physician and Life Coach who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology, and a minor in Medical Research. She is a life-long athlete who after curing herself 100% naturally from MS and anxiety, became an avid nutrition health researcher/promoter.

She has been featured in many Health magazines and has been a guest on radio talk shows in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. She is the author of Health Freedom Revolution: Exposing the Lies, Deceit and Greed of the Medical Profession, Founder of Online Holistic Health, and a contributing writer for other popular informative health website/blogs.

She is the host of Holistic Health Radio – where she discusses how she recovered her health as well as other hot health topics, and she is also co-founder of Crazy Meets Common Sense! –  The Podcast that Makes Sense Out of the Crazy, to Help You Live a More Healthy, Fulfilling and Empowering Life!