Monday, April 18, 2011

Agave Syrup

I recently wrote about the problems with fructose, and why replacing high glycemic foods with others that have higher concentrations of fructose does your body no favours.

According to the Organic Raw Blue Agave Nectar website, it is "perfect for everyone, including raw-food enthusiasts! This amber nectar has a distinct and delicious flavor that genuinely enhances foods' natural sweetness.  It is certified Organic and GMO-Free, and appropriate for vegan and plant-based diets."

If you're interested in reading more about agave syrup, which is often touted as a healthier alternative to sugar, I found something you are bound to find very informative:
Once upon a time, I picked up a jar of “Organic Raw Blue Agave Nectar” at my grocery store. It was the first time I’d ever seen the stuff in real life, and the label looked promising. After all, words like “organic,” “raw,” and “all natural” should mean something. Sadly, agave nectar is neither truly raw, nor is it all natural.

Based on the labeling, I could picture native peoples creating their own agave nectar from the wild agave plants. Surely, this was a traditional food, eaten for thousands of years. Sadly, it is not.
It concludes:
Agave nectar is bad for you. It’s not traditional, not natural, highly refined, and contains more concentrated fructose than high fructose corn syrup.

But don't just take it from me.  Please check out the whole article.   For even more reading there is also this 2009 article from the LA Times, which comes to similar conclusions.

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