Mainly produced in Mexico, agave is a syrup that is made from the Agave Tequiliana (Tequila) plant. It is about 1 1/2 times sweeter than regular sugar and contains roughly 60 calories per tablespoon, which is about 20 calories more than the same amount of table sugar. In spite of being more dense in calories, agave manufacturers are directly marketing diabetics because it is supposedly lower on the glycemic index (a number that represents the effect a particular food has on someone’s blood sugar).
Agave Facts:
It has a low-glycemic index because it’s largely made of fructose, the single most damaging form of sugar.
It has the highest fructose content of any commercial sweetener on the market.
Compared to the 1:1 fructose/glucose ratio of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, agave nearly has a whopping 2:1 ratio.
Better Alternatives: Stevia or local raw honey (use sparingly).
*Be sure to read the ingredients on your snack, meal, and protein bars! Most contain agave!
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Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
Brown rice syrup (also known as rice malt syrup) is a sweetener that is mistakenly assumed to be healthy.
This sweetener is made by exposing cooked rice to enzymes that break down the starch into simple sugars. Brown rice syrup contains no refined fructose, just glucose.
The absence of refined fructose is good… but rice syrup has a
glycemic index of 98, which means that the glucose in it will spike
blood sugar extremely fast.
Rice syrup is also highly refined and contains almost no essential nutrients. In other words, it is “empty” calories.
Some concerns have been raised about arsenic contamination in this
syrup, another reason to be extra careful with this sweetener.
There are other better sweeteners out there… including low-calorie sweeteners like stevia, and xylitol, which actually have some health benefits.
Foods that may contain brown rice syrup: Crackers, cookies, granola bars, protein bars, nut bars, desserts, breads, muffins, candy, granola, etc.
Be sure to check your labels!!
Source:
www.authoritynutrition.com
Copyright,
2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum
Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or
Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle
coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier
you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You
will also learn how important balance between primary foods
(relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and
secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.
www.optimumwellnessmn.com
