Agave Nectar....

inafit16177
inafit16177 Posts: 84 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I know that there are many briiliant folks on here that know a whole lot about nutrition. My question is about agave nectar...good or bad? I was reading some Tosca Reno books and she uses it alot. I listen to various fitness and nutrition podcasts and recently heard that you should never, under any circumstances, consume it:noway: (They were very scary sounding)...What to do?

Replies

  • elly620
    elly620 Posts: 209 Member
    I bought some because I heard good things about it. It supposedly is better than splenda and all those other sweeteners but less calories than sugar. But it only has a couple less calories than the sugar so now i don't know if its worth it.

    I would really like to know also what other people think about it.
  • MeredithLee11
    MeredithLee11 Posts: 192 Member
    I like Agave, so I use it on occasion. I use it in my guacamole and to sweeten tea. I say, everything in moderation. There aren't many foods that I avoid completely, just artificial sweeteners.

    So I wouldn't go as far to say that it's good for you, but it's not bad if used in moderation.
  • kenzietea
    kenzietea Posts: 614 Member
    Agave nectar is a good alternative to other sugar sweeteners. It decreases insulin response so your blood sugar levels rise much slower than if you used white sugar, brown sugar, sugar in the raw, and even honey. I personally love the taste too. =) I say its a good choice if you must sweeten something
  • Uk_Yogini
    Uk_Yogini Posts: 167 Member
    I use it, but sparingly. It has a lower glycemic index than sugar, but it is still sugar at the end of the day
  • FabOma08
    FabOma08 Posts: 500 Member
    I had never really thought about it till seeing this post so I did some quick reading. Interesting. It has a higher fructose level that High Fructose Corn Syrup. The body processes it through the liver instead of the intestines thereby increasing triglycerides. Here's an interesting article http://www.foodrenegade.com/agave-nectar-good-or-bad/
  • rachpiper720
    rachpiper720 Posts: 204 Member
    Agave doesn't have as much as an insulin response because it is really high in fructose, which is processed by the liver. Some sources cite that it is higher in fructose than high fructose corn syrup (which makes HFCS bad). It sounds like from the research I have done that since it is processed in the liver, and goes straight to the liver, the liver can't do its job to break down fat. Therefore, that increase the fat retained in the body. I would suggest doing some research on it and decide if it is something you want to put into your diet. Personally I am staying away from it.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    I would use this instead of any artificial sweetner, unfortunately it is way high in calories for the serving size!
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