The type of sugar in agave doesn't help, either. This allows your body to use it more efficiently for energy, rather than giving you a rapid rush and crash. Glycemic Index The glycemic index defines foods by how quickly it causes your blood sugar to rise. In comparison, table sugar has a glycemic index of around 65 ( 6 ). This implies that maple syrup … Insulin is a hormone that removes sugars from the blood. It also contains antioxidants and minerals like zinc and potassium, and has a lower glycemic index than refined sugars, meaning it won’t lead to spikes of blood sugar that can give you the jitters. This results in a much lower glycemic index than a lot of other natural sugars, coming in at around 45-50. A low glycemic index Researchers have also compared the glycemic index of different types of carbohydrates[a1] . Maple syrup vs. honey. 5. Compared to other common cardio workouts, jogging, or running, is at the top of the list for calorie burning. Glycemic Index Ranking. Foods with glycaemic index lower than 55 get digested slowly, enabling slow release of sugar in the blood stream, prevented chances of abnormal blood sugar spikes. Honey is a natural sweetener that could have a positive effect on your glycemic index. But as with any type of sweetener, moderation is key. In fact, this characteristic is quite unique! Yacón syrup or powder: 1-5 (depending on the source) Brown Rice Syrup: 25 Agave: 30 Coconut Palm Sugar: 35 Dates: 38 (though it varies between species) Maple Syrup: 54 Blackstrap Molasses: 54 Honey: 55 Raw Cane Sugar: 65. The resulting syrup, silky and elegantly sweet, sits at a cool 47 on the glycemic index (a measure of the effect of different foods on blood sugar) compared to the 68-70 of refined sugar. Although it has a low-glycemic index, it is s probably the most damaging form of sugar when used as a sweetener. There are more antioxidants in maple versus honey and brown sugar. In fact, maple syrup largely differs from the average refined sugar because of its high content of minerals like zinc and manganese. Talk to your doctor before adding honey to your diet. It contains trace amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese. [5] Maple Syrup. Pure maple syrup is much different than products label as breakfast or pancake syrups. The answer: the glycemic index or GI is a measurement of the impact of carbohydrates on our blood sugar. Chart of the glycemic … The faster that blood sugar rises, the faster that insulin is released. Now here is the Glycemic Index of honey and sugar: Honey's Glycemic Index: 48 to 55 Sucrose's Glycemic Index: 58 to 65. You need to buy pure maple syrup, not the type of pancake syrup with Aunt Jemina on the label that costs two dollars. The most important health benefit of maple syrup is that it contains antioxidants. The glycaemic index of maple syrup is around 54. The expression of the Glycemic Index is relative because the GI index is 100 with glucose. A low GI food is considered to be 55 or less. Honey and maple syrup are similar in their calorie count. Maple Syrup, on the other hand, has a glycemic index of 54 which makes it a low GI food (just barely). 4. Any baked good that I make at home. Pure maple syrup (the kind tapped from a tree) is an even better option, because it undergoes less processing than refined sugars. (2020). The glycemic index is a scale that rates how quickly a given carbohydrate causes blood sugar to rise. Two popular, healthy sounding but highly processed sweeteners, coconut sugar and agave have a slightly lower glycemic index than raw honey and maple syrup. You can use honey as an energy booster before or after workouts. are still up for debate. In one study, honey decreased triglycerides in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and reduced low density lipoproteins in patients with hyperlipidemia, however, artificial honey had the opposite effects. Agave is largely made of fructose (85-90%) and fructose is not measured in on GI. Maple syrup is healthier for you because it has a glycemic index (GI) of 54, compared to 60 for cane sugar. The average glycemic index for honey is 55, plus or minus 5 (depending upon the variety and other factors) The glycemic index of white table sugar is 68, plus or minus 5. Honey, on the other hand, is made by bees. Please note that the Glycemic index- GI value for corn syrup is 73 on average but this will depend on fructose to glucose ratio, it is 75 for table sugar and 65 for raw sugar. Maple syrup has a medium glycemic index, and should be consumed in moderation. Once they enter your body, they absorb quickly and work quickly to elevate your blood sugar. Nutrition of Pure Maple Syrup vs Honey. Foods are ranked as having a low glycemic index if they measure 55 or lower. On top of being a household product, maple has been shown to have potential diabetes benefits due to its low glycemic index … Glycemic Index (GI) The Glycemic Index (GI) is used to measure how foods raise blood sugar. They both contain 4 calories per gram. Maple syrup has a glycemic index of 54, whereas cane sugar is a whopping 65 and honey sits at 58. So let’s check out a complete chart of the glycemic index of sweeteners. And remember, you are what you eat. Take a look at the following chart: You can see that viscous sweeteners like syrup and honey are high in carbohydrates, low in protein, and have a higher glycemic index (GI). Maple syrup has a low glycemic index of 54, while honey’s glycemic index of 61 is a little higher, making honey a moderate glycemic index food. Compared to Others. Pure maple syrup has a glycemic index of 54 thats low! Antioxidants are important for the body. On top of having a low glycemic index (which means less impact on your blood sugar) ranging from 40-55, honey has been studied for its potential antimicrobial activity. There is not enough published research on coconut palm sugar and/or nectar to say whether either is better or worse for you than those other, more common sweeteners. High-fructose sweeteners have a low glycemic index (GI), so it’s less likely to cause rapid blood sugar spikes than other sugars. Honey therefore has a lower GI than sugar. While you may assume that sugar and honey are high on the glycemic index, they’re actually both in the moderate, and in some cases, even low on the range. Both honey and sugar are simple sugars. Merino B, et al. But when it comes to maple syrup, don’t get it confused. Studies show that honey has a lower glycemic index than table sugar and therefore provides a relatively longer, and steadier source of energy. Prefer darker maple syrup. On the other hand, maple syrup has a Glycemic Index of 54. The glycemic index of maple syrup is around 54. The glycemic index score of maple syrup is about 54, compared to a score of about 65 for regular cane sugar. The claimed benefits of coconut nectar vs. honey, maple syrup, etc. It seems that dark maple syrup is the richest in antioxidants, compared with the clear maple syrup. Contrary to what some believe, there are few similarities between pure maple syrup and honey. "Agave is about 85 percent fructose and the rest is water," says Angelone. I cut sugar DRAMATICALLY in recipes because I don’t like oversweet treats, and use dates, honey or maple syrup in place of sugar as often as I can. Surprisingly, maple syrup packs a lot of health benefits. Whole date sugar retains its fiber content, which buffers sugar absorption, another benefit especially for those who suffer from blood sugar issues. Chopped apple, walnuts, cinnamon, honey drizzle heated in the microwave for ~30 seconds. Glycemic Index (GI) Before looking into the glycemic index of maple syrup vs. agave, we’re faced with the question of what the glycemic index actually is. Pure honey has an index of 58 and table sugar an index of 65. There are sweeteners with a glycemic index greater than 100. Sugars naturally rank higher on the glycemic index, however, maple syrup is clearly the better option as it has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar. A tablespoon (20 g) of maple syrup contains 52 calories whereas the same amount of honey has 64 calories. HFCS is also a mixture of fructose and glucose in approximately the same amounts and digested the same way in the human body. "The fructose is metabolized mainly by the liver. Foods with a glycemic index of 55 or below are considered to be low glycemic foods. Name Calories / Gram Sweetness Index Glycemic Index Calories / Spoon-Equiv; Honey 4 1.1 50; 14 Maple Syrup 4 1 54 15 Coconut Palm Sugar 4 1 35; 15 Sorghum Syrup 4 1 50 Homemade raw energy balls/bars sweetened with dates and/or honey. Maple syrup is defined as having a "medium" index. Medium glycemic index foods range from 56 to 69, and high glycemic index foods are ranked at 70 or above. This is due to its higher fructose content, and the absence of trace minerals. Real Maple Syrup has a glycemic index of 54. It also helps reduce allergy symptoms . (Also Read: 5 Vegetables You Must Include In Your Diabetes Diet) According to research, this may help reduce risk of coronary heart disease and type 2 … It’s also worth noting that the GI is better than pure honey… GI … Pure maple syrup and honey are commonly labeled as healthy and natural sweeteners -- often as an alternative to sugar or sugar substitutes. They have determined that eating maple syrup causes a lower rise in blood glucose (sugar) levels than white sugar, corn syrup or brown-rice syrup, and they have given maple syrup a low glycemic index[a2] , similar to honey, molasses and agave syrup. Researchers have also compared the glycemic index of different types of carbohydrates[a1] . Sugar is higher on the glycemic index (GI) than honey, meaning it raises blood sugar levels more quickly. Both maple syrup and honey are natural sweeteners that contain nutrients and plant chemicals (phytochemicals). The higher the GI, the less healthy they are because they cause a bigger rise in blood glucose after you consume them. The Glycemic Index of sugar is, as you would expect fairly high, coming in at 65. According to the USDA as of January 2019, Maple Syrup contains water, energy, protein, and fiber to name a few. Fiber and Glycemic Index. To learn more about paying attention to glycemic index in foods, read here. 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