What's wrong with Agave nectar?

[tankdude]

I started looking into this because a health minded friend of mine mentioned it as a good alternative to honey, claiming that natural Agave nectar was just a beneficial and just as sweet,  What I found was not so good...

 

First off don’t be dazzled by the word "natural"; U.S. food regulators do not legally define the term for anything other than meat, so it's left up to produce manufacturers as to its use.

 

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/HFCS-is-natural-says-FDA-in-a-letter

 

 

Agave  nectar is a "natural" sweetener that ranks relatively low on both the glycemic index and glycemic load scales. Sounds good -  but the reason is because it has a high content of fructose. Fructose does not quickly raise blood sugar (glucose) levels because the body doesn't metabolize it well. New research suggests that excessive fructose consumption can impact liver function and promote obesity.

 

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/4/895.short

 

 

It  turns out, agave has a higher fructose content than any other common sweetener, more even than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-agave

 

Bottom line - no matter what the form of sugar - even honey -  too much is just too much!

 

 

 

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

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Sound Advice !  Thanks for lookin' out for us folks!

 

 

P.S. as long as ya don't say BUTTER is bad...    We know, MODERATION.

Edited August 9, 2013 by SgtFuryUSCZ

[waterman13]

Nothing is wrong with agave nectar, distill it down into tequila. Then drink responsibly!

WM13

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

Nothing is wrong with agave nectar, distill it down into tequila. Then drink responsibly!

WM13

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That takes care of the Vegetable Group...

 

Does THE WORM count as the Meat Group...?

 

Just tryin' to eat healthy here....

[waterman13]

There you have it! A balanced diet, meat and vegetables all in one bottle.

WM13

[tankdude]

I like the way this group thinks *lol*

 

Couple points of trivia - there are no tequila's that have a worm in the bottle.  The worm is found only in Mezcals and is used as a flavoring!

 

Here is your Mexcan Adult Beverage lesson for today:  http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/297668

 

One of the reasons I don't drink tequila - it's considered a cheap liquor really

[missdyl]

I just saw an article on this.  Agave is almost totally pure fructose.  The liver does not process fructose like other forms of sugar.  It creates "lipogenesis" - a process that turns it into fat - also possibly increasing the bad cholesterol levels in ones blood. 

 

Aspertame also has a similar effect, except that it can actually penetrate the blood-brain barrier and create havoc there.

 

It is rough trying to find non-processed, safe real  foods these days.  Good luckl.

[pattyangel]

I for one stay away from the sugars.  I use more of the local honey. 

 

Tankdude, great stuff, thanks for sharing. 

 

Missdyl,  love your caption below your screen.  Something to ponder on. 

[Sage449]

td - natural and local honey is preferred - that is because of the healing power in honey and the good news is you need very, very little to sweeten anything. Same with agave nectar - the reason to use honey or nectar is that it is not like the white sugar which is practically cocaine oriented due to

the refining process that white/brown sugar goes through. I think it was the book Sugar Blues (which was 300 pages too long) the doctor or writer Dufty, compared the chemical make up and it is comparable almost to either heroin or cocaine - the book was written back in the 70's and too long a read, but still contained some nuggest of interest. I could have said in a short chapter what it took him something like 300 pages to write.

But your point on honey and nectar are well taken - I've given up refined sugar and rarely eat honey or nectar - I did eat local honey for a period after some surgery at the request of my doctor - so that was a good thing - it helps with inflammation and swelling naturally.

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/021506.html

[MillieChatham]

You guys are great. Fructose should be eaten in moderation even when consuming natural fruit. Recommended no more than 35 grams a day. Our society is drowning in sugar.

[Sage449]

Sugar and fat - the two biggest reasons driving the obesity in the U.S. and have you started to notice other countries that now have Mickey D's etc. and how they are beginning to pork out?

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

 

We just noticed Trident White gum is FULL of ASPARTAME !

 

Pitched it... even the bags we keep in the SprinterRV and the cars !

 

Didn't realize we were being poisoned by GUM !  Eek...!

I like the way this group thinks *lol*

Couple points of trivia - there are no tequila's that have a worm in the bottle.  The worm is found only in Mezcals and is used as a flavoring!

Here is your Mexcan Adult Beverage lesson for today:  http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/297668

One of the reasons I don't drink tequila - it's considered a cheap liquor really

***///

 

Gotta a Margarita Recipe that doesn't use Tequila...?

 

Hate to dump a new bottle of SAUZA Commemorativo 100% Blue Agave down the drain, Bro...

Edited August 9, 2013 by SgtFuryUSCZ

[The Machine]

good post thanks for the heads up, one question though....

 

If excessive fructose consumption promotes obesity then how come a lot of pornstars aren't really fat ??

 

he he he..... 

[tankdude]

Sugar and fat - the two biggest reasons driving the obesity in the U.S. and have you started to notice other countries that now have Mickey D's etc. and how they are beginning to pork out?

Processed sugars, starches, and the wrong kind of fat. Take a look at "the goodness of fats " post. I believe ThaiExpat is spot on in that post.

good post thanks for the heads up, one question though....

If excessive fructose consumption promotes obesity then how come a lot of pornstars aren't really fat ??

he he he.....

Hmmm - think you have your sugar types mixed-but then again - there was Ron Jeremy...

[docneedles]

***///

 

Sound Advice !  Thanks for lookin' out for us folks!

 

 

P.S. as long as ya don't say BUTTER is bad...    We know, MODERATION.

 

 

***///

 

Sound Advice !  Thanks for lookin' out for us folks!

 

 

P.S. as long as ya don't say BUTTER is bad...    We know, MODERATION.

We can never have too much butter. I say this in my best Julia Child voice.

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

We can never have too much butter. I say this in my best Julia Child voice.

***///

 

She was a SPY and you're a DOCTOR.... that's all we need to know.

 

Butter it is...!     

[docneedles]

really, I ask sincerely, was she a spy? really ladies, I ask earnestly? that was your biz, not mine.

 I just always loved her because of her love of wine and butter. "No meat can suffer with that winning combination", I say with my best Julia Child voice

[jcfrag]

I like the way this group thinks *lol*

 

Couple points of trivia - there are no tequila's that have a worm in the bottle.  The worm is found only in Mezcals and is used as a flavoring!

 

Here is your Mexcan Adult Beverage lesson for today:  http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/297668

 

One of the reasons I don't drink tequila - it's considered a cheap liquor really

 

 

Even the Patron does the same thing the others do when you take shots of it at a time, makes you cross-eyed...though temporarily.

[waterman13]

I don't know about Julia Child being a spy, but I sure like Amy Adams playing her in Julie and Julia.

WM13

[docneedles]

 

I like the way this group thinks *lol*

 

Couple points of trivia - there are no tequila's that have a worm in the bottle.  The worm is found only in Mezcals and is used as a flavoring!

 

Here is your Mexcan Adult Beverage lesson for today:  http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/297668

 

One of the reasons I don't drink tequila - it's considered a cheap liquor really

 

 

Even the Patron does the same thing the others do when you take shots of it at a time, makes you cross-eyed...though temporarily.

 

OK Jcfrag, I hope you are 21 or older. I am going to give you a recipe.

Prickly Pear Margarita

fill a glass with ice (very important, this drink is strong! note: I haven't had tequila for 5 years since i had this drink)

1/2 oz oz (small jigger) of prickly pear syrup (note: this is a high antioxidant, so repeat this and tell you how this is good for you when your lips get numb later)

1 1/2 oz.  tequilla (a big jigger and 1/2) holy smoke, here comes the fire

fill the rest of the glass with Mr.  T  Mararita mix and stir

soak  lime in grand marnier prior to mixing this drink. rub the glass rim with this lime so it is sticky. mix 70% sugar and 30% salt and dip the glass rim in that after you have the sticky on it.

don't drink too many, it is the season of dehydration.

[Sage449]

tankdude - agree - on fats pretty much stick to cold pressed coconut oil, walnut oil and on extra, extra special occasions some truffle oil on a great prepared meal

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

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Yes, Julia Child was a REAL spy !

[stealthwarrior]

Agave is for making tequila

[Thaiexpat]

Agave is crap. Please avoid it along with regular sugars and anything with HFCS. Even ketchup is loaded with HFCS. Stevia and Lo Han Gan fruit are suitable, but truthfully, we all should really reduce the sugar load in our diets. Its a tough one (probably the strongest addiction, followed by caffeine) and takes time, but over time, you can actually "lose" the desire for sweets (outside of fruit EATEN). It is learned. Various societies around the world have very little sugar in their diet.

Fats DO NOT make you fat, sick, stupid or whatever. We are genetically designed to consume wonderful fats (as Tankguy says: proper fats). Westerns (and now the rest of the world) are fat because of SUGARS. To your health....Cheers