Agave Not a Healthy Sugar Alternative After All

I've heard often that honey is better, because the enzymes in honey help break apart the glucose/fructose bond (when in the body). It's especially good for people who have digestive problems, or even diseases like crohn's, etc, since the digestive track doesn't have to do anything to break it down.Talk about natural. Most honey isn't even heat processed, just filtered. I first learned about this reading about the SCD diet when I was having digestive problems and seeking some answers.

Without a chemistry background, people tend to think of fructose as "natural sugar" but that's not entirely true. The metabolism of sugar is complicated. Glucose-Sucrose-Fructose: There is free glucose, free fructose, and sucrose. Sucrose is a bonded glucose-fructose pair which our body has to break that bond to obtain the energy.

When you eat an apple, you get all three sugars. The free glucose goes straight to your blood stream giving you immediate energy. The body then breaks the bonds in sucrose over time during digestion to free more glucose for your cells in a time release fashion. Meanwhile, the fructose travels to the liver to be metabolized there. Ultimately, the total amount of fructose consumed is not very high.

Take an apple, it has a very high fructose content compared to other fruits. However, it's still only about 6.5g of fructose which is balanced out by 4g of glucose. See how that works? There is also fiber involved, slowing digestion. Ah, but when you eat agave nectar, one Tablespoon will give you 15grams of pure fructose!

So back to the question of "natural." Is fructose natural? Yes. Is eating fructose without glucose natural? NO! We did not evolve to eat free fructose in high quantities. Our livers can't handle it.

Well the sugar in it is enough to make a strong alcohols, pulque and tequila that should be a clue LOL

hey Larry -- did you see the point about the high fructose content that is metabolized directly by the liver and can lead to fatty liver? Also, I mentioned the negative studies on animals. It is not any better than other sugars, which some people believe it to be.

How about just eating everything in moderation, including sugar and not putting artificial sweeteners into our bodies. That makes more sense to me.

PS: Table sugar is made of sucrose which is a fructose-glucose bonded pair. If you must sweeten your coffee, it's actually a better choice. Honey is not bonded and is a lot like HFCS in that manner. I have not personally decided whether honey is a problem since it is unbonded, yet I still use the stuff on rare occasion.

Interesting! I usually use Stevia or Honey. But it should also be noted that Agave is still better for the body than any sugar....I feel like they skipped that! So I would opt for agave before sugar in my coffee.

Joy in Seattle... where were you at midnight when I was half way through my glass of red wine (antioxidants) and could not decide if I could easily go into a chemistry session. I opted for "it's still processed". BUT... THANK YOU!!!!

I also use regular sugar, especially when it is in a piece of carrot cake or chocolate! I am over "policing" my food. I'm sort of like the school crossing guard... a little bit of caution and protection. Common sense to look both ways.

All you did was write an article making a statement about agave nectar. Where is your proof or reference for your assertion or is this just your opinion? Does it not matter that it has a low glycemic index? If your point is moderation, of course, everything in moderation. Even too much water is bad for you....they call it drowning. If your point is agave nectar is bad, where is your proof?

I tried agave once and it almost made me sick. It's so sweet and gloppy and syrupy.

Very informative! Ill think twice before I put it in my coffee tomorrow morning!

I'm with you, Rebecca. I put one teaspoon of sugar in my coffee every morning. I think sugar is fine in moderation. I don't drink sodas and I limit my intake of sweets. I read labels and I use common sense. As far as agave nectar goes, I don't really like how it tastes anyway so I don't use it.

awww man, oh well. i don't each it as much anyway but i still like it.

Bummer.

I figured out that it wasn't good for you when I tried it, and it went right through me. Gross, but true.
I just eat sugar in moderation.

Whitney: "At best agave is no healthier for you than other sweeteners. The fructose in agave (even if they call it natural) is not the same fructose in a real natural piece of fruit. It is processed. Like all food products with added sugars, you should have them rarely and in small amounts. There is no reason to choose agave over other sweeteners when it comes to nutrition." I believe the article does cover, and refutes your statement. Bottom line: Eat very little to no processed sugar or artificial sweetner... It's all crap.

wow. bummer. i have been using agave in my cereal. It's still good for a great margarita :).

I just want to say NO...REALLY??? Imagine that, a sweetner that is exactly like other sweeteners, it is natural like sugar and it is sweet like sugar, dang, couldn't figure that one out on my own! I have never used it because I dont jump on the bandwagon of new products. I wait awhile and watch the reviews.