Benefits of Maple Syrup as Athletic Nutrition
Maple Syrup has many naturally occurring micro and macro nutrients that your body requires to perform at its highest level. Learn about each below and how you can use maple to improve your fueling strategy.
The Simple Process
Maple syrup is produced by removing water from maple sap. Maple sap is boiled until there’s at least 66% sugar content at which point the result is the maple syrup that we know and love — that’s it! This lack of heavy processing leaves a multitude of nutritional benefits which don’t need supplementation, an all too common practice in sports nutrition.
The Benefits of Maple Syrup
- Maple syrup is low glycemic. Containing all natural carbohydrates, maple syrup provides prolonged, sustained energy rather than offering a quick burst and subsequent crash. It offers a quick pick-me-up in the short term, but is there for you in the long run as well.
- Maple syrup contains calcium, riboflavin, manganese, zinc, potassium and other electrolytes. These inherent components of maple syrup promote energy production, muscle recovery, and help prevent cramping. Electrolytes are critical in athletic performance or just energizing your day to day.
- Maple syrup contains more than fifty antioxidants. When your body is working hard, or even just undergoing daily stress, you produce free radicals that have an inflammatory or damaging effect. This array of polyphenols found in maple syrup have powerful free radical-fighting properties. Foods with similar qualities include berries, green tea, red wine, and flaxseeds.
- Maple syrup contains amino acids. When you’re training and racing hard, your muscles get beat up. Amino acids help repair that damage and prevent muscle deterioration, ultimately making you stronger.
- Maple syrup is water soluble making it easy to digest and quick to absorb. Perhaps best yet, say goodbye to gut-rot which is a common complaint of athletes after consuming typical energy gels, as they are loaded with synthetic flavors and supplements. Plus maple syrup is a cinch to clean up; just rinse with water. Alternative sports gels are like tar to clean up.
How to Fuel With UnTapped
Timing is everything when it comes to fueling any endeavor. Our full breakdown of all the components of fueling can be found in our comprehensive fueling guide. For those of you already gearing up, here is a quick overview.
60 Minutes Before an Event
Hunger pangs are satisfied but you’re not too full. You’re topping up on a combination of fast acting and slow burning carbohydrates, and you have a tasty infusion of electrolytes.
30 Minutes Before an Event
- 1 Maple UnTapped
- Or for more electrolytes: 1 Coffee UnTapped or 1 Salted Raspberry UnTapped or 1 Salted Cocoa UnTapped
It’s nearly go time so a quick 100 calories of maple or caffeinated maple have you ready to work.
Go Time! Every 30 Minutes of the Event
A steady input to keep you topped up and performing at your peak.
Curious About Caffeine?
Coffee UnTapped takes Maple UnTapped and infuses it with organic coffee providing 27mg of naturally occurring caffeine. Lemon Tea Mapleaid has 25mg of caffeine from real black tea. Competitors’ caffeinated athletic products can be 4-6x as much caffeine which can leave you feeling jittery or with an upset stomach. Coffee UnTapped is suggested for early morning workouts or when you need a little more oomph in your output. For longer events, athletes find Coffee UnTapped the perfect fuel for the finish line push.
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