Thanks to Darya over at Summer Tomato for the link to this Huffington Post article by Dr. Joseph Mercola that gives some frank info on agave nectar and comes to conclusion that it’s probably not any better, and maybe worse for you than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Unfortunately, masterful marketing has resulted in the astronomical popularity of agave syrup among people who believe they are doing their health a favor by avoiding refined sugars like high fructose corn syrup, and dangerous artificial sweeteners.
And if you’re diabetic, you’ve been especially targeted and told this is simply the best thing for you since locally grown organic lettuce, that it’s “diabetic friendly,” has a “low glycemic index” and doesn’t spike your blood sugar.
While agave syrup does have a low-glycemic index, so does antifreeze — that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
Most agave syrup has a higher fructose content than any commercial sweetener — ranging from 55 to 97 percent, depending on the brand, which is FAR HIGHER than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which averages 55 percent.
This makes agave actually WORSE than HFCS.
Funny thing is, I’ve never trust agave — never. It just didn’t seem safe for us WLSers…didn’t consider it might not be safe for ANYONE. It’s too close to honey in my book, so seems like a no-no. Interested find…Thanks!
I do use honey now and then on my oatmeal… but unfortunately I don’t dump on sugars. I’ve looked at agave in the stores, but it’s too expensive for me. Personally, I have no issues using Splenda… but if I did decide to get away from the artificial stuff, I’d likely look at honey at my main alternative.
Be sure to check this page out too…