Agave Vs. Sugar: Which Is Better In Our Lemonades?

The agave plant is a cactus-like plant native to the deserts of the Americas. Its sap is used to make a sweet, brown liquid known as agave syrup, whose taste has often been compared to that of molasses. Just like molasses, the darker the color of the agave syrup, the richer its taste. In recent years, agave has been used as a common alternative to honey, maple syrup and table sugar. Many commercial juicers such as PUR Cold-Pressed have been using agave in lemonades and other fruit juices. Why is this so? Read on to find out more.

Less Is More

Agave syrup is highly versatile, which makes it a popular choice for the sweetening of both desserts and drinks alike. At PUR Cold-Pressed, we sweeten our lemonades, as well as other fruit juices with agave, as it is sweeter than conventional table sugar by approximately one-and-a-half times. The implication of this is two-fold, as firstly, the same sweetness level can be achieved by using a lower volume of ingredients. Secondly, a lower volume of sweetener means our fruit juices have a lower calorie count compared to juicers who use conventional sugars. As a result, individuals who are watching their weight can feel free to consume our products without having to worry about packing on the pounds.

Regulation of Blood Insulin Levels

The glucose level of agave is not as high as that of normal table sugars. Consequently, it has a much lower glycemic index (GI) value. This means that agave is absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream and therefore, it does not cause an insulin spike compared to other sugars.

Understandably, there have been some concerns raised regarding the high fructose levels of agave. While other sugars are converted to energy by the mitochondria in our cells, the liver is the primary site of metabolism for fructose. The consumption of excessive fructose will then overwork one’s liver and may result in liver damage in the long run, especially if one consumes alcohol regularly as well.

At PUR Cold-Pressed, we prioritize the health of each and every one of our customers. As such, we use agave in small quantities to prevent excessive fructose intake. Additionally, we only use high-quality organic agave, rather than cheap, highly processed ones which contain unhealthy additives such as high fructose corn syrup.

Good for Vegans and Those with Allergies

Food sweeteners such as peanut butter can be very dangerous to those with allergies. A person suffering from peanut allergy could potentially die from consuming peanut butter. Other sugars could trigger stomach discomfort such as bloating, especially in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome. For these individuals, agave is the perfect sweetener as it is one of the most allergy-friendly foods out there. Its versatility means that you can use it as a syrup for your pancakes, or include it in fruit juices, just like what we do at PUR Cold-Pressed! Also, agave, unlike honey, another common sweetener, is vegan. Those searching for plant-based alternatives to conventional sugars will also benefit from the use of agave.