Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

Pros & Cons of Agave Nectar

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

Agave nectar is a sweetener made from agave plants, which grow in deserts. Agave sweetener has syrupy texture and people use it in place of honey, corn syrup or sugar. People who like agave often consider it more natural and healthy than other sweeteners. However, some experts disagree about the pros and cons of agave nectar.

Uses

People can use agave nectar in drinks, baked goods, pancakes, waffles, fruit, and many other foods in which people normally use sugar, honey or corn syrup. It has the pro of working well in many dishes, but also has the con that recipes written to use with sugar require some adjustments to make them with agave nectar. Since agave nectar is a very sweet liquid, the University of Missouri Extension warns that people who substitute agave for sugar in recipes must reduce the amount of liquid in recipes by 1/4 and also use 1/4 less agave than the required amount of sugar.

Glycemic Index Benefits

Agave nectar has a lower glycemic index than sugar, meaning that it causes less of a spike in blood sugar than regular sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Since it affects blood sugar less than many other sweeteners, it may be healthier for diabetics than regular sugary sweeteners.

Negative Effects of Fructose

Although agave causes less of a spike in glycemic index, some doctors warn that agave contains even more fructose in a given volume than sugar and other sweeteners. Depending on how manufacturers process agave, it can contain the same amount of fructose as high fructose corn syrup. Therefore, as a corn syrup substitute, it does not necessarily decrease the amount of fructose people consume or the amount of calories they consume. Too much fructose consumption can also cause insulin resistance, an unhealthy lengthened elevation in insulin levels after sugar consumption.

  • People can use agave nectar in drinks, baked goods, pancakes, waffles, fruit, and many other foods in which people normally use sugar, honey or corn syrup.
  • Agave nectar has a lower glycemic index than sugar, meaning that it causes less of a spike in blood sugar than regular sugar or high fructose corn syrup.

Smaller Required Amounts

Since most agave contains more fructose in a given volume than corn syrup, honey or regular sugar, it seems more economical than sugar or honey. An 8 ounce jar of agave may last longer than an 8 ounce jar of honey, since people can use less agave nectar at a time. However, agave does not necessarily save shoppers money because it may cost more than regular sugar or honey.

Little Nutritional Value

Agave nectar adds fructose to the human diet without much nutritional value. The sweetener provides calories but does not provide healthy dietary components like fiber, protein or significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. However, regular sugar and corn syrup also contain few nutrients.

Calories

Although the consumption of fructose in general may hinder weight loss, a teaspoon of agave provides more sweetness and the same amount of calories as a teaspoon of regular sugar. Therefore, agave consumers can use a smaller volume of agave to get the same amount of sweetness as sugar with fewer calories. Agave might still provide dieters with unwanted extra calories, but at least it provides the same amount of sweetness with slightly fewer calories than sugar.

  • Since most agave contains more fructose in a given volume than corn syrup, honey or regular sugar, it seems more economical than sugar or honey.
  • Therefore, agave consumers can use a smaller volume of agave to get the same amount of sweetness as sugar with fewer calories.

Vegan-Friendly Origins

Agave nectar's plant-based origins mean that vegans who do not consume honey can consume agave.

Processing Myths

Some people have the incorrect idea that agave is healthier than regular sugar because it is more natural. However, agave nectar is technically also a processed food because producers must hydrolyze and heat the agave plant to produce agave nectar. This processing does not necessarily make agave unhealthy; it simply means agave is less "natural" than some consumers believe. Regular sugar and corn syrup both also come from processed plants, but they do not have the same reputation as "natural" agave.

Related Articles

Will Coke, Sprite or Apple Juice Help Plants Grow Better Than Water?
Will Coke, Sprite or Apple Juice Help Plants Grow Better...
How Does Gatorade Affect the Growth of a Bean Plant?
How Does Gatorade Affect the Growth of a Bean Plant?
The Effects of Sugar Water on Roses
The Effects of Sugar Water on Roses
How Do Different Types of Liquid Affect Bean Plant Growth?
How Do Different Types of Liquid Affect Bean Plant...
Is Theanine Found in Decaffeinated Tea?
Is Theanine Found in Decaffeinated Tea?
About Willow Bark Tea
About Willow Bark Tea
What Are the Effects of Sugar Water on Plants?
What Are the Effects of Sugar Water on Plants?
What Substances Are Produced by Photosynthesis?
What Substances Are Produced by Photosynthesis?
How to Store Agave Nectar
How to Store Agave Nectar
What Are the Dangers of Pets Drinking Pool Water?
What Are the Dangers of Pets Drinking Pool Water?
Will Listerine Harm Garden Plants?
Will Listerine Harm Garden Plants?
How to Transplant Agave Plants
How to Transplant Agave Plants
What Is the Difference Between a Yucca and an Agave?
What Is the Difference Between a Yucca and an Agave?
What Liquids Do Plants Grow Best In?
What Liquids Do Plants Grow Best In?
What Are the Dangers of Sambucus Nigra?
What Are the Dangers of Sambucus Nigra?
The Effect of Nicotine on Plant Growth
The Effect of Nicotine on Plant Growth
Garden Guides
×