What is Maple Water? The Health Benefits of Drinking Pure Maple Water
By: Barb Biagioli
Move over Coconut Water. Meet, Maple Water.
If you’ve never heard of maple water, you’re in for a real (sweet) treat.
Maple water is the sterilized water that comes from pure maple sap – that clear and nourishing liquid that flows from maple trees in early springtime. Just like regular water, maple sap is clear. In early spring, maple trees pull water up from the ground and filter it through their roots – this natural process infuses the sap with nutrients that are stored in the tree for the winter. This process provides hydration and nourishment that enables the tree’s growth and rejuvenation during the spring renewal season.
How is Maple Water Made?
The spring thaw brings conditions that are ideal for harvesting maple sap. In March and early April, when temperatures are just right – warm during the day and below freezing at night – maple trees can be tapped for the collection of sap. The natural warming and changing of temperatures creates pressure that allows the sap to flow freely from the tree. The season is short lived and sensitive to consistently warmer temperatures – once temperatures stay above freezing, the sap stops flowing.
When the sap has been collected through piping or buckets, the maple water is sterilized to kill off yeast and pathogens, with proper care to ensure that all minerals, polyphenols and antioxidants remain from the pure sap. Although derived from the same place, maple water is not the same as maple syrup. Maple syrup, also high in antioxidants and benefits of its own, is created when the maple water or sap is boiled down to create a syrup.
The concentration of maple sugar in maple water is approximately 2%, compared to 66% in maple syrup. Pure maple water does not include any added ingredients or sweeteners – it’s really just tree sap! Unlike maple syrup, which takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup, maple water requires 1 gallon of sap to produce 1 gallon of maple water, making it more economically beneficial for farmers.
What are the Health Benefits of Maple Water?
Not only does maple water taste great, it offers an array of health benefits.
Maple sap contains 95% to 97.5% water and minerals like potassium, zinc, calcium, and manganese, amino acids, oligosaccharides, organic acids, phenolic, and 46 bio-active compounds – some of which have antioxidant properties. Among its many notable properties, maple water’s claim to fame is that it provides more manganese than a cup of kale! Manganese is an essential nutrient that the body must retain from food and water sources because the body does not make it naturally. It plays a vital role in supporting bone health, reducing the risk of heart disease, reduces inflammation, and regulates blood sugar. Touted as “Mother Nature’s super-food gift from the trees”, maple water contains high levels of phytochemicals, polyphenols and antioxidants, prebiotics and electrolytes:
Phytochemicals – natural compounds that are produced by plant foods, phytochemicals help protect the cells from oxidative stress and damage.
Polyphenols + Antioxidants – working together to detoxify and protect the body from inflammation and slow the aging process.
Prebiotics – the food that feeds the probiotics (gut microbes) living in your gut, prebiotics are essential for supporting digestive health.
Electrolytes – minerals that keep the body hydrated, essential for those living an active lifestyle.
And it doesn’t stop there. Researchers are just beginning to tap into the hidden health benefits of maple water. A trendy health beverage, maple water not only tastes great in smoothies but includes a star-studded list of benefits crucial for preventative and sustainable health:
Anti-inflammatory
The phenolic compounds in maple water are beneficial for reducing free radical damage in the body that can cause inflammatory diseases like arthritis, IBS and heart disease.
Anti-aging
The polyphenols and antioxidants present in maple water have been found to help with the prevention of aging.
Hydrating
For years, Sugarmakers have been drinking maple water to keep hydrated while they spend countless hours making maple syrup in their sugarhouses. And most recently, research suggests that maple water hydrates at double the speed of regular water.
Good for the Gut
A great source of oligosaccharides and prebiotics, maple water may also be beneficial for the gut – helping to digest food and strengthen the microbiome.
Boosts Aerobic Athletic Performance
An excellent choice for athletes, maple water has been shown to boost aerobic performance and stamina. A recent study concluded that people were able to consume more oxygen during exercise after consuming maple water.
Full of Electrolytes
Similar to the appealing health benefits of coconut water, maple water also contains electrolytes – essential for hydrating the body, they contain potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Potential Cancer Chemo-Preventative Effects
Research studies show that maple polyphenols may have potential cancer chemo-preventive effects mediated through cell cycle arrest.
Hangover Helper
Recent research suggests that drinking maple water before alcohol consumption may boost the rate at which the alcohol is metabolized in the body – potentially reducing or lessening the severity of an impending hangover.
Did we mention that maple water is also organic, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free?
How Does Maple Water Taste?
A lower-sugar version of coconut water, the flavor of maple water is very subtle and not too sweet. Much like maple syrup, it’s a perfect compliment to your morning breakfast – it goes well in smoothies and is great for cooking your morning oats.
Maple water is ideal for high-performance athletes as training fuel or a hydrating post-workout drink after yoga, boot camp, and strength training sessions. You may also want to give it a go if you’re craving something just a tad bit sweet in place of your regular water. It’s also beneficial to keep some stocked at home in case a stomach virus or respiratory illness strikes – those electrolytes are great for replenishing crucial nutrients and maintaining optimal hydration for healing.
So next time you need a refreshing drink or mid-triathlon training boost, mix it up with some maple water!
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