Agave nectar is a sweetener processed from the blue agave plant. Agave syrup has either a dark or light amber colour and it's slightly thinner in consistency than honey. To make agave nectar, the Blue Agave plant grows for 7 – 10 years and then sap, with its high carbohydrate content, is extracted from the core of the plant. Agave is commonly used as a sweetener to replace brown or white sugar in baking. Nutrition. On a study made by the Journal of Clinical Investigation , they found out that consuming fructose may be less healthy than consuming the same amount of glucose. It's even worse than high fructose corn syrup. Agave syrup, produced from sap of a plant that's been used medicinally in Mexico for generations and fermented to make tequila, has found its way into the health and wellness world. That is a higher fructose content than even high fructose corn syrup. Agave does have some possible health benefits touted by its proponents. When processed, the nectar becomes agave syrup, which is what is technically sold to consumers. Agave nectar is a viscous liquid, sticky, but not as thick as honey. Agave syrup is … Derived from the agave plant native to the southern United States, Latin America, and South America, agave nectar or syrup is a liquid used to sweeten foods and drinks. In theory, agave nectar is the unprocessed version of the sweetener, not unlike sap from maple trees. Gram for gram, agave is worse than table sugar. When it comes to agave nectar, it is 90 percent fructose. For years, some medical professionals, nutritionists, and dietitians, proclaimed agave as a savior among sugar substitutes, especially for diabetics. Mild agave syrups are light in taste and are used for delicate flavoured food or beverages. However, is it as healthy as everybody claims it is, or just another health fad? Fructose does not readily raise blood sugar (glucose) levels because the body doesn’t metabolize it well. These cultures would use the sap from the leaves of the agave plant to dress wounds and fight skin infections. Agave is composed of between 50% and 90% fructose. Agave is the name for a group of succulent plants that grow in warm climates, particularly the southwestern United States and Mexico. Here's why you should avoid agave nectar. The genus Agave, consisting of over 200 species, are succulents composed of … It was perceived that the fresh nectar from the agave plant was not just healthy, but also therapeutic. So, is agave syrup healthy? Ironically, agave’s high fructose content is the very reason it has a low glycemic index. It’s sweeter than white sugar and has about the same amount of calories. Unlike sugar which is broken down by the body to 50% fructose and 50% glucose, agave breaks down to up to 90% fructose. But when it comes to agave and honey—two natural sweeteners that often pop up in healthy recipes—it’s not as easy to tell the two apart. I’ve stopped using agave myself and no longer recommend it as a healthy sweetener. “A lot of people … Availability of agave syrup. It's about 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, and it is made from the same plant as tequila. Texture. Tequila, at least the good kind made from 100% agave, has been linked to weight loss, lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar. Agave is loaded with inulin, a complex sub-variant of fructose, which is broken down by friendly bacteria to make fatty acids that may fight colon cancer. The problem with agave is the way that it’s made. Agave nectar is derived from the blue agave plant. As stated, glucose levels aren’t raised. She pointed out that she’d done a search for agave nectar on this site and only turned up two entries. Table sugar commonly comes in the form of individual granules. It is, in small amounts, with fruit fiber, fruit vitamins, fruit minerals, and all of the other nutrition in f Here’s what you need to know before pouring it on your pancakes. So, is agave nectar actually healthy for you? The Blue Agave is found in the volcanic soils of Southern Mexico and is widely used to make tequila. Many people believe that since the sugar in fruit is fructose that this means fructose is automatically healthy. Agave nectar is high in fructose, which is thought to be one of the most damaging forms of sugar, so always use in small quantities and opt to buy organic, raw agave rather than the cheaper, highly processed version. Earlier this week a reader emailed me, seeking an answer to the classic question: Is agave nectar (also sometimes called agave syrup) good for you? It is made either by heating extracts of the succulent Agave salmiana plant or by breaking them down with water in a process called hydrolysis.The resulting liquid is processed with enzymes derived from a mold called Aspergillus niger. A teaspoon of agave has 21 calories and trace amounts of nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, compared with refined white sugar’s 16 … Is agave nectar bad? While there are many options on the market now, blue agave is still one of the most popular sweeteners for health conscious people.. Blue agave is one of the most common sugar substitutes found on healthy food … Where it comes from: The agave plant is a desert succulent indigenous to the southwestern U.S. through the northern part of South America. Agave – Agave has gotten a lot of attention in the last few years. But, it's the highest food in fructose, causing weight gain, cholesterol & heart problems. A: No; it’s simply another form of processed sugar.Derived from the same cactus-like Mexican plant as tequila, agave (ah-GAH-vay) syrup is being added to an increasing number of foods and beverages as a "natural" sugar. Agave nectar, or the sap from one of several species of the agave plant, has been used in ancient traditional cultures for centuries. But lately, the health glow has faded. Agave syrup has been praised by many as a healthy sugar, but nutritionist Kim Pearson gives us the facts. One tablespoon of agave contains 15 grams sugar, 16 grams total carbs and 60 calories. Is it healthy? It’s also the same plant used to make tequila. The rundown: 1.5 times sweeter than sugar Agave nectar is a commonly used alternative sweetener. Agave syrup is 1.4 to 1.6 times sweeter than normal sugar, in which it is commonly used to substitute either sugar or honey. We can find it on the shelves of natural food stores, it is considered an excellent substitute for unhealthy sugar, a natural product produced using traditional methods, ideal for diabetics because it has a low glycemic index. Agave nectar, also called agave syrup, is a sweetener often recommended for people with diabetes. It’s a natural sweetener with a low glycemic index, so a lot of people thought it the best option. This is why agave has a low glycemic index. Since it’s low on the glycemic index, it doesn’t spike your blood sugar like regular white sugar. Agave syrup is still touted as a health product, but in reality it's just as unhealthy as sugar, if not more so. Table sugar is often made from sugarcane or beets. Additionally, agave may have some anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. is a genus of perennial evergreen succulents that are members of the Asparagaceae family, the same family as edible asparagus. Agave syrup is a highly-processed sugar alternative. Like Aloes, it’s a large family with more than 166 different species. Agave nectar contains very small amounts of magnesium, potassium, and calcium but they are not enough to contribute to the health of an individual. Knowing the pros and cons of each is a big help to healthy eating. Agave nectar, technically speaking, is actually the unprocessed sap or juice extracted from the core of the agave species when ripe, typically from the blue Agave tequilana plant species.. It is used by many people who are careful about what they eat and want to eat healthily. Due to high volume with shipping carriers, orders may experience a 2-3 day delay in delivery Buy Now, Pay Later With QuadPay - Learn More. Therefore, agave nectar is straight sugar with very little else to offer in terms of nutrition. Agave syrups are available in mild, amber, as well as raw varieties. If you’re a healthy individual, and prefer the taste of agave, then it is safe to use in moderation. Agave nectar has marketed as a healthy natural sweeter. In one, I’d said to avoid it. Q: Is agave syrup a healthier choice than regular sugar? Agave sweetener is produced by heating or enzymatically treating and filtering sap from the heart of the agave plant. When blue agave started gaining popularity years ago, it was marketed as a perfect solution for people with diabetes, vegans and a population that wants to be healthier in general.. Agave nectar is mostly fructose. Agave nectar is one-and-a-half times sweeter than table sugar, so to get the most weight-maintenance benefit from this trendy food, you need to use less than you would if you were using sugar. Agave nectar has long been touted as a more nutritious sweetener. On the surface, agave and honey look and feel similar. We talked to a clinical nutritionist to find out if the decline in popularity is fad or fact. Agave (Agave spp.) Is agave syrup healthy? Agave is not really a healthy substitute. The reason agave ranks relatively low on the glycemic index is because it has a high content of fructose. Some common or better-known Agave species or varieties are: Blue Agave (Agave tequilana) Century Plant (Agave americana) Some people use blue agave as a sweetener. 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