Is agave a superfood or a poison?
Dear GreenSmoothieGirl: Dr. Mercola says agave is going to kill me! Is he right?
Answer: I have been inundated with emails about this. In every class I teach, someone brings it up.
First of all, Dr. Mercola didn’t exactly say that, although he allowed it on his web site. Mercola is a brand, a big company, employing lots of people, including staff writers who write stuff for the site and newsletters. The osteopath named Joe Mercola doesn’t do the research and writing. So when I say “Mercola” in this article, I mean “it” (the company/brand/staff), not “he” (the founder of the company).
What I write is all me, by the way–I have no staff writers.
Controversy, right or wrong, unfortunately, adds to Mercola’s 7-figure mailing list and profits. Mercola (and the doctor himself) may or may not be aware that it is wrong about agave. Comparing it to high-fructose corn syrup, or to tequila, is a tenuous, false, almost ridiculous exaggeration. It reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the organic chemistry differences.
It’s similar to the comment a pediatrician made to me 15 years ago, when I questioned his suggestion to feed my toddler Sprite for quick energy. I said, “Why not an apple?” And he said, “Whatever. Simple sugars are simple sugars. There’s no difference. They all end up as glucose.”
A similar reductionistic argument you’ve heard before is, “A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.” Really? Then why did the vegetarian group in Campbell’s massive China study eat 200 calories MORE than the heavy meat eaters, and they were lean while the meat eaters were overweight? (Exercise was a variable the researchers controlled for, so that doesn’t explain the difference.)
Apparently you CAN eat more calories when those calories are plant foods. Please comment here if you know well, from experience, that the impact on your body of eating an apple is entirely different than drinking a can of Sprite!
Apples have simple sugars, sure, but they also have tannins that remove insulin from the bloodstream and convert the sugars into energy. Apples have pectin and other fiber to decrease cholesterol and slow absorption of sugars on the bloodstream. Sprite has none of that, just a chemical version of fructose and lots more man-made chemicals. I could make this whole post about the egregious comparison the pediatrician made, but let’s move on to the similar agave controversy.
Mercola’s staff writer acts as if fructose is poison. Yes, fructose is the sugar in high-fructose corn syrup, too. One point Mercola and I agree on is the fact that the highly refined sweetener HFCS is deadly. But fructose is the sugar in fruit, too! Is it possible that fructose can be either good or bad?
Here’s a key point Mercola overlooks. Agave’s sugar is a long-chain polymer of fructose, which is not absorbed by the body and therefore passes through you. Thus there’s a much-reduced impact on your blood sugar of consuming agave (versus HFCS, cane sugars, and honey). It’s not hard to document that agave’s glycemic index is one-third that of sugar or honey.
I personally know a nutritionist who has stopped diabetes in a group of her patients with no changes other than switching from sugar to agave.
So is agave on par with excellent whole foods like apples, spinach, lentils, and barley? No way! An apple has fiber and many other elements that work synergistically to support your health.
But as sweeteners go, if you’re going to use them–and please use all concentrated sweeteners sparingly–raw, organic agave is a very good option. And another of my favorite sweeteners, stevia, contains a compound called steviasides, which shut down insulin production in the pancreas–an even better (calorie-free) option, especially for diabetics.
So, the answer to the question, is agave a superfood or a poison, the answer is, “Neither one.” Don’t fear it. Don’t overuse it either.
Posted in: Whole Food
Hi,
I’m interested to find out if Dr Mercola did indeed write this article–as he stresses in his comment here–because this article appeared word for word on another site two weeks before it was on Dr. Mercola’s web site.
Here’s the link: https://onlinehealthnews.org/2010/03/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food-fraud/
Also, the chemicals listed in “Mercola’s” article are used in the HFCS industry, not in the blue agave industry. I challange “Mercola” to go down to Mexico to see for himself.
I have asked him to call me and verify he wrote the blog entry here, and has has not done so.
Right on, Tammy! I am confident that Dr. Mercola has never seen first-hand the production of agave syrup. If he had, he would have to admit that his article is the real fraud. Agave syrup is not made in the way he claims by most of the producers (I have been to most). And I don’t know of any producer who does make it with the way Mercola describes. I believe that Dr. Mercola’s marketing strategy is to play on people’s fears, then provide them with his solution (his products and his subscription-based newsletter that he sells). Agave is not a super food, a cure-all, or a free-food – it is a sweetener, and when used in my balanced diet, is fantastic to me. Tastes great, easy to use, and I don’t get the sugar crashes either. Dr. Mercola says to cut out agave, beer and honey if your uric acid levels are high… who’s going to run out and get their uric acid levels tested? My body reacts well with agave.
All I know is that agave gives me and my husband heartburn every time I use it in a recipe. And since nothing else gives us hearburn, we surely have stopped using it. We don’t trust it to be a healthy ingredient.
I doubt if Agave is long chain polymers- if it were, it would be no sweeter than regular starches. It is also highly processed- not that something is good for you just because it’s natural. Remember, Socrates died from natural hemlock. But when there is doubt and lack of reliable information, I prefer to either error on the side of caution or use natural products. In the case of sweeteners. I have for the most part trained my taste buds not to need them (or salt either), however there is one exception; with antioxidant rich Cocao, because it’s so bitter, it needs something to sweeten it, so I use a little stevia, alcohol sugars such as xylilol, or lo han.
Hi Robyn,
I was just at the Longevity Conference in Costa Mesa with Dr. Mercola and David Wolf. They both spoke about Agave. They were even at time on stage together talking about Agave (it is a huge topic right now). They were both clear that:
1) Agave is not appropriate for people who have
blood sugar issues because it is not really a
low glycemic product
2) Much Agave currently available is an off-product
from the manufacture of Tequila (by the mafia)
in Mexico and other similar countries
3) Clear Agaves (basically those from Ultimate and
some others) are possibly okay for some people
in small quantities
By the way, David Wolfe does not sell or specifically sponsor any products. He has not been associated with David Wolfe’s Sunfoods for over a year. They should no longer be associating his name with their products. They are probably just running out some old labels.
Thanks for your work Robyn. You are doing a great job for yourself, your family and all of us.
The better it gets the better it gets,
Robina
(BTW, my husband and I have been living foods people since the 70’s with Ann Wigmore. We remain flexible and in love with life. This is an amazing life style that produces long term wonderful results in terms of health and consciousness. We both use a little Agave here and there.)
Hi Robyn,
I was just at the Longevity Conference in Costa Mesa with Dr. Mercola and David Wolf. They both spoke about Agave. They spoke separately and were even on stage together talking about Agave (it is a huge topic right now). They were both clear that:
1) Agave is not appropriate for people who have
blood sugar issues because it is not really a
low glycemic product
2) Some (but not all) Agave currently available is
is not pure
3) Some Agave (basically that from Ultimate and
some others) is okay for some people
By the way, David Wolfe does not sell or specifically sponsor any products. He has not been associated with David Wolfe’s Sunfoods for over a year. They should no longer be associating his name with their products. They are probably just running out some old labels.
Thanks for your work Robyn. You are doing a great job for yourself, your family and all of us.
The better it gets the better it gets,
Robina
(BTW, my husband and I have been living foods people since the 70’s with Ann Wigmore. We remain flexible and in love with life. This is an amazing life style that produces long term wonderful results in terms of health and consciousness.)
Fructose is a chronic poison to the liver if consumed in a regular fashion.It has and still is marketed with pseudo science.Buyer beware in all things.Be well.
Re: Robina’s post: Dr. Mercola and Dr. Wolfe are not the authorities on agave nectar. They have their opinion, and their claims are growing their media relevance and sells more products, more seminar seats, etc. On your 3 points you mentioned, consider this:
1. Agave nectar is low glycemic. Many brands have been tested by the Glycemic Index Testing lab from Toronto. To be certified low glycemic, the agave nectar was given to human subjects. Please show me a study to support Mercola’s claims.
2. Please show me one of these agave nectar companies who are not using pure agave nectar. If this is so common, how come no one has any proof? If that is the case, these brands should be brought to light so we can avoid them. Otherwise, it is just a regurgitated rumor.
3. You say (Mercola says) some agave is okay for some people. How can this be, if, according to Mercola, fructose is terrible and agave isn’t natural? I believe the truth is that most agave nectar brands are of high quality, pure agave nectar. I have researched these companies and their web sites, and have tried several brands. Many of these are good companies that promote quality and truth about agave nectar. No agave company promotes liberal use on everything or promotes it as a health food.
If you don’t want to use agave, then that’s fine. But what these doctors are doing, in my opinion, is creating the controversy. It is a big topic, as you stated, because they are making it as such. They are feeding the controversy using misinformation and half-truths with a calculated smear campaign that is now being spread using social media, disguised bloggers and negative online p.r. Mercola sells whey protein powder, tanning beds, and subscriptions to his newsletter – he uses his opinions to create the problem, then sells his stuff as the solution.
Thanks Robina! Let me tell you my first hand experience with agave nectar. Not what someone else told me or I read somewhere. I read about it on greensmootiegirl.com. I gave some very expensive and certified organic agave nectar to my brother who has diabetes. He has a strange type. His pancreas quite working therefore he is very sensitive to his blood sugar.
He tried the agave nectar and immediately called me and asked “are you trying to kill me with this stuff”? I felt very bad. What could be wrong? Greensmootiegirl said it would not impact his blood sugar. I felt like an idiot. Chemically it is different right? Then why did his blood sugar go through the roof like he had just drank a soda pop?
Do your research people. Find out for yourself what agave nectar is. How is it made? How much fructose is in it? It does not impact a normal persons blood sugar because their bodies can keep all sugar under control.
I can drink a coke. Take a blood glucose level 30 minutes later and I am below 100. If my brother does the same he goes to 400!!!
So I am asking. If agave nectar is chemically different and it doesn’t impact blood sugar. Why does it do this to my diabetic brother?
The effects of it are the same as sugar. The imact of fructose on your body is proven. Where is the debate?
Hey Tracy. Let me clarify. I never said agave nectar doesn’t impact your blood sugar. I said it impacts it less than HFCS, sugar, or honey.
STEVIA doesn’t impact your blood sugar.
Also, some sources of agave are highly processed and have dubious manufacturing standards, as we’ve been discussing in this debate and referring to in the various researchers’ articles.
Ridiculous! I love agave. My daughter has diabetes 1 and she switched from sugar to agave. This has helped her diabetes so much.
Let me clarify what I am saying. Agave syrup impacts your blood sugar the same if not worse than high fructose corn syrup or regular sugar. This is from my own personal experience with a blood glucose monitor.
Test it on a very sensitive test subject and report your findings. I found this out about 2 years ago. I am surprised to find that the rest of the world is finding it out so much later.
I am sad for my brother. But I am glad that he challenged the use of the agave nectar. Like a few others have posted on here. My test results show there must be a higher percentage of fructose and it absorbs just as fast as regular sugar.
Buy a blood glucose monitor. They are only 20 dollars at costco. Do your own tests. I didn’t have to buy one because my poor brother has several of them.
I feel this is an important subject because there might be some people who think that agave syrup is safer. It is not, in fact from my testing. It is worse.
I work with a nutritionist who measures glucose with diabetic patients who have changed from other sugars to agave and has had dramatic results with her patients getting off insulin. The brand she has them on is Xagave. Test only good brands, on yourself.
How does one test one’s uric acid level?
I was poisoned by agave. For two months I had intestinal pain & cramps. Now, I am about 90% better just waiting to get back to 100 %. I know it was Agave because that was the only thing I changed in my diet. I used it everyday for 3 months in my coffee 2 to 3 times a day.
I think it fed the bad bacteria in my intestines and gave me an infection. I had to take a bunch of antibiotics for it to clear up.
I hate Agave and will never use it again.
Roman
Hi Robyn!
You stated: “And another of my favorite sweeteners, stevia, contains a compound called steviasides, which shut down insulin production in the pancreas–an even better (calorie-free) option, especially for diabetics.”
As a diabetic, I’m curious as to how the shutdown of insulin production is a good thing.
I personally use raw agave. I use a lot less of it than I would per serving with honey. It doesn’t send my blood sugar numbers out of control like honey does. Stevia is moot for me, since I cannot stand the bitterness.
Thanks for your blog.
-Andy.
I have had blood sugar issues( Hypoglycemia) in the past and have tried several brands of agave with terrible results from everyone. And I listen to my body very well about foods I intake. I do pretty well now with a local raw honey or sorghum syrup sparingly. I also use Stevia with no problems. I believe everyone’s body is different and where one may do well with agave others may not. Thank you for all comments post here.