Okay, so I was planning to write about agave nectar and all of its wonderful uses today. But after some research, I found conflicting views on whether or not agave nectar is truly a healthy option to sugar. I'd be interested to know what anyone who happens to read this blog may think.
Agave nectar is advertised as a tasty, all-natural alternative to sugar or honey for true vegans (no animal products). The claim is that agave nectar is 25% sweeter than white sugar but has a low glycemic index due to its high fructose content. This means that it won't produce a spike in blood sugar levels like white sugar can. Other perks of agave nectar include its versatility to be used in many different types of dishes, its long shelf life (approximately 3 years), and its ability to dissolve in cold liquid.
Agave nectar ranges in type from light to amber to dark. The light nectar goes through less heating and more filtration to produce its mild flavor. The darker nectars are filtered less and have a stronger flavor.
David and I use light agave nectar to sweeten various foods, and I really enjoy the taste of the light syrup. We've been careful to use it sparingly during our cleanse. Afterall, it's still a sweetner when you put all the perks aside.
The opposing view that agave nectar is not healthy or natural is based on the claim that agave nectar is a highly refined sweetner that has more concentrated fructose content than high-fructose corn syrup. According to this view, the nectar is made from the starch and inulin found in the plant's root, and these substances are converted into a high fructose syrup by undergoing a "highly chemical process with genetically modified enzymes."
If you enjoy reading research, here's a link to a study that compares the effects of fructose vs. glucose: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37385
Here's a summary of the research study for those of you who don't care for scientific jargon:
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2009/04/fructose-vs-glucose-showdown.html
So, the question of the day is, "Should David and I be using agave nectar as an alternative to sugar during our cleanse...or ever?" Let me know your thoughts!
Today's Menu:
Breakfast: David had cornflakes with soy milk. I had an Amazing Meal vegan protein pack smoothie with almond milk, banana, strawberries and blueberries.
Lunch: Tempeh salad (tempeh, celery, onion, ground flaxseed, light canola mayo, sea salt, pepper) on sprouted grain toast and a tangelo.
Dinner: Amy's Soups - Tom Kha Phak, Thai Coconut poured over organic long grain white rice.
Snacks: I was extra hungry today and had several snacks. Cashews, pear, Lara Bar, crispy brown rice cereal with almond milk.
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How about beet sugar (if you can find it). Pretty much the same as cane sugar but w/o as much processing/refining. And, most of what you can find here in the US was grown HERE in the US.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nutricity.com/n/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=3789&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=froogle
Considering the items you are purchasing, you are obviously doing a lot of shopping at a WholeFoods-type grocery or an even more specialized store so you could also look for other products like dehydrated/granulated cane juice (again, hardly any processing/refining).
But ultimately - you've cut out so many other items, you shouldn't feel bad if you use a little sweetener on your cereal or in your lemonade.
by the way - the lunch today sounded good. Was it tasty?
Thanks for the suggestion and link, Jim. I've never used beet sugar, and it looks like a great alternative.
ReplyDeleteThe tempeh salad was very tasty. It's easy to make, and I think it will be a lunch staple for me going forward.
Comment made by my friend, Abigail:
ReplyDeleteAfter reading both of your articles as well as the one below that gives a few more "expert opinions" on the study, I think it's just like anything else. Moderation is key. Unless you plan to give up all sugar, I don't see that the agave nectar/high fructose corn syrup or any other fructose sugar is truly worse than glucose or sucrose.
Link from Abigail:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/news/20090421/fresh-take-on-fructose-vs-glucose
First, Allison, I have that many snacks every day!
ReplyDeleteSecond, I was surprised that your cleanse allowed agave. I, too, was so happy to discover this miracle product, only to learn of the pitfalls. I like the way it tastes, but I make sure to use it in moderation.