Agave Nectar
http://www.naturalnews.com/024892_fructose_food_health.html
This is an article about agave nectar, saying it is not safe to use…. does anyone know anything about this?
http://www.naturalnews.com/024892_fructose_food_health.html
This is an article about agave nectar, saying it is not safe to use…. does anyone know anything about this?
oooohhhh nnnoooo!! I would love to hear if anyones finds more info. on this and if it is all bad ( which I dont think so) then what to use as a substitute? Raw honey?
There is so much contraversy on EVERY issue.
Millions of Moms are hoping that MacDonald’s will be “proven” healthy and then say “I told you so! The kids were right.”
The reason I ask is that I am pg and for some reason somewhere I read this so decided to check it out…. One woman said her midwife said not use because it can cause contractions…. I wanted to make the Almond Joy Fudge. I don’t even know where I found this, but wanted make sure….
I know every issue has much contraversery…. would be nice if they didn’t!! Would make it so much easier!
I am going to go ahead and use it until I find out anymore.
But I would like more info.
Did you read this paragraph in the article? Most people practice *more* caution when they’re pregnant. Why take the risk? Is the candy really worth it?
“Yucca species, together with other agaves, are known to contain large quantities of saponins,” according to Tyler’s Honest Herbal. Saponins in many varieties of agave plants are toxic steroid derivatives, as well as purgatives, and are to be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding because they might cause or contribute to miscarriage. These toxins have adverse effects on non-pregnant people and many health compromised consumer categories as well. They are known to contribute to internal hemorrhaging by destroying red blood cells, and they may gravely negatively harm people taking statin and high blood pressure drugs. Agave may also stimulate blood flow in the uterus.(10) Other first hand reports indicate agave may promote sterility in women. Since the agaves used for agave syrup are not being used in their traditional way, there should be a warning label on the sweetener packages that it may promote miscarriage during pregnancy, through weakening the uterine lining.”
I am 4 1/2 weeks pregnant and have been using agave every day in smoothie recipes. I probably use it twice a day. I’d really like some more information on this also. I have been using it quite a lot of the last two months with no problems or contractions and I managed to get pregnant while using it. I would like to know if it could harm the developing baby in any way, but I haven’t seen any definite conclusions to that. If someone has some definite proof, I’d sure like to see it.
That’s scary! I started using agave when I was newly pregnant and I did have a miscarriage. I’m sure there were other factors involved, but I don’t feel the effects of sugar when I eat agave compared to eating honey so I prefer it, but maybe I should stop using it. Anyone else really concerned about this?
GSG Admin says,
You can find what Robyn has written about this issue in the past at these blog posts below:
http://greensmoothiegirl.com/2008/12/23/is-agave-safe/
http://greensmoothiegirl.com/2008/11/18/is-agave-good-food/
Have a great day!
I am asking if anyone has anymore info. or can verify it or not. I would like at least one more source that says this, if not more.
Thank you!
Thank you! That helps alot, GSG Admin.:) Thank you!
My husband can find things better online than I can… and he found a website that says the saponins in agave that they are talking about causing problems are also in chickpeas. I am 19 weeks pg and have been eating hummus and chickpeas, and have had no problems, he didn’t find how much of the saponins was in each to, compare and see if there were more in the agave. But from what we have read here on GSG about agave we have agreed to use it and not worry about.
I sometimes feel that maybe I should quit eating all together and would be healthier…. LOL, honestly so often you find something good for you then you see where it is “not” good for you… I get tired of trying to muddle through all of it. Which is why I really like GSG she does it for me!Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
I am 35 weeks pregnant and have used agave nectar throughout my pregnancy without any problems. I don’t necessarily have it everyday but I use it to sweeten various desserts I make. I’m not scared of it because it being organic and wholesome, I can’t imagine it being anywhere near as bad for you as HFCS.
I also think that if Robyn recommends it then it is probably a good thing. When you eat healthy all the time your body becomes super sensitive to crappy food- basically junk/processed stuff. Anything that is less than the best your body will throw a fit about. So yeah I don’t think you other pregnant people should worry, unless you have some kind of reaction to it. And I hardly think that most miscarriages are the result of using agave nectar.
I read the same article last night. I had a miscarriage a few weeks ago (it was an ectopic, probably not caused by agave nectar) and another one in January. I make shakes with Agave Nectar in it all the time, so of course, it alarmed me and upset me. Thing is, we can make shakes without sweetener. Fruit is sweet enough. Also, there is no reason to use something everyday unless we know for sure it is safe.
I’m giving up agave nectar, but I’m not going to blame my losses on it.
Agave, from what I’ve read, is not wholesome like honey or butter, it’s chemical, much like HFCS. I could have been mislead, but until I see a youtube video of a little mexican man squeezing agave nectar from an agave plant, I’m not buying it.