/oss/taxonomy/term/413/all en /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/maple-syrup-cancer-fighter <p>Maple syrup as a cancer fighter? That’s what a press release from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers claims. “Recent studies have shown Canadian maple syrup to contain more than twenty antioxidant compounds which are known to slow cancerous growth.” Now, I like pure maple syrup on my pancakes. But suggesting that it fights cancer is pure marketing hype. One of the studies that generated the seductive headline was carried out by Navindra Seeram at the University of Rhode Island, funded to the tune of $115,000 by the Quebec maple syrup industry.</p> Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:55:33 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1613 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/sweet-hype-maple-syrup <p>You can tell that it’s sugaring off time because sappy articles about the health benefits of maple syrup start flowing from media outlets. “Maple Syrup Contains a Number of Health Benefits,” “Maple Syrup: Boon for Patients of Type 2 Diabetes,” “Maple Syrup May be Antioxidant-filled Liquid Gold,” “Scientist Reveals Health Benefits of Pure Maple Syrup,” “Is Maple Syrup a Super Food?” Well, that last question is easy to answer. No, it isn’t. And neither is anything else. There are healthy diets and unhealthy diets, but to ascribe “super” qualities to any single food is totally unrealistic.</p> Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:18:48 +0000 OSS 1629 at /oss