Agave Syrup – The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else
Agave syrup (also known as agave nectar) has long since been used to make tequila, but it is actually a kind of sugar that is much sweeter than standard table sugar. Due to the smaller volumes required to sweeten something to the same level of sweetness, in addition to a few other factors, a few companies have made claims that agave syrup is a natural sugar substitute for diabetics. But, really, is it healthier for diabetics than sugar is?
As it turns out, the path to the answer is through a little bit of science. Just a little bit, I promise! It just so happens that normal table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose. Fructose sugars are absorbed into the body much slower than glucose sugars, which causes it to encourage obesity when too much of it is used, but it can also result in a better sugar for diabetics since it can help them avoid dangerous blood sugar level spikes.
Since agave syrup is usually 10% glucose and 90% fructose, it has a low glycemic index. The problem is that there are variants of agave syrup out there that have 45% glucose and 55% fructose, meaning that it is only slightly better for a diabetic than normal sugar. In fact, there is another sweetener with the same distribution of glucose and fructose; high fructose corn syrup. It really isn’t good enough.
Keep in mind that agave syrup has just as many calories per ounce that table sugar does. However, agave syrup is a lot sweeter than standard table sugar, so less of it can be used to attain the same level of sweetness, which, of course, reduces the amount of sugar being consumed.
So, is agave syrup better for diabetics than sugar? If you get the right version of it, it is. However, the benefits are limited as it is still sugar. In addition to that, since agave syrup fructose and glucose concentrations can vary, it only serves to emphasize that diabetics should be researching what exactly they are heating, especially since consuming large amounts of something you think is healthy when it isn’t can be quite dangrerous.
While I have covered a fair amount of information, you should always do more research on anything like agave syrup before deciding if it is good or bad for diabetics. Just as a diabetic should always do, if you try a new substitute for sugar, you should carefullly monitor your blood sugar levels to insure that you aren’t having a negative reaction. Good luck, and watch what you eat!
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