Agave Dangers

A friend and I are researching, and presenting the dangers of Agave Nectar, and how it contradicts the raw food lifestyle, to the kitchen managers, and program director. We are also presenting a healthy alternative, Coconut Nectar, and describing it's many benefits. We are doing this in hopes of convincing them to eliminate the usage of Agave Nectar sweetener, the sweetener we've mainly been using, aside from dates, for our gourmet chef classes, and instead use a healthier alternative, which is similar in consistency Agave, yet healthier. It's also RAW, as Agave really isn't, contrary to popular belief.

What is Agave Nectar?


Agave Nectar is a sweetener extracted from the blue agaves, a “cactus like” plant in Mexico and is referred to as “Honey Water” because of  the nectar’s sweet flavor. Although there are various forms of Agave plants, the plant mostly used to extract the Nectar from is the Weber Blue Agave plant, which when fermented, becomes the alcoholic beverage Tequila.

Although popular belief is that Agave Nectar is raw, it is, in fact, highly processed before reaching store shelves, which ultimately leads to it becoming detrimental to our health.


The dangers of Agave:



* High levels of Fructose: It contains about 90% Fructose, 50% more than High Fructose Corn Syrup. Fructose is highly correlated with the Diabetes and Obesity epidemic, and has contributed to liver disorders as well. Research also suggests that it  stimulates our desire to eat more.

* Out of all sweeteners including Maple Syrup, Honey, etc.., it’s ranked as the least affective in providing healthful antioxidant benefits.

*It isn’t raw! The Nectar, after being extracted, is hydrolyzed at temperatures of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, over a course of 36 hours, leaving you with High Fructose Syrup.

*Research suggests that the high levels of fructose may cause Mineral Deficiencies of Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Magnesium. These deficiencies ultimately wreak havoc on the body causing bone deformity, Anemia, infertility, and heart disease.




My sources:


*(Kohler, John; “The truth about agave syrup: not as healthy as you’d like;” http://www.living-foods.com/articles/agave.html ; 1998)

*(J.P; Healthy Fellow: Your Natural Health Critic “Agave Dangers;” http://www.healthyfellow.com/185/agave-danger/ ; 25th of March, 2009)

* (Fit Day; “5 health risks of Madhava Agave Nectar;” http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/5-health-risks-of-madhava-agave-nectar.html ; 2009)