Important Note: This article is a follow up to the video that I did in which I was the first health expert to expose the high fructose fraud known as agave nectar. I discussed why it can be worse than high fructose corn syrup. Be sure to view this groundbreaking video.
Why agave can be worse than high fructose corn syrup?
This is because most brands of agave have really high amounts of fructose, between 70 to 97 percent fructose. These high amounts of fructose are found in organic, raw agave brands too. High fructose corn syrup is only 55 percent fructose so the fact that most brands have higher amounts of fructose make it worse. There are a few brands of agave out there that have lower amounts of fructose and I detail that in my special report, Your Guide to Sweeteners, which tells you everything you need to know about sweeteners.
Is agave healthy?
Absolutely not! Agave nectar is a processed food and therefore it cannot be conducive to health. Most brands of agave contain large amounts of fructose which is a poison when overconsumed. There are no “healthy” sweeteners in the reality of the matter. This does not necessarily mean that agave should be avoided but its consumption should be limited.
Is raw agave better?
No, it is still a processed food and many brands of raw agave actually contain large amounts of fructose between 70 to 97 percent.
Does the fact that agave is low glycemic make it better?
No. Low glycemic means that it does not cause a significant rise in your blood sugar or glucose levels which is helpful for people who have the really rare version of diabetes which is type 1 diabetes. 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes which is the result of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is caused by excess fructose consumption and it is estimated that 75 percent of the American populace has insulin resistance. Type 1 diabetics actually increase their risk of heart disease when they consume high amounts of fructose based sweeteners and they will make their diabetes worse because the insulin they use to inject themselves will be rendered less effective due to the insulin resistance caused by excess fructose consumption via high fructose sweeteners like agave.
Should high fructose corn syrup be avoided?
Yes and the main reason why it should be avoided is because it is made from genetically engineered corn. Genetically engineered or GMO foods cause infertility, miscarriages, life threatening allergies, instant death, major organ failure, cancer, blood sugar problems, and immune system destruction. Genetically engineered (GMO) foods also changes your genes making them diseased and they modify your behavior making you more anti-social and fearful.
Why is fructose so dangerous?
Fructose is dangerous because it is metabolized by the body differently. The body virtually has no need for fructose unlike glucose so any amount of fructose consumed in excess will be treated as a poison just like alcohol. The liver actually shuts down to metabolize fructose. Refined sucrose is composed of two equal parts of glucose and fructose and what the research shows that it is the fructose part of the sucrose molecule that causes so many health problems in comparison to glucose. Excess fructose consumption causes high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high bad or LDL cholesterol and lower good or HDL cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, arthritis, PCOS, fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, and arteriosclerosis or the hardening of the arteries. It is estimated that half of Americans will have diabetes or insulin resistance by 2020 and it is our high consumption of fructose that is one of the primary reasons why that will happen.
Is fructose more harmful than glucose?
Absolutely and this is because the body has no need for fructose unlike glucose which can be used by every cell in the body. The brain in particular needs large amount of glucose to work properly but the body has virtually has no need for fructose. There is actually a study which proves that fructose is more dangerous than glucose and this makes absolute sense when you understand that the body virtually has no need for it.
What the fructose breakdown of sweeteners?
Refined sugar or cane sugar contains 50 percent fructose.
High fructose corn syrup contains 55 percent fructose
Agave nectar contains 70 to 97 percent fructose mostly but a few brands contain 50 percent fructose
Is fructose fruit sugar?
No. Fructose is merely a monosaccharide or a simple sugar found in varying amounts in fruits and some vegetables. Fruits contain a variety of sugars which include sucrose, glucose, and fructose.
So what is the real deal when it comes to refined sweeteners and their consumption?
Most people are addicted to refined sweeteners and certain refined sweeteners like white sugar or high fructose corn syrup gets demonized then people trade those drugs (high fructose corn syrup and white sugar) for another drug (agave nectar). Research has shown that sugar and the taste of sweet is highly addictive. It is even more addictive than cocaine! Signs of this sweet addiction include drinking beverages with sugar i.e. Gatorade, cappuccinos, eating baked goods made with sugar i.e. pastries, cookies, and donuts, and eating candies. People are literally strung out on sugar and this is not surprising to me given that sugar and the taste for sweets is so addictive. This addiction starts when people are babies too as most of the food given to babies and children is loaded with processed sweeteners. Even infant formula is loaded with sugar and has been called a "baby milk shake" by some experts. The food industry wants you addicted to sugar just like the cigarette industry wanted to keep people addicted to cigarettes in order to maximize profits. They have intentionally gotten people addicted to sugar and one of the ways they have done this is by putting sugar in everything. Sweets and sugar are a huge business! I used to a sugar fiend myself until I broke that addiction and these days with a healthy diet and emotional outlook, I rarely consume any processed sweeteners or sweets.
The problem for most people is that they are consuming too much refined sweeteners and the addictive nature of refined sweeteners perpetuates this consumption. Some sweeteners definitely should be avoided because they are genetically engineered and/or cause much harm to the body and I detail this in my special report. This special report even tells you the amounts of added sugars that can be safely consumed per day for optimal health and I detail the safest sweeteners out there to consume. You do not have to be a victim though and this is why I created a guide on how to Break a Sugar Addiction NOW! It is the best guide out there and I detail how to break a sugar addiction in 5 minutes and the hidden reasons why you crave sweets and sugar.
References:
http://www.thenutritionreporter.com/fructose_dangers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/60850/title/Fructose_sweeteners_may_hike_blood_pressure
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/701827
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/health/23sugar.html
http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20070625/fructose-sugars-dark-side
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/86/4/899
