Agave Syrup, Nectar, Whatever, Not Legal

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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

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