Organic Agave

denajohnson2014
denajohnson2014 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 22 in Health and Weight Loss
I cantt drink straight tea so I put a tea spoon on the naturally unsweetened sun tea I or my roommate make ever other morning. It is a tea soon per 2 tall glasses. Is that okay? I don't like normal sugar as much. Any other idea I can use to sweeten it? Drinking it unsweetened taste odd to me

Replies

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    How many calories in the agave syrup? Make sure to track it.
  • denajohnson2014
    denajohnson2014 Posts: 3 Member
    60 per table spoon. I am not worried about calorie count I am only worried if it is healthier it not.
  • soapsandropes
    soapsandropes Posts: 269 Member
    Organic agave is high in fructose and is not that much different from corn syrup (just in case you thought it was special). You could also use honey, or maple syrup, whatever you like the taste of. Adding it accurately to your tracker is key.

    If you are concerned about the calories have you tried some of the fruit flavored teas or green teas? They tend to be more mild.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Just log it or use a calorie-free sweetener. I prefer my agave to be in tequila, but I don't think there's anything wrong with putting it in tea.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    denajohnson2014 wrote: »
    60 per table spoon. I am not worried about calorie count I am only worried if it is healthier it not.

    Healthy is a subjective term. You'll have to decide for yourself.
  • denajohnson2014
    denajohnson2014 Posts: 3 Member
    I don't like calorie counting It is to much so I am taking on a different out take off it. So calories are not of concern. I am trying to eat ask close to organic or healthy as I can get. So I just want to get ideas on what others do.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Well if making healthier food choices is your goal, agave syrup is fine. Here's a table I made comparing the various sugars.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gv5GFAoCgXvWUbr5LqjN0qKtfmAgkLJ7gJ9L4ySPce4/edit?usp=sharing

    When I work on making healthier choices, I look to fitting all the macros in to a meal, and including lots of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of foods. That will do more for my health than anything else. The difference between the sugars and the sweeteners in the diet are relatively small.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Other natural syrups and sugars include maple syrup and honey. Here's the latest thing; maple water.
    http://www.drinkmaple.com/

    Though I think the name is a bit of a cheater. It's really maple sap. But I guess sap doesn't sell as well as water...
  • ASKyle
    ASKyle Posts: 1,475 Member
    "Healthy" means different things to different people.

    This IS a calorie counting website, so calories are what matters to many. You can gain weight on "healthy" food just as you can on "unhealthy" food. I have several friends who are obsessed with juice bars/smoothies/organic this and that, and they are overweight (because they are eating too many calories).
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    edited July 2015
    soapsandropes wrote: »
    Organic agave is high in fructose and is not that much different from corn syrup (just in case you thought it was special). You could also use honey, or maple syrup, whatever you like the taste of. Adding it accurately to your tracker is key.

    If you are concerned about the calories have you tried some of the fruit flavored teas or green teas? They tend to be more mild.

    This is wrong.

    Corn syrup is glucose, not fructose. (Note, that Corn Syrup is not the same as High Fructose Corn Syrup)

    High Fructose Corn Syrup is anywhere from 10% to 90% fructose. It is typically 55% fructose. If you see HFCS90 you know it is 90% fructose.

    Sucrose (table sugar) is 50% fructose, 50% glucose.

    Fructose is worse than glucose, therefore agave is worse than table sugar. But the important thing is just not eating excessive sugar.

    Edit: to add, agave is 90% fructose.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    denajohnson2014 wrote: »
    I don't like calorie counting It is to much so I am taking on a different out take off it. So calories are not of concern. I am trying to eat ask close to organic or healthy as I can get. So I just want to get ideas on what others do.

    I too am interested in eating organic and healthy, and use agave syrup, maple syrup, honey, and molasses. I get my sugar from Florida Crystals as I like to support business who care about eco-friendly farming and business practices.

  • socalprincess1
    socalprincess1 Posts: 52 Member
    denajohnson2014 wrote: »
    I don't like calorie counting It is to much so I am taking on a different out take off it. So calories are not of concern. I am trying to eat ask close to organic or healthy as I can get. So I just want to get ideas on what others do.

    It's not healthy.

    http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/agave-is-far-worse-than-high-fructose-corn-syrup/
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    edited July 2015
    jgnatca wrote: »
    Well if making healthier food choices is your goal, agave syrup is fine. Here's a table I made comparing the various sugars.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gv5GFAoCgXvWUbr5LqjN0qKtfmAgkLJ7gJ9L4ySPce4/edit?usp=sharing

    When I work on making healthier choices, I look to fitting all the macros in to a meal, and including lots of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of foods. That will do more for my health than anything else. The difference between the sugars and the sweeteners in the diet are relatively small.

    Off topic for a second - @jgnatca Do you mind if I save this spreadsheet for myself? It's really helpful.

    Back on topic - If the agave fits into your macros you should be fine. Enjoy your agave :).
  • hrtchoco
    hrtchoco Posts: 156 Member
    It's a teaspoon of syrup, it's going to be fine.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @Asher_Ethan go ahead. The table isn't going anywhere though.
  • Strawblackcat
    Strawblackcat Posts: 944 Member
    edited July 2015
    If you're just interested in weight loss, then CICO still applies. As long as the agave doesn't put you over on your calories for the day, then you'll lose weight. From an overall health-oriented perspective, though, agave isn't that great. Most that you buy in stores are so heavily processed and extruded from their natural form that they become mostly fructose and will spike your blood sugar like a mofo. Local raw honey is a better choice. Grade B maple syrup is good too, but it doesn't have the traces of local pollens like raw, unfiltered honey does.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    It's fine to be concerned about health, but to say that you aren't concerned with the calorie count of your food doesn't jive with the desire to lose 50 pounds.
This discussion has been closed.

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