Is agave syrup a good sugar alternative?
Agave syrup comes from the Mexican agave plant and is showing up in many foods as a “natural” sugar. It can also be used as a tabletop sweetener. But is it really a better sugar than regular sugar? Many say no. According to our nutrition experts, agave syrup has 20 calories per teaspoon, slightly more than sugar. It contains about 90 percent fructose. This is more suitable for diabetics because it doesn’t cause blood sugar spikes like glucose. But some research shows too much fructose can cause insulin resistance, raise triglyceride levels, lower HDL cholesterol and possibly harm the heart and liver. The “natural” label on agave syrup is misleading because the syrup is processed much like high-fructose corn syrup. In fact, there are some agave syrups that contain some high-fructose corn syrup. So, it’s a personal choice. Agave syrup is not much healthier than sugar. It tastes sweeter and dissolves well in liquids. But, it is just another form of processed sugar. — Susan Krumm is an Ext
