While everyone is saying that sugar consumption should be kept to a minimum, no one is offering alternatives that they can confidently confirm are healthy. This is one of them.
Agave is a plant from which many products are obtained, but the most interesting in our country is agave syrup (nectar), which is used as a natural sweetener suitable for diabetics.
Agave is a plant that originates from Mexico, and some species thrive in the Mediterranean area today, where it is widespread as an ornamental plant.
Agave is a plant from the lily family, although due to its appearance it was thought to be a member of the cactus family until recently.
It is interesting that it is a perennial plant that blooms once in its century. You can wait about 40 years for that flowering, and after flowering the plant withers.
Its leaves are fleshy and pointed at the top, and serrated on the sides. Syrup, juice and alcoholic beverages are obtained from it, of which tequila is certainly the most famous.
Agave syrup is also called agave nectar or emdena water because of its mild taste. It is one of the natural sweeteners obtained from the leaves of the same plant.
And it is made no more or less from leaves that are about 10 years old. They are cut, dried and then ground to make a powder. It is further subjected to a technological procedure, in order to finally obtain the desired product.
The syrup is sold in health food stores. It dissolves easily in liquid and is tasty, so it is ideal for sweetening tea and coffee.
It can be used to prepare various cakes, tarts and desserts. The color should be a lighter brown, while the best is organic, made from leaves, not roots.
Its beneficial effects are numerous. In the past, it was used to heal wounds by mixing agave syrup and salt and applying it as a salve.
It is good against bacteria on the skin that cause festering wounds and against intestinal infections caused by bacteria.
Agave root is also a good diuretic, and is also used in the treatment of toothache.
Fructans are useful in diabetes and obesity, reduce the level of harmful intestinal bacteria, help with constipation and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Fructans also increase the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium – confirmed by scientists from the National Polytechnic Institute in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Sufficient levels of calcium, along with magnesium and vitamin D, reduce the risk of osteoporosis and other diseases related to bone health.
However, nowadays it is used as a natural sweetener, i.e. a substitute for sugar.
It attracts special attention because it is recommended for the diet of diabetics.
It contains inulin and has a low glycemic index. Also, inulin is associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels and the risk of several types of cancer. The GI is significantly lower than honey, and especially sugar.
It is rarer than honey, but it is sweeter, so you need even less of it in cooking than honey.
Agave has almost no effect on blood sugar levels. Therefore, agave syrup is quite suitable for diabetics, but also for everyone else who does not use sugar.
Studies show that inulin is suitable for losing extra pounds due to its low glycemic index and the stimulation of satiety.
Agave syrup also contains fibers that support the work of the digestive system, and many trace elements, such as calcium, iron and vitamins B and C.
Agave syrup does not contain starch, so this sweetener is suitable for people on a gluten-free diet.
As far as calories are concerned, it is very high in calories, as it contains about 400 kcal per 100 grams. Contains fructose, glucose and sucrose.
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