Agave Nectar

[CathyN]

Hello all

So, yesterday I mentioned Agave Nectar in relation to how it tastes - and in my opinion it tastes great in coffee. What I failed to mention is that I have only 2 - 3 hot drinks that need sweetening per day - and the amount of agave nectar I use is SCANT, certainly not like-for-like compared to sugar. Agave Nectar is a natural sugar from a plant source - so, as people have rightly pointed out , it is mainly carbohydrate. It is clearly labelled regarding carb and sugar content.

As with all of these things, we are all different, reacting differently to foods and trying different ways of controlling our diets ( and therefore our Blood Glucose levels.) If you were no carbing, you wouldn't be wanting to use it. If , like me, you are able to tolerate some carbs, and they form part of your diet, it may make a viable alternative sweetener, when used very sparingly.

The advantage of using it, if you are able to tolerate it, is that it does not contain chemicals - is LOW GI - and is organic.

Hope that is clearer. I think I failed to fill out the info about why it works for me, but why it may not work for others.

CathyN x

 

[johnstoc]

I also use Agave Nectar, it tastes great. Not in Coffee (I may try that later on) but over plain popcorn.

We have family night at the weekend. Kids love popcorn but I cant have it. So I purchased one of those popcorn makers (using hot air, no oil) use plain popcorn, and a little AN over it... Magic..

 

[dawnmc]

I use it on my yogurt and berries and whey protein pancakes, the maple syrup one.

 

[SouthernGeneral6512]

This almost seems too good to be true a natural sweetner with a low GI

 

[hanadr]

Aave nectar is primarily Fuctose, so yes it's low GI, but Fructose has a lot of nasty effcts. It's metabolised with fats, not carbs and it switches off the Leptin signal, which tells you when to stop eating. Look up Robert Lustig on the subject of Fructose.
Having said all that, A SMALL amount of anyhing isn't going to kill you, so If the amount you use is no more than the amount of table sugar [sucrose] you would be willing to use, GO AHEAD!
Hana

 

[SouthernGeneral6512]

There you go knew there would be a down side :roll:

 

[BioHaZarD]

I also use Agave Nectar, it tastes great. Not in Coffee (I may try that later on) but over plain popcorn.

We have family night at the weekend. Kids love popcorn but I cant have it. So I purchased one of those popcorn makers (using hot air, no oil) use plain popcorn, and a little AN over it... Magic..

Popcorn is full of carbs although sugar free (air popped)

Popcorn, air-popped, no additives
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 1,598 kJ (382 kcal)
Carbohydrates 78 g
- Dietary fiber 15 g
Fat 4 g
Protein 12 g
Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.2 mg (17%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.3 mg (25%)
Iron 2.7 mg (21%)
One cup is 8 grams.
Percentages are relative to
US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database