What Is Agave?
5 Sneaky Sources of Added Sugars That Are Probably in Your Kitchen Right Now
What Is Agave Used For?
Picture Recipe:Berry Morning Muffin
Agave packs 20 calories per teaspoon, five more than granulated sugar, but, like honey, it’s sweeter than sugar, so you need less to achieve the same level of sweetness. But unlike honey, it’s vegan, so it’s a great alternative for vegan baking. You’ll also find it commonly used to sweeten marinades and drinks.
Is Agave Good for You?
The natural sweetener is valued as a vegan alternative to honey and touted for its low glycemic index. Foods with a higher glycemic index (GI) tend to trigger a greater surge in blood sugar and insulin—the hormone that helps the sugar get into cells just after eating. (These spikes can be particularly problematic for those with diabetes. High-GI foods also tend to make you hungry again sooner because they’re digested quickly.) According to a study in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition, agave’s GI value is about five times lower than table sugar’s.
Pictured Recipe:Mojito-Marinated Chicken Kebabs
But although all-natural agave sweetener may be healthier for you than regular sugar, most of the agave you can buy in stores is highly processed. Therefore, it’s not atypical that a bottle of agave has more high fructose corn syrup in it than any other commercial sweetener—including high fructose corn syrup itself.
And even if you find a minimally processed variety, it still counts as an added sugar. So if you do find yourself swapping out other sugars for agave, be mindful that consuming too much added sugar can result in adverse health effects, including obesity and diabetes. Everything in moderation!
One Final Caveat
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