Is Maple Syrup Safe During Pregnancy? Let’s Find Out!
When you are expecting, you may crave different food items. But have you wondered if maple syrup is safe during pregnancy? In simple words, yes! You can go for maple syrup (but should take syrup in moderation).
There is no manual for parenting, but you can prepare yourself during pregnancy. It starts with finding the food or drinks that you can safely consume during this time.
It may still be challenging, but you can do it and when doubts kick in, call your healthcare professional. It’s best to rely on your doctor’s recommendations when unsure. Read on for more information.
What Is Maple Syrup?
You get maple syrup from maple tree sap. The sap from the maple trees is boiled, which becomes maple syrup. Notably, 80% of the world’s supply comes from Quebec (eastern Canada).
So, when you crave maple syrup, it’s best to consider the original instead of the flavored ones, as it’s available in different grades in the USA, for example, Grade A and Grade B, where the latter is the darkest in color and has the strongest maple flavor.
What Are The Nutritional Benefits of Maple Syrup?
Maple syrup is a great source of Zinc and Manganese. In addition, it’s low in cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat.
1 tbsp of Maple Syrup provides the following:
- Calcium 1% Daily Value (DV)
- Manganese 33% DV
- Potassium 1% DV
- Iron 1% DV
- Zinc 6% DV
It also contains 20.00 mg of total omega-6 fatty acids. Thus, consuming maple syrup would be beneficial, but only in moderation. A person must consume a healthy and balanced diet and only use maple syrup for taste or to enjoy the pancakes!
Maple syrup also helps you enjoy a unique maple flavor that you can have with pancakes or add to your favorite sweet food or dish instead of regular sugar.
Are There Any Potential Risks of Maple Syrup?
It’s vital to note that 1 tbsp (20 grams) of maple syrup contains 52.2 calories, and a significant portion comprises sugar (11.9 grams).
You can’t rely on maple syrup as a potential source of nutrients. The more sugar intake a person consumes, the more likely they can develop cavities. So, consuming maple syrup in large quantities can cause tooth decay.
Sugar in high concentration can also impact blood sugar levels, so it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider when someone with diabetes consumes maple syrup.
It’s also possible that some people may suffer from allergies. If that’s the case, it’s best to talk to your doctor to avoid an allergic reaction.
What Can’t You Eat When Expecting?
During pregnancy, it’s crucial to take extra precautions with your health, and this includes what you eat.
The following is a brief list of things you should stay away from drinking while pregnant:
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Alcohol:
Any level of alcohol intake during pregnancy is risky since it may seriously harm both the mother’s and the unborn child’s health.
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Caffeine:
Although it is OK to consume up to 200 mg of caffeine per day (approximately 2 cups of coffee), excessive caffeine intake raises the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight.
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Raw or undercooked food
Consuming raw or undercooked food increases your chance of contracting salmonella or other germs, which may harm both you and your unborn baby during pregnancy.
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Few drugs
A few drugs should not be used because they may endanger your unborn child, including several allergy treatments and fish oil supplements. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, for example, may raise the chance of birth abnormalities and other serious conditions.
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Unpasteurized milk and cheeses:
All types of cheese, including soft and hard varieties, may carry the very dangerous listeria bacterium. Unpasteurized milk must be avoided since it could also be contaminated with listeria and other harmful germs, endangering expectant women.
To be sure you understand what you should and should not consume while pregnant, it is crucial to speak with your healthcare practitioner.
Throughout pregnancy, it’s essential to take all necessary precautions to safeguard both your and your unborn child’s health.
Which is better for you, honey or syrup?
The nutritional information and possible health advantages or dangers of each should be taken into account when selecting which is healthier syrup or honey.
Whereas honey is formed from naturally occurring bee-produced sugars such as fructose and glucose, the syrup is often prepared from highly refined substances like corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, or sucrose.
Traces of amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins may also be found in honey. Nutritionally speaking, honey is superior to syrup in terms of calories and carbs, but it is inferior in terms of fat and cholesterol.
Moreover, honey contains additional micronutrients including potassium, calcium, and magnesium as well as antioxidants. In addition, syrup lacks the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities that raw honey has.
In the end, honey is healthier since it has more vitamins and minerals, natural components, and other health advantages. Whenever feasible, it is advised to use honey instead of syrup as much as possible.
Is Maple Syrup Safe During Pregnancy?
The smell of maple syrup or the yummy taste can make you drool! But it’s best to be aware of whether it’s safe for you during this time.
Maple syrup in moderate amounts is safe during pregnancy. But, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider, especially for someone with gestational diabetes. During pregnancy, you may crave sugary food or pancakes; thus, you can use maple syrup for the taste!
Always use the food label and check the ingredients when buying maple syrup or any other product.
Your daily intake of sugar can be up to 25 grams. So, it’s wise to know what you put in your body. Maintaining a healthy diet and keeping yourself hydrated are essential at this time. You must also focus on sleeping well, as catching up on sleep could be challenging for you once you have a baby.
Pregnancy Tip for New Parents:
It’s great that you are looking for the dos and don’ts of pregnancy. You can also look into breastfeeding courses, parenting classes, and more. You can even make a list of food items that would be safe for you later while you are breastfeeding.
You can also talk to a professional if pregnancy is challenging or overwhelming. Remember, your mental health and physical health are equally important.
FAQs
Can I use maple syrup on pancakes during pregnancy?
Yes, you can use maple syrup on pancakes during pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes or are allergic to maple syrup, talk to your doctor first. It’s best to be on the safe side.
When to avoid maple syrup?
If you are allergic to the ingredients or spot mold in the maple syrup, avoid it. Also, if you love sugar and consume maple syrup in large quantities, you can develop cavities, so it would be best to decrease the limit!
Which maple syrup is the best?
If you can, it’s best to get the original maple syrup from Canada. You can find a variety with a quick online search. However, always check the label instructions and ingredients, and also check the reviews if you place an order online.
What type of diet is suitable during pregnancy?
A well-balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, etc is essential for the pregnant woman. You must also keep yourself hydrated. The doctor may also suggest prenatal vitamins.
Always discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. A lot of information is available online, but your doctor knows what’s best for you. Even after delivering a child, ensure you give yourself enough time to maintain your health.
Can you use maple syrup in baking?
You can use maple syrup instead of regular sugar in baking. Just be sure you stay within limits. For example, a person consuming 2000 calorie diet can have 50 grams of sugar, but it’s best to keep it to 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men. So, you need to consider your calorie intake, pregnancy, and the sugar content in maple syrup.
Is Maple Syrup Safe for Babies?
It is not recommended to give infants maple syrup, as it is a high-calorie and sugary food not typically suited for babies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend against the consumption of added sugar by babies.
Maple syrup has a high sugar content, which may lead to obesity, tooth decay, and other chronic illnesses. Infants should consume nutrient-rich baby food that meets their age-appropriate nutritional needs.
What Alternatives Are There to Syrup?
Various substitutes for syrup may be applicable depending on individual needs.
For added sweetness, consider incorporating honey, molasses, pureed dates, pureed prunes, coconut nectar, pureed fruit, pureed vegetables (such as carrots or sweet potatoes), maple extract, pureed figs, or agave nectar into your breakfast and dessert dishes.
For recipes that call for heavier syrup, such as glazes or sauces, you may use corn syrup, golden syrup, brown rice syrup, date honey, or cane syrup.
To achieve the required outcome, it is advisable to sample various syrups as each offers different flavors and textures.
Syrups can be thickened with cornflour or arrowroot, while jams and preserves such as strawberry or blackberry can enhance sweetness and flavor.
Last but not least, you may create a unique taste by omitting the syrup and replacing it with a spice mixture and a natural sweetener like dates, honey, or agave.
Wrapping It Up
You can do the consumption of maple syrup during pregnancy, but only in moderation. If you have gestational diabetes, talk to your doctor first. Generally, it’s better to list food items you crave and ask your healthcare providers about them. Then, when you have a green signal from the doctors, it will be safe!