Yesterday I stopped by the Maple Syrup Festival at Fenner Nature Center. We learned all about collecting and evaporating the sap, condensing maple syrup to maple cream and maple sugar (and ate Maple Sundaes, yum). I got a chance to glance at the nutrition facts for maple sugar, and truth be told, it is a wonderful and more natural substitute for white or brown sugar. There are lots of health benefits to using maple sugar, including its great source of zinc, potassium, iron, and especially manganese (1 serving has 165% of your daily value) that you can't find in other forms of sugar.
So why do we need manganese? For tissue and bone formation, blood-clotting purposes, proper digestion, and sex hormones. It also has antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize all of the radical oxygens (bad guys) floating around in your body. Low levels of manganese can contribute to infertility, bone malformation, weakness, and even seizures.
Thankfully, there are lots of sources of manganese to ensure you get your daily recommended amount (between 2-5 milligrams). Sources include avocadoes, nuts and seeds, pineapple, spinach, broccoli, whole grains, egg yolks, oranges, beans, and green leafy vegetables. So do your bones, blood, and fertility a favor, and go make some whole grain waffles with pure maple syrup, a spinach-and-egg sandwich, or eat some whole grain chips with avocado. Yum!
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