FW: agave syrup

[Guest guest]

,

Here is a re-post from Marilyn on the subject.

From:

BTVC-SCD [mailto:BTVC-SCD ] On Behalf Of Wizop

Marilyn L. Alm

At 01:14 PM 7/1/2009, you wrote:

Does anyone know if agave syrup is legal/tolerated by anyone

on SCD?

No, Agave is not legal.

agave syrup

illegal

Agave syrup is not legal, per Elaine, on the LI list. Agave syrup (or nectar)

is about 90% fructose. It is a potent natural sweetener and a source of inulin,

which is illegal, per BTVC p 59. In addition, much agave syrup is

produced by corporations which also produce malt syrup, molasses, and other

illegal sweeteners, so there is also a possibility that it is contaminated by

those other sweeteners.

Also:

Agave Syrup is not a " whole " food. It is a fractionated and processed

food. Manufacturers take the liquid portion of the agave plant and

" boil " it down, thus concentrating the sugar to make it sweet.

Agave Syrup is missing many of the nutrients that the original plant had to

begin with.

Agave Syrup was originally used to make tequila. When Agave Syrup ferments, it

literally turns into tequila. The enzymatic activity therefore MUST be stopped

so that the syrup will not turn into tequila in your cupboard.

For the most part, agave syrup is produced in the Guadalajara region in Mexico.

There are those within the industry who I have spoken to at various trade shows

who say that some of the agave syrup is " watered down " with corn

syrup in Mexico before it is

exported to the USA. Why is this done? Most likely because Agave Syrup is

expensive, and corn syrup is cheap.

Agave Syrup is advertised as " low glycemic " and marketed towards

diabetics. It is true, that agave itself is low glycemic. We have to consider

why agave syrup is " low glycemic. " It is due to the unusually high

concentration of fructose (90%) compared to the small amount of glucose (10%).

Nowhere in nature does this ratio of fructose to glucose occur naturally. One

of the next closest foods that contain almost this concentration of glucose to

fructose is high fructose corn syrup used in making soda(HFCS 55), which only

contains 55% fructose. Even though fructose is low on the glycemic index, there

are numerous problems associated with the consumption of fructose in such high

concentrations as found in concentrated sweeteners:

A. Fructose appears to interfere with copper metabolism. This causes collagen

and elastin being unable to form. Collagen and

elastin are connective tissue which essentially hold the body together. A

deficiency in copper can also lead to bone fragility,

anemia, defects of the arteries and bone, infertility, high cholesterol levels,

heart attacks and ironically enough an inability

to control blood sugar levels.

B. Research suggests that fructose actually promotes disease more readily than

glucose. This is because glucose is metabolized by every cell in the body, and

fructose must be metabolized by the liver. Tests on animals show that the

livers of animals fed large amounts of fructose develop fatty deposits and

cirrohosis of the liver. This is similar to the livers of alcoholics.

C. " Pure " isolated fructose contains no enzymes, vitamins or minerals

and may rob the body of these nutrients in order to

assimilate itself for physiological use.

D. Fructose may contribute to diabetic conditions. It reduces the sensitivity

of insulin receptors. Insulin receptors are the way

glucose enters a cell to be metabolized. As a result, the body needs to make

more insulin to handle the same amount of glucose.

E. Consumption of fructose has been shown to cause a significant increase in

uric acid. An increase in uric acid can be an indicator of heart diease.

F. Fructose consumption has been shown to increase blood lactic acid,

especially for people with conditions such as diabetes.

Extreme elevations may cause metabolic acidosis.

G. Consumption of fructose leads to mineral losses, especially excretions of iron,

magnesium, calcium and zinc compared to subjects fed sucrose.

H. Fructose may cause accelerated aging through oxidative damage. Scientists

found that rats given fructose had more cross-linking changes in the collagen

of their skin than other groups fed glucose. These changes are thought to be

markers for aging.

I. Fructose can make you fat! It is metabolized by the liver and converts to

fat more easily than any other sugar. Fructose also

raises serum triglycerides (blood fats) significantly.

Agave Syrup and other concentrated sweeteners are addictive. Eating

concentrated sweeteners makes it harder to enjoy the sweet foods we should be

eating – whole fresh fruit since they don't seem as sweet by comparison.

— Marilyn

New Orleans,

Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund