The sweetest way to keep disease, dementia at bay

Scientists may have found the true tree of life.

And we’re now learning that the “fruit” of that tree may hold the answer to treating the worst plagues of our time, most especially cancer.

A just-published study has found that the sap of the maple tree — that’s right, maple syrup — has some amazing anti-cancer properties.

Researchers were so impressed by how effectively this sweet substance was able to trounce the growth of colon cancer cells that they even suggested that maple syrup could be used in place of conventional treatments!

And that’s not all. Maple syrup has been found to be a formidable foe in fighting diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, and it can even help cure infections by enhancing the power of antibiotics.

While you’ve probably been told that all sweeteners are the same — be it sugar, corn syrup, or that laboratory concoction high fructose corn syrup — that’s just not true!

And even though you don’t want to go crazy pouring maple syrup on everything, with what we now know about the health benefits of this delicious tree sap, there’s no reason not to use it whenever you reach for a sweetener.

Sweet and healthy!
The sap of the maple tree contains “complex components that are things we also need to stay healthy,” just as it keeps the tree healthy, according to expert Helen Thomas.

But what’s even more important are the diseases that this sweet elixir can help prevent and treat that have nothing at all to do with trees.

Take Alzheimer’s, for instance.

It turns out that this sticky syrup contains a compound that can stop the development of brain plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, in its tracks. It’s also found to be effective in treating the “misfolded proteins” found in the brains of those with other neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s.

The researchers from the University of Toronto who made that discovery also believe that even if someone already has the disease, the compounds in maple syrup may keep it in check by preventing further tangling or clumping of these defective proteins.

Then, there’s what maple syrup can do in helping to treat infections. As you know, the overuse of antibiotics is largely responsible for the emergence of those superbugs — the bacteria that scientists are predicting will make even routine surgeries into life-and-death propositions.

But by using an extract derived from maple syrup, researchers at Montreal’s McGill University found that they were able to make antibiotics work better in laboratory tests.

On its own, the maple compound was somewhat effective in killing disease-causing bacteria. But when combined with commonly used antibiotics, it supercharged the drugs, so less of each had to be used. And the fewer antibiotics we need, the more chance we have of halting this superbug crisis before it overwhelms us!

It’s already known that maple syrup contains more than 20 disease-fighting compounds. It could even beat the best fruits and veggies out there, such as broccoli and blueberries, in its ability to ward off diseases.

And believe it or not, one of those turns out to be diabetes. Studies have found maple syrup — a sweetener! — can actually help prevent it by promoting the release of insulin.

Now, a new study has found that this miraculous tree sap can even help fight the big C.

Japanese researchers are reporting that the assorted vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other compounds in maple syrup can actually inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells. The scientists even said that it might be “suitable as a phytomedicine” (a medicinal derived from plants) that could be used in place of risky cancer treatments.

And five years ago, another maple compound, called “quebecol,” was found to be as potent as the chemo drug tamoxifen (used to treat breast cancer)… but without the side effects!

It’s obvious that maple syrup is amazingly complex and much more than just something to pour on pancakes. And now that you know how powerful this tasty nectar is, it makes sense to use it in place of sugar and even honey.

Add some to your morning oatmeal… try it in tea… or mix it into plain yogurt. You can also use maple syrup in your cooking — in chicken, pork, or an exotic sweet and sour shrimp dish.

But watch out for fakes that contain corn syrup or HFCS, which are usually sold in the same aisle as the real deal. Just be sure the label says it is 100 percent pure maple syrup.

“Maple syrup: Surprising cancer fighter” Sylvia Booth Hubbard, January 9, 2018, Newsmax, newsmax.com