Is Agave Syrup healthy?

[Melindaxl]

I just ordered some raw Agave Syrup because I hear how cleansing it is and how it's very good for people that have blood sugar issues, since it's in the low range!
Well I've been reading more about it, wanting to see how really healthy it is and I came across a raw food websites and some raw foodist saying that they don't believe it's good for you at all! Like they make you gain weight and aren't good for the blood sugar & etc.
Can anyone tell me which one's right! I was hoping I found something safe I could use to make some diabetic healthy snack for my husband and to get my mom off of using sugar in her food & drinks! Anyone have any info for me?
Thanks in advance and have a fruitful day!

Melindaxl

[juliebove]

I can't say that I think it is good for blood sugar. I am diabetic and it raises my blood sugar just like sugar would. I don't use it very often, and when I do, it is in tiny quantities.

[GlimR]

IMHO, in moderation, it is a much better alternative than most sweetners. You are always going to find differing opinions on everything and raw is no different. Try it for yourself and see how you feel...that's the best way to judge anything. Best wishes~

[Zuri]

I go by how I feel and it doesn't spike my blood sugar like honey, and I like its taste over stevia. I agree, I don't use a lot of it either; mainly to balance out salty tastes or overall I'll use it in a recipe. I def don't add it to already sweet beverages except almond milk I use for smoothies and not to the point where it overpowers the taste of the natural fruit sugars. If you do more research I'm sure you'll come to your own beliefs further then go from there. It definitely doesn't make me gain weight.

[Melindaxl]

Thanks again everyone with your replies they are very helpful! I'm going to try it and see how it works!
I was also wanting to try it for a replacement for stevia because I don't like stevia! I was wanting to make some raw lemonade! To help increase alkaline in my diet and also help me cleanse!
Thanks again! Peace!

Melindaxl

[GlimR]

I've never heard of agave's cleansing effect....was wondering where you found that info?

[Melindaxl]

By doing some searches on the internet, I came across some raw food boards where they talked about mixing it with lemon and water for cleansing! I also came across some sights with info on it saying it can be used as a laxative! Just from doing a lot of searches on it! I hope that helps!

Melindaxl

[Eva]

It's a "mildly" processed form of something in nature. Be careful to buy it raw, and just recognize that it is not like eating a ripe tomato or eating a cucumber from your garden.

Agave does have its pros and its cons, but most sources available on the internet are biased in some way.

Either way, if you feel no ill effects from using it (which most people do not), then it can certainly be great as an ingredient in raw treats. I believe that food which is raw and enticing is surely good.

For example, there's a lot of mumbo jumbo about bananas out there, but boy they sure work well for me in green smoothies! How can I cross an item off the list because of the mixed reviews -- when, for me, it helps me to partake in a HUGE amount of greens that my body loves and can use easily? (and actually these days I am trying to eat more locally, so they're not in my "cart" so much -- but I'm making a point here)...

Soooo, my thoughts would be to not make it your main food, but it's probably a good part of a varied diet. :)

.... But see how it makes you feel! You did already buy it!

[Dimond]

I think it's way better than most sweeteners you can use, including honey. I had severe candida issues & consumed a lot of agave at the time & was able to get rid of them (with raw). Stevia with SAD didn't work out, but may have raw. But it's more processed than agave & isn't great tasting in many recipes. Yacon Syrup is suppose to be a good substitute, besides fruit.

Nutrition Facts: http://tinyurl.com/5sy3n6

[cherries]

I've never heard of it being cleansing by itself. I think the sites you read were using it instead of maple syrup in the master cleanse/lemonade diet. So it was part of a fasting drink and the fasting was the cleansing part.

I do love it better than maple syrup in the lemonade drink, so I'm sure that you will be glad that you bought it. In my opinion, too much will spike the blood sugar but it's one of the better sweeteners available.

[Nurse in the Raw]

Alissa sells it here on this site. I would buy hers if you really want to make sure it is raw.

http://www.alissacohen.com/shop/Ultimate-Real-Raw-Organic-Agave-16-oz.-p-61.html