Agave syrup

emmaedwards7528610

Is there something I'm not understanding about agarve syrup. I bought some because it features in so many "healthy" recipes as a replacement for sugar or other syrups.

But logging it, it seems to have just as many calories and sugar content as other syrups. I know it is "natural" but surely we're long past believing that just because something is 'natural' it is a health food.

I prefer the taste of maple (and the flavour means a little goes a long way), but is there any serious benefit or advantage of using agave above all others? Or is it just another health food fad?

benol1

It is just sugar.

THis short video: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-healthiest-sweetener/
Is worthwhile checking out - its a health review of nine sweeteners.
kind regards,

Ben

emmaedwards7528610

Many thanks Ben, that was really interesting and useful.

He goes on about date sugar being the best, I know my local health food shop sells date syrup so I may give that a go (I don't use much of any of them).

I use Xiylitol too as I know that is lower in calories and carbs, but there's just something so frighteningly chemical about it's fluffy white crystalness!

benol1

Hi Emma,

I actually joined the September no sugar challenge group!
I've been really successful with reducing my added sugar to about zero.
I do utilize dried fruit (I'm on a wholefoods plant-based (vegan) diet) but only in moderation. And the sugars in fruit, when consumed as "fruit" are metabolized differently to sucrose, fructose or even fruit juice.

I've reduced my consumption of aspartame significantly. Considering I was drinking coke zero nearly every day for ten years, I'm very happy with my success.

Do bookmark that site - it is excellent, extremely well researched, evidence-based and it is independent.
kind regards,

Ben

Kate814

A lot of people think agave syrup is less calories, which often it's not. It is suppose to have a lower glycemic index, which means it won't spike your blood sugar as much some sweeteners can.

VelvetMorning

Stevia is a really good alternative, but limited. It has to be used in an extremely low quantity to not give off the most vile taste of over-sweet, but I think it's 0 calories and it's just a leaf - if you're looking for natural alts/calories. I use it in my coffee and that's about it. As for taste, it's just...sweet. Too much is horrible. It's not good for pancakes or anything like that; literally just what you'd use sweet and low on. :P I bought a jar of it about 3-4 years ago and still have it because you use *that* little.

Edit: I used agave out of curiosity for this tofu-pudding frenzy I went through and wasn't too impressed with the taste. I guess I expected a richer flavor. I ended up using pure cane sugar and was much more satisfied with the taste than I was with agave - for probably around the same amount of calories.

hookilau

A lot of people think agave syrup is less calories, which often it's not. It is suppose to have a lower glycemic index, which means it won't spike your blood sugar as much some sweeteners can.

That's what I thought too because that was all they hype around it...however, it has just as much sugar as honey....
quoted from WebMD (a site I usually abhor, but this information is in line with a lot of what I've read from other sources, soooo...)

"Is Agave Healthier Than Sugar?

But what about agave's supposed health benefits?

The bottom line is that refined agave sweeteners are not inherently healthier than sugar, honey, high-fructose corn syrup, or any other sweetener. Nutritionally and functionally, agave syrup is similar to high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose (Karo) syrup. It does contain small amounts of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, but not enough to matter nutritionally.

Agave nectar or syrup is as high as 90% concentrated fructose (a simple sugar that occurs naturally in fruit), and the rest glucose. But the agave you can buy ranges from 90% to as little as 55% fructose (similar to high-fructose corn syrup), depending on the processing, says Roger Clemens, professor at the University of Southern California and a spokesman for the Institute of Food Technologists."

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-agave

edited to add: and then there's the backlash because of the amount of processing that goes into making this product & other manufacturing issues folks have begun to find, well, distasteful.

hookilau

date sugar, coconut palm sugar all = sugar.

I'm starch & sugar free, so it's EzSweets in my coffee & xylitol (in very small amounts) in the occasional keto cheese cake or brownie for me.

I can't tolerate sugar or starch :ohwell:

edited for typos

debski2323

It does have comparable calories, but beware a bunch of agave syrups are actually high fructose corn syrup masquerading as agave. Same with honey. Your better bet is stevia extract. You can buy powdered versions that are comparable to regular sugar, Truvia or Pure Via are both sold in local food stores here, but you can find plain stevia in health food stores or whole foods. I use flavored stevia drops. I am not a water drinker, so I like to add a few drops of watermelon flavored stevia into my water. Makes it go down so much easier. There are warnings that have not been proven stating stevia causes infertility in women, but the original study was disproved. It was because Paraguay uses stevia as a sweetener insted of sugar and there is a higher level of infertility there. However, it could be something else causing it because studies done since the original have not proven it to be true. In mice it gave a lower birth rate, but they still had babies and they were given extremely high doses they claim a human would never consume.