Got a sweet tooth? Yes, sugar can give you an energy boost, but that’s only temporary. Actually, excessive intake of sugar can harm your health. Processed white sugar causes tooth decay, cholesterol buildup, and decrease of B-vitamin levels in the body. The body needs nutrients and fiber for better functioning, and sugar doesn’t have any of them. Instead, it has a high calorie content that are converted to fats if not used up by the body.

There’s a healthier alternative that’s just as sweet as sugar: maple syrup. Include maple syrup in your diet, and you get the best of both worlds—sweet flavor plus healthy body. You can find many uses for maple syrup in your daily life including maple candy and maple syrup recipe ideas. This thick amber liquid, which is made from the sap of maple trees, offers a host of health benefits besides enhancing the flavor of any food. Maple syrup is a more nutritious sweetener than sugar, even if it has a high sugar content. It has more minerals and fewer calories than sugar and honey. A quarter cup of maple syrup has more potassium than a banana and more calcium than milk. Maple syrup is a rich source of phosphorous, iron, and B vitamins, which are very essential to your health. In addition to that, substituting sugar in favor of maple syrup lessens your chance of developing illnesses.

Maple syrup can boost antioxidant defenses and production of energy, thanks to its manganese content. Manganese also helps in faster healing and lessening inflammations. About 22 percent of the recommended manganese content in the body can be supplied by daily intake of an ounce of maple syrup. The manganese content of maple syrup is good for the immune system. Maple syrup is also an excellent source of zinc, a mineral that can boost immune defenses. And because maple syrup contains zinc, it can also keep your heart healthy. An essential trace mineral, zinc can minimize the likelihood of heart problems such as stroke, heart attack, and atherosclerosis or the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. When it comes to reproductive health, men benefit a lot from maple syrup since its zinc content reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Male reproductive health also gets a boost from maple syrup that increases the production of sex hormones.

Unlike refined white sugar, maple syrup won’t harm your health in any way. In fact, it has a very low sodium content (2 mg. per 50 mL. serving). Low sodium content means maple syrup won’t pose a threat to people with high blood pressure, kidney ailment, or diabetes. Maple syrup is free from substances such as oxalates, goitrogens, and purines that can get in the way of proper bodily functions. It doesn’t cause allergies in most people, too.

When you use maple sugar as an alternative to sugar, you get to enjoy both its sweetness and health benefits. Thus, it pays to lessen your intake of sugar and make sure that you buy your own supply of maple syrup on your next visit at the local supermarket. Making sure that you have maple syrup can mean the difference between an unhealthy and a healthy you.