document: Maple syrup joins ranks of broccoli and blueberries as new '' `` one-stop shop '' '' superfood Blueberries , broccoli and fish rich in Omega 3 are among the best known superfoods . But now something rather sweeter can be added to the list of healthy foods containing high levels of antioxidants that boost the immune system . Maple syrup is even being described by scientists in America as a ` one-stop shop ' for beneficial compounds . Tests on the syrup , which is made by boiling sap from the maple tree , found that it contains compounds which could help manage Type 2 diabetes , as well as acting as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agents . Researchers identified 54 compounds , twice as many as the syrup was previously thought to have . Five were found to be unique to maple syrup . Several of the syrup 's polyphenol , or water-soluble , compounds inhibited the enzymes that convert carbohydrates to sugars , raising the prospect of a new way of managing Type 2 Diabetes . They also found that many of the antioxidant compounds , which prevent the oxidation and ageing of the body 's cells , are n't found in other natural sweeteners . Dr Navindra Seeram , who led the research at the University of Rhode Island , said : ` We do n't know yet whether the new compounds contribute to the healthy profile of maple syrup . ` But we do know that the sheer quantity and variety of identified compounds with documented health benefits qualifies maple syrup as a champion food . ` It is a one-stop shop for these beneficial compounds , several of which are also found in berries , tea , red wine and flaxseed , just to name a few . ' Explaining the science behind the findings , he said : ` We found a wide variety of polyphenols in maple syrup . We discovered that the polyphenols in maple syrup inhibit enzymes that are involved in the conversion of carbohydrate to sugar . ` In fact , in preliminary studies , maple syrup had a greater enzyme-inhibiting effect compared to several other healthy plant foods such as berries . ' ` By 2050 , one in three people will be afflicted with Type 2 diabetes , so finding a potential anti-diabetic compound in maple syrup is interesting for the scientific community and the consumer . ' The findings of Dr Seeram 's team were presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in California . Genevihve Biland , marketing director for the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers , one of the sponsors of the research , said : ` Given its amazing potential for human health and great nutritional value , maple syrup is a natural choice for a healthy lifestyle . '
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