White sugar better than agave nectar?

[qfmother]

Okay, so I know that agave nectar isn't ideal, I've read the reasons why, and I agree. I've included it in my raw diet so far, and I know I need to cut back on it and possibly eventually cut it out of my diet for optimal health.

But now my husband (who is still a SAD eater much of the time) has found information that makes him say that he wants us to start buying white sugar and using it instead of agave nectar because it's so much cheaper! I've been very proud of not consuming any white sugar for over a year now, and this suggestion really rubs me the wrong way. So is there any information that anyone can send to show that white sugar is NOT better than agave nectar?

Here is one of the articles he found tonight:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...ver-Truth.aspx

[skier2]

Originally Posted by qfmother

Okay, so I know that agave nectar isn't ideal, I've read the reasons why, and I agree. I've included it in my raw diet so far, and I know I need to cut back on it and possibly eventually cut it out of my diet for optimal health.

But now my husband (who is still a SAD eater much of the time) has found information that makes him say that he wants us to start buying white sugar and using it instead of agave nectar because it's so much cheaper! I've been very proud of not consuming any white sugar for over a year now, and this suggestion really rubs me the wrong way. So is there any information that anyone can send to show that white sugar is NOT better than agave nectar?

Here is one of the articles he found tonight:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...ver-Truth.aspx

DATES! FIGS! STEVIA! Maybe even maple syrup. All of these are much better understood than agave.

[JennaHoneyBear]

why would you go back to white sugar after going raw?

just use honey, dates or stevia problem solved
there are other syrups, too..yacon syrup to name one

also, if white sugar is crap, and agave(apparently) is crap...why would you still eat crap if you didn't want to eat crap?

[Aleesha]

i can't imagine adding that back into my diet.

here's some info for ya (i did a google search for you)

http://www.hps-online.com/foodprof1.htm

[rawviveyourself]

ugh. i can't imagine either wanting to eat processed white sugar or actually eating it and enjoying the taste or how i would feel after eating it. yuk.

i agree with the dates/figs/fruit as sweeteners.

146 reasons sugar is bad for you with sources cited:

http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm

[Dimond]

If raw organic agave was toxic, I would be dead by now. Seriously. I have severe health issues and there's no way I could survive consuming anything toxic.

[GoingtoRAW]

Originally Posted by Dimond

If raw organic agave was toxic, I would be dead by now. Seriously. I have severe health issues and there's no way I could survive consuming anything toxic.

Dimond are you saying that you are using raw organic agave? I still use it - but I have only ever used it to make smoothies - never for anything else. I haven't had any problems. I've tried other types of sweetners in my smoothies but I get the best taste from the agave nectar. Sometimes I add in extra dark cherries because they're sweet and that helps. But the cherries get so expensive (and I am unfortunately unemployed right now), that I have to kind of ration the cherries...so I still use the agave. I am working on cutting down though.

Does anyone use raw honey in their smoothies??? How is the taste compared to raw agave?

[Dimond]

Yes, have been using agave for years. I don't use it as often as the beginning primarily because I don't need it and have simplified my diet greatly. From my research and own experience honey can be way more unhealthy for those that have sugar issues and just overall health. Honey can be beneficial for an illness and other healing and used occasionally otherwise. If someone has no health issues, honey may be fine for them. Taste-wise, I don't like using honey in most recipes as it doesn't work as well as agave. I can either taste the honey instead of the flavor it's suppose to be or it's not sweet enough. I'm not against honey, just giving my experience and health research.

Obviously using fresh dates or other food alternatives is better than agave whenever possible because fresh food is always best.

[GoingtoRAW]

Yeah, fresh is always best. Right now I am trying to use less agave - again I only use it in my smoothies, which I have 1 big one per day. I will continue to try to find an alternative for agave but since I only use it for my smoothies right now I don't see it as a problem for me.

[DopeRawAbundance]

I'd rather put agave, blackstrap molasses, raw honey and maple syrup all in one smoothie than use white sugar. Maybe I'll start!?

[GoingtoRAW]

Originally Posted by DopeRawAbundance

I'd rather put agave, blackstrap molasses, raw honey and maple syrup all in one smoothie than use white sugar. Maybe I'll start!?

I agree. That stuff is definitely poisonous!

[rawlight]

Originally Posted by qfmother

. So is there any information that anyone can send to show that white sugar is NOT better than agave nectar?

Just let your husband eat what he wants. You do your sugar thing and let him do his. A battle of the 'facts' can damage a relationship, especially when it seems like one really wants to be right! Not saying that is true in your case, but if using agave is right for you, that's what YOU should use.

[qfmother]

Thanks for the links and suggestions for alternative sweeteners! I'm not considering eating white sugar (or brown sugar) for myself, but we have stopped keeping it in the house for several months now and for my children's sake I'd rather not have it here again. I would personally be willing to give up agave nectar, especially after re-reading some of the info about it on this forum - but since my husband likes the taste of it, I've kept it around and felt that it was a decent compromise. I do enjoy a good raw dessert now and then, I really like the cheesecakes from Cafe Gratitude's recipe book. But anyway, this post wasn't about me eating sugar again - that's not going to happen!

My husband has also suggested that we try stevia in place of agave nectar, so maybe we'll do that. I know it's not raw either, but if we can find an acceptable (in his eyes) substitute for white sugar, then I'm very willing! Again - this is also important to me because of the example we're both setting for our children.

[Dimond]

Make sure you use a true raw Stevia. Stevia isn't the best in terms of taste. Often foods take on that flavor and it's not always good. I usually don't mind it much, but most don't like it.

[JenniferSal]

Sorry for chiming in on an old thread here, but I had a question - how do you know if Stevia is truly raw? Is there something specific to look for with the powder or liquid forms found in stores? I got one in a health food store but am not sure about it. Looking on the internet isnt seeming to help either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Jennifer S.