Can we talk about agave?

[tribalmax]

Hey there,

I have been reading lots lately about agave -- both good and bad. Frankly I am not totally convinced agave is as bad as HFCS.

But I am still undecided.

What do you think?

[kyndmamaof4]

[Magelet]

I don't eat it. I haven't looked into the issue that thouroughly, because I never really used it that much. since I never relied on it anyways, it's really no challenge to avoid it (except that there are no ketchups made with any real natural sweetners.) I know some people who have looked into the actual research, and I think what they discovered is that the "good" research was all paid for by companies makeing agave.

[AFWife]

I haven't done the research...but I've seen an article where it says it's basically empty calories...but arent' most sugars like that?

[dogmom327]

I don't use it because it's fairly processed (and I think the argument can be made that it's highly processed but I haven't had time to do that much research on it). We stick with local raw honey and occasionally organic maple syrup.

[avendesora]

We use raw local honey on toast, cheaper not-raw honey for baking bread, and rapadura for baking other things. We pour local maple syrup on plain yogurt. These are all expensive sweeteners, but I figure a tablespoon of rapadura per dozen muffins isn't going to break the bank here. I tried agave, and liked that it had a lower glycemic index, but it seems to not be good for the liver, so we're not using it much anymore. But some really tasty things have agave in them already (like Nancy's Kefir and the Coconut Bliss ice cream), and I don't worry much about that.

[manchestermafia]

Dr. Mercola just had an article on it. His opinion is that it is terrible for you--more fructose than HFCS. Check it out on his website.

[JessicaS]

I don't see how it is different from HFCS, people can feel free to disagree though

[Koalamom]

Subbing.

I feel terrible after eating it. My gums and stomach hurt and recently from trialing it my baby was having allergies from it.

[KatWrangler]

Originally Posted by dogmom327

I don't use it because it's fairly processed (and I think the argument can be made that it's highly processed but I haven't had time to do that much research on it). We stick with local raw honey and occasionally organic maple syrup.

I read something like this recently too. That it's just as processed as sugar is.

[Violet2]

Actually there seems to be a lot of misinformation and I think some agave companies are better than others.

I read this info on Elana's Pantry about agave and which brand she uses--she links to a rebuttal on some of the anti-agave info. Then I went to the company website she recommends and learned they don't process their agave and so we're trying some.

V

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by manchestermafia

Dr. Mercola just had an article on it. His opinion is that it is terrible for you--more fructose than HFCS. Check it out on his website.

I was just about to mention this!

The only sweetener I consume is local raw honey, but then I live in a country where you can find a great variety of very fresh and tasty raw honey (my favourite is pure thyme honey but unfortunately this is VERY expensive )

[WorldsBestMom]

I am not such a big fan of Agave I have heard of this plant that supposedly can be used as a sweetener.

[tribalmax]

Originally Posted by Violet2

Actually there seems to be a lot of misinformation and I think some agave companies are better than others.

I read this info on Elana's Pantry about agave and which brand she uses--she links to a rebuttal on some of the anti-agave info. Then I went to the company website she recommends and learned they don't process their agave and so we're trying some.

V

Thanks for posting this...I am enjoying reading both sides of the debate.

[MissE]

The madhava nectar is the one we like best. I haven't used it recently after reading into the matter a bit more. We just switched back to cane sugar (demerera [sp??]) and maple syrup instead.

[Hokulele]

Glad you posted about this. I just, on a whim, picked up some agave at the grocery store. I've never bought it before but I thought I'd try it in iced tea and maybe when I bake. I don't really sweeten anything normally. Now I want to read up some more on it before I use it.

What are the cons to using this over regular sugar? Or are they mostly cons to using agave instead of raw honey or no sweetener at all?

I just starting down a path of trying to overcome a fierce sugar addiction so I can use all the info I can get my paws on!!!

[lakeruby]

Wow-- This is the first I've heard about this! I had no idea. I'll have to look into it some more, but I'm not a huge agave fan anyways.

[maxwill129]

I think the reason Mercola says it's so bad is that it has a higher percentage of fructose than HFCS and that fructose is really bad for you...some research from the mainstream just came out, too, saying how fructose can damage your liver.

I don't know. I'm undecided about it all!