Agave Nectar- good or bad

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
Now I was looking for an alternative for syrup for my two ingredient pancakes. And I want something healthy enough. Now I was looking at agave nectar but keep reading good and bad things about it. I only use it once when I have those pancakes and that's it. Only a tablespoon measured.

Is it bad or good for you?
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Replies

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    edited May 2015
    why cant you just use regular syrup?

    The answer to your question is that it is neither good or bad for you. It is just food. hit your calorie/macro/micro targets and you will be fine.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    True but looking for a healthier option that's all. I'm trying to keep it all natural and healthy.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    why cant you just use regular syrup?

    The answer to your question is that it is neither good or bad for you. It is just food. hit your calorie/macro/micro targets and you will be fine.

    QFT
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Ok - why would regular maple syrup be unhealthy?
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    Agave I'd pretty tasteless. Pure maple syrup for the win.
  • TexOkie12
    TexOkie12 Posts: 27 Member
    Too many calories for me! I use Splenda although it isn't a natural sweetener.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    210 calories in a 1/4 cup of aunt jemimah syrup….and I still want to know why that is not "healthy" when considering an overall diet that is meeting nutritional requirements….
  • maineapple
    maineapple Posts: 133 Member
    I compared the nutritional information for maple syrup and agave nectar:

    1 TBSN Agave Nectar = 60 calories, 16g carbs, 16g sugar, 0g sodium.

    1 TBSN Real Maple Syrup = 50 calories, 13.25g carbs, 13.25g sugar, 1.75g sodium.

    Pretty close I'd say. If I had my choice on pancakes the real maple syrup is the clear winner for taste, and it would appear for the other factors as well.

    I do enjoy keeping agave nectar on hand for cooking instead of honey though because it doesn't crystalize in the cupboard where honey does. It also is a little easier to use to put into teas etc., as it is a bit thinner in consistency than honey. It works well when making pizza dough and bread dough.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    Sounds good. I will finish up the agave I bought from whole foods and go back to maple syrup. Any good maple syrup ones that are on the healthy side
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    Just look for 100% pure maple syrup. Don't be fooled by "maple flavored" imposters! ;)
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Be aware that real maple syrup is significantly more expensive than 'pancake' syrup. I find I don't need to use as much because the flavor is better, so it balances out.
  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    I like only real maple syrup or honey on pancakes. Agave syrup and any corn syrup based fake pancake syrups make me really sick to my stomach pretty much immediately.

    You could always heat a small amount of berries in a sauce pan until they are letting their juices go. Yum!
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    Or do not eat either pancakes or syrup... Too many carbs.
  • rejectuf
    rejectuf Posts: 487 Member
    Nothing wrong with pancakes as an occasional treat. I doubt OP is downing stacks of pancakes every day.
  • wizzybeth
    wizzybeth Posts: 3,578 Member
    Lrdoflamancha wrote: »
    Or do not eat either pancakes or syrup... Too many carbs.

    I do not worry about carbs. I worry about calories and getting enough protein, fiber, calcium, iron, etc.

    OP enjoy your pancakes. There is nothing wrong with them.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    the pancakes i eat are made with one banana and two eggs... makes 4 pancakes.. they are so delicious
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    the pancakes i eat are made with one banana and two eggs... makes 4 pancakes.. they are so delicious

    So you made a banana omelet? Why would you call this a pancake?
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    raven56706 wrote: »
    the pancakes i eat are made with one banana and two eggs... makes 4 pancakes.. they are so delicious

    So you made a banana omelet? Why would you call this a pancake?


    its called the two ingredient pancake... you have try it. Its 3 but i dont add cinnamon

    http://www.recipebyphoto.com/3-ingredient-pancakes/
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    True but looking for a healthier option that's all. I'm trying to keep it all natural and healthy.

    If you use pure maple syrup it is just as natural as agave nectar. Both are natural forms of sugar extracted from plants.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    Sounds good. I will finish up the agave I bought from whole foods and go back to maple syrup. Any good maple syrup ones that are on the healthy side

    Just look for one that says "pure maple syrup" if you are trying to keep it natural. It's perfectly healthy as part of a balanced diet.
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 930 Member
    edited May 2015
    raven56706 wrote: »
    Any good maple syrup ones that are on the healthy side
    Maple syrup is just boiled down tree sap, 1 ingredient, so there is nothing you can do to make it "healthier" than others, unless you're talking about the "fake stuff", such as what's called pancake syrup (usually water, HFCS, fake colors, fake flavors, & thickeners). If you warm it up some, you may be able to use less, since I find that will bring out the flavor more than cold. I buy it locally every season for about $48/gallon... mmmmm

  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    sounds good. Any good brands for pure maple syrup? i saw Toms Cabin makes one but are there others?
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    Agave nectar is pretty much the same product as high fructose corn syrup or honey. The only real differences are: source plants, and the fact that Agave nectar production uses heat to break down the sugars into fructose and glucose, whereas HFCS and honey production uses an enzyme to perform that action.

    Agave nectar is slightly higher fructose than high fructose corn syrup and honey.
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 930 Member
    edited May 2015
    I don't think the brand matters as much as the grade/color, but I do prefer the taste of Pennsylvania's over Canadia and Vermont, so it's probably going to be matter of what region it's from, what's available to you, and the price. I'm lucky/spoiled that I get it directly from the sugar shacks, and there are several different ones.
  • kmsoucy457
    kmsoucy457 Posts: 237 Member
    If you like your syrup 'mapley', look for grade A or B Dark Amber.
    If you want less of the maple taste, look for grade A Light Amber.

    Also... I like to use agave in iced beverages - it's about the only sweetener that dissolves well in cold liquid.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Lrdoflamancha wrote: »
    Or do not eat either pancakes or syrup... Too many carbs.

    OP has not referenced any medical condition that would make him sensitive to carbs, so not sure why this is even relevant.

    And you can have a few pancakes and still stay within your carb macro for the day ...

  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    i would think especially if the carb intake is a banana.
  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    glevinso wrote: »
    raven56706 wrote: »
    the pancakes i eat are made with one banana and two eggs... makes 4 pancakes.. they are so delicious

    So you made a banana omelet? Why would you call this a pancake?


    its called the two ingredient pancake... you have try it. Its 3 but i dont add cinnamon

    http://www.recipebyphoto.com/3-ingredient-pancakes/

    That is not a pancake. That is some kind of screwed up omelet.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    mmmm good omelet...
  • nopotofgold
    nopotofgold Posts: 164 Member
    I don't like the taste of it. I personally like honey and smooth peanut butter on mine.
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