The Glycemic Index of Maple Syrup
The glycemic index is a measurement of how quickly a certain food will raise your blood sugar. It is based on the amount of glucose in the food, because that is the carbohydrate most readily available and the fastest to have an impact on blood sugar levels. Eating too much high glycemic index food can contribute to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Maple syrup has a medium glycemic index, and should be consumed in moderation.
Glycemic Index Ranking
Foods are ranked as having a low glycemic index if they measure 55 or lower. Medium glycemic index foods range from 56 to 69, and high glycemic index foods are ranked at 70 or above.
Maple Syrup Glycemic Index
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Pure maple syrup has a glycemic index of 54. Flavored maple syrup has a glycemic index of 68.
Glycemic Index of Foods Accompanying Maple Syrup
You probably don't consume maple syrup by the glass, unless you are a character in the movie "Elf." Usually, foods like pancakes or waffles go along with the syrup. These also tend to be foods high on the glycemic index. Most pancake varieties have a glycemic index in the 60s, with pancakes made from coconut flour having a slightly lower ranking at 46. Waffles have a glycemic index of 76.
- You probably don't consume maple syrup by the glass, unless you are a character in the movie "Elf."
- Most pancake varieties have a glycemic index in the 60s, with pancakes made from coconut flour having a slightly lower ranking at 46.
Lower Glycemic Index Sweetener Alternative
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If you are trying to consume foods with a low glycemic index, you might want to replace maple syrup with another sweetener. Agave nectar is a liquid sweetener that can be equally substituted for maple syrup and has a glycemic index ranking between 10 and 19, depending on the variety.
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References
- The Glycemic Index: GI Database
- Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center: Glycemic Indeex
- Ojo O, Ojo OO, Adebowale F, Wang XH. The effect of dietary glycaemic index on glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients. 2018;10(3):373. Published 2018 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/nu10030373
- Glycemic Index and Diabetes. American Diabetes Association
- Search for the Glycemic Index. The University of Sydney
- Zeevi D, Korem T, Zmora N, et al. Personalized Nutrition by Prediction of Glycemic Responses. Cell. 2015;163(5):1079-1094. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.001+
- Sacks FM, Carey VJ, Anderson CA, et al. Effects of high vs low glycemic index of dietary carbohydrate on cardiovascular disease risk factors and insulin sensitivity: the OmniCarb randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312(23):2531-41. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16658.
- Vega-lópez S, Venn BJ, Slavin JL. Relevance of the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for Body Weight, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrients. 2018;10(10). doi:10.3390/nu10101361
- Glycemic Index Database. University of Sydney. Updated October 13, 2020
- Eleazu C. O. (2016). The concept of low glycemic index and glycemic load foods as panacea for type 2 diabetes mellitus; prospects, challenges and solutions. African health sciences, 16(2), 468–479. doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i2.15
- Foster-Powell, Kaye, Holt, Susanna and Brand-Miller, Janette. "International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 76,:1: 5-56 (2002).
- International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium, Jenkins, D. J., Willett, W. C., Astrup, A., Augustin, L. S., Baer-Sinnott, S., … Wolever, T. M. (2014). Glycaemic index: did Health Canada get it wrong? Position from the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC). The British journal of nutrition, 111(2), 380–382. doi:10.1017/S0007114513003905
- Leroux, MarcusFoster-Powell, Kaye, Holt, Susanna and Brand-Miller, Janette. "International Table of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load Values: 2002." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vol. 76, No. 1, 5-56, (2002).
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- Mayer-Davis, E.J., Dhawan, A et al. "Towards understanding of glycaemic index and glycaemic load in habitual diet: associations with measures of glycaemia in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study.." British Nutrition Journal. 95(2):397-405. (2006).
- Sacks, F. M., Carey, V. J., Anderson, C. A., Miller, E. R., 3rd, Copeland, T., Charleston, J., … Appel, L. J. (2014). Effects of high vs low glycemic index of dietary carbohydrate on cardiovascular disease risk factors and insulin sensitivity: the OmniCarb randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 312(23), 2531–2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16658
- Salmeron, J, Manson, JE, et al. "Dietary fiber, glycemic load, and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in women.." Journal of the American Medical Association. 12;277(6):472-7. (1997).
- Vega-López, S., Venn, B., & Slavin, J. (2018). Relevance of the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for Body Weight, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrients, 10(10), 1361. doi:10.3390/nu10101361
- Zeevi, D. Korem N. et al. Personalized Nutrition by Prediction of Glycemic ResponsesCell. 163:(5):1079-94. November 2015.
Writer Bio
Kathryn Flynn is a health educator and a writer specializing in nutrition. She has worked in high school health education, plant-based nutrition counseling, yoga instruction, public health promotion and childhood obesity prevention. Flynn holds a Master of Public Health and is a certified plant-based nutritionist, holistic health coach and yoga instructor.