Agave: Healthy Enough For You?

[Fallen_Horse]

Thoughts?

Edited March 7, 2010 by Fallen_Horse

[Vegan Joe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave

I'd be interested in trying the flowers.

[Cold Fission]

If it is organic then yeah.

[xjohanx]

I think the question is phrased very weird. I eat stuff that is unhealthy sometimes so I could def eat agave on occasion just like I can eat table sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup etc but I still think it is unhealthy. I would never use it as a staple food in my diet. I voted no becasue it's not "healthy enough" for me but to the actual poll question I say yes.

[lobsteriffic]

My response is the same as Johan's. I do eat it occasionally, but its not a staple food in my diet.

[Octopussoir]

I have some in the fridge but there is no way I could eat it on a reg basis. I had some a long time ago and dipped a pancake in it and was blown away by how sweet it was and also turned off by it. I'll stick to my maple syrup that's not so sweet

[Vegan Joe]

So are we talking about the plant or the syrup?

[beforewisdom]

I went to one of Dr. Gregor's talks a few months ago.

 

According to him, crushed dried dates by Bob's Redmill has nutrition.

 

All other sweeteners don't. They are empty calories.

 

I use *tiny* bits of sweeteners here and there, but I wouldn't make any of them a significant part of my calories.

[Octopussoir]

So are we talking about the plant or the syrup?

 

I was referring to syrup

[beforewisdom]

sounds like a sticky subject

[Veganluv]

I use it on occasion

http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/real-raw-agave-nectar-by-ultimate-superfoods.htm

[chewybaws]

Well I'll be the first to say I use this every day. I use about 2 tsp on my pancakes and about the same in my recovery drink / some other smoothies as per thrive diet recipes.

[Cold Fission]

The poll is not working.epic fail.

[cubby2112]

I second beforewisdom on the date sugar. I only really use stevia for a sweetener, but if I was to use a caloric one on any kind of regular basis, date sugar would be my go-to. You can make it into a syrup by adding a little water and maybe simmering it a bit, if you don't like the grainy texture and can't let it sit for awhile for the texture to smooth.

[VeganEssentials]

Agave nectar on waffles, yes, I'll use it there.

 

Otherwise, haven't really found anything else I bother to put it on. And being I buy about one box of waffles per year, it's safe to say I don't use it often.

[xjohanx]

I will third the date thing. Dates are the best sweetner out there. I almost never buy dried dates because usually they cover them in glucose syrup but the fresh ones are amazing for making fudgy-like power balls/squares. Dates are a great staple in my diet, love em.