'Tis the season for one of many reasons New England shines around the world.  Maple Season means the next batch of our mouthwatering, pure, maple syrup is out.  "Pure" is the keyword and what brings the health benefits, so make sure you read the labels.  Of course, living in New England, it's easy to find our pure, local, and regional maple syrup.

Traditional Means Still Used For Making Maple Syrup
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According to Livestrong, pure maple syrup, like the kind nearly 900 producers spread out around New Hampshire and Maine make, is made when the sap from sugar maple trees is collected, boiled, and strained until it's that perfect thickness.  It also has that perfectly delicious, unique flavor that holds a variety of essential vitamins and minerals.

NH Maple Syrup Producers via Facebook
NH Maple Syrup Producers via Facebook
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Livestrong says that the calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron from our pure New England maple syrup producers is only because of the purity.  The process is worth it for the additional vitamins that include B2, B5, B6, niacin, biotin, and folic acid, as well as trace amounts of amino acids.

Traditional Means Still Used For Making Maple Syrup
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According to Healthline, to take advantage of pure maple syrup's beneficial qualities, the label must say it's "pure maple syrup" or "maple syrup" without any other ingredients.  It's that simple. If there are any other ingredients listed, then you're not getting the real thing from New Hampshire and Maine. That means the health benefits diminish, and that lots of extra sugars are added to it.

Patrick Tomasso
Patrick Tomasso
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Healthline adds that just because there are health benefits with vitamins and minerals, pure maple syrup is still sugar, and with any sugar, overeating isn't healthy.

Here's what you're getting in 1/3 of a cup of pure maple sugar with nothing else added for your recommended daily intake or allowance, according to Healthline:

  • Calcium: 7%
  • Potassium: 6%
  • Iron: 7%
  • Zinc: 28%
  • Manganese: 165%

And with those 24 antioxidants, Livestrong says our pure New Hampshire and Maine maple syrup is quite the decent source, with the darker syrups having the most beneficial antioxidants.

Meanwhile, Healthline reminds us all that our doctors are the best source when it comes to how much sugar, even natural sugars, is best for our individual health. Even natural sugar as a whole should be consumed in small amounts.

Click here if you want to find out more about the different grades and colors of our pure maple syrup, and what that means for taste, flavor, and whether they're better for cooking or pancakes.

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