Maple Syrup May Be Your Brain's New Best Friend

Thanks to a new study, you may finally have an excuse to add that indulgent dose of maple syrup to your pancakes. According to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society earlier this month, the sweet treat shows promise in protecting against Alzheimer's disease.

At the meeting, a global team of scientists shared the results of 24 studies, which contained promising results for protecting the brain against diseases like Alzheimer's. For the first time, real maple syrup ranked among the list of usual suspects like antioxidant-rich green tea, red wine and berries.

The benefits of syrup are twofold. Alzheimer's and other degenerative brain diseases are related to two particular types of protein that clump together in the brain in a way that's destructive. When these proteins get together, they form a plaque in your brain, which makes it harder for different parts of the brain to communicate. When your brain senses that the cells in those areas are disabled and not communicating properly, it destroys them. Not good.
Luckily, not only do the phenol compounds found in the maple syrup prevent these two proteins from tangling up in the first place, they also may be able to help in cases where Alzheimer's has already been diagnosed. The researchers found that the compounds found in maple syrup may be able to prolong the lifespan of people already diagnosed with the disease by reducing those neural blocks.

It's important to note that these particular studies were performed in rodents. But according to Navindra P. Seeram, Ph.D., lead author of the study, people should be able to see similar effects.

The specific dosage in humans is still unknown, but remember, everything in moderation. It's OK to stop feeling guilty about a maple shot in your morning smoothie or as a sweet addition to your regular roasted veggies. Just make sure you're buying the real stuff and not a maple-flavored imitation.