Agave nectar, held sacred by the Aztecs, is a honey-like syrup which derives from the Cactus-like plant ‘The Blue Weber Agave’. It is nearly a third sweeter than refined sugar. Nutrition experts say that agave nectar is healthier than sugar because it has a low glycemic index value (between 11 & 19). It contains 90% fructose, which is a slow-release carbohydrate that is absorbed much more slowly into the body and does not need a lot of insulin - the chemical that triggers our sugary ‘highs and lows’ - to break it down. Agave nectar can help to keep sugar cravings at bay, by raising blood-sugar levels gently, and can thus help people to cut calorie intake and to burn fat rather than store it.
