Sugar is the devil.
But sometimes your sweet tooth just has a mind of its own. So you pick up a bottle of agave nectar because everyone, including your mom and Sarah Palin, has raved about how healthy it is. But then you start hearing some confusing rumors that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Before you send it packing, here’s the lowdown…
What is agave nectar?
It comes from the same cactus-like plant from which tequila is made, but it won’t give you a hangover. The sap is extracted, filtered and then heated at a low temperature, which turns it into a sugary syrup. You can find it in several varieties: light, amber, dark and raw. Light agave has the flavor of honey, while dark has a deeper flavor like maple syrup – some say the former is better because it isn’t as processed.
Is It Healthy?
Depending on how it’s processed, agave has a lower glycemic index than most sweeteners, making it less likely to raise your blood sugar levels – this is why it’s often recommended for diabetics. That also means you won’t experience a sugar crash or the fatigue and hunger that go along with it. But, as Dr. Jonny Bowden, weight loss and nutrition expert, points out, agave nectar is only a low-glycemic food because it’s made largely of fructose. Some research has shown that fructose can be the most damaging type of sweetener in terms of the long-term health impacts it delivers
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