Re: Re: Agave Syrup, Nectar, Whatever, Not Legal

[Guest guest]

Here is an interesting thought...my mom is doing weight watchers and she is allowed 22 pts a day. 1 cup of honey is 20 pts!!! Kind of puts things into perspective. I am still trying to gain weight so I am not concerned about it at this point but it makes you think!MarlaSent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 9:15 AMTo: BTVC-SCD Subject: Re: Agave Syrup, Nectar, Whatever, Not Legal This is very interesting lin. It might explain my little sugar addiction I'm trying to fight for so long now (although I never ate Agave syrup, I can easily eat half of a honey jar by spoon, which I believe is also high in fructose) Do you have a reference for those infos ? Annie > > > 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 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.1 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 > Babette the Foundling Beagle >

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure why it's so high in points.  I don't feel the sugar rush at all with honey like I get (and hate) with sugar.

 

My mom recently got some blue agave because of the low glycemic index.  It's not very sweet (yes, I had some last night and like it but--).  It's nowhere near as satisfying as honey though so maybe be glad it's not legal at least starting the SCD.  The honey will help with sugar cravings and sweets.

 

D 41 CD

scd 12/05 and branching out end up back full SCD ;-)

ldn 3/10

 

Here is an interesting thought...my mom is doing weight watchers and she is allowed 22 pts a day. 1 cup of honey is 20 pts!!! Kind of puts things into perspective. I am still trying to gain weight so I am not concerned about it at this point but it makes you think!

Marla

Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 9:15 AMTo: BTVC-SCD

Subject: Re: Agave Syrup, Nectar, Whatever, Not Legal

 

This is very interesting lin. It might explain my little sugar addiction I'm trying to fight for so long now (although I never ate Agave syrup, I can easily eat half of a honey jar by spoon, which I believe is also high in fructose)

Do you have a reference for those infos ?Annie

>>> 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 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.1 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> Babette the Foundling Beagle>

[Guest guest]

At 08:15 AM 4/20/2010, you wrote:

This is very interesting

lin. It might explain my little sugar addiction I'm trying to fight

for so long now (although I never ate Agave syrup, I can easily eat half

of a honey jar by spoon, which I believe is also high in fructose)

Do you have a reference for those infos ?

The first paragraph is from a reference I'm compiling on SCD foods.

However, the link I have at

http://www.preparedfoods.com/ isn't valid, any longer -- they've

apparently rearranged their web site.

The rest of the material (following " Also: " ) was compiled by

another member from various sources.

Honey does have a significant amount of fructose, which has to be

metabolized in the liver.

—

Marilyn

New

Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

Babette the Foundling Beagle