Pure Maple Syrup is Good For You!
A research at the University of Rhode Island has discovered that there are more than 20 compounds in maple syrup beneficial to human health. Thirteen of the compounds are newly discovered plus an additional eight in the maple family. The story cites maple syrup from Canada, which is a little dicey considering the study was paid for by the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program and I find it difficult to believe that it wouldn’t be present in maple syrup made in the United States. 
So what are these goodies? It’s been known to have had several anti-oxidants before the study but they discovered phenolics, which is the class of anti-oxidants found in berries, were produced as a defense mechanism. When the sugar maple is tapped for sap, the tree produces a small amount of phenolics, which is magnified when the sap is boiled down into syrup. The heating process also creates other bioactive compounds.
That being said, you probably should chug maple syrup a la Super Troopers but splashing a bit on your pancakes in the morning does have benefits!
