Usually I use this section for posting the good things that we feed our gliders. But, I do think it is important to share information about all sorts of things that people are giving their gliders.
I have seen a lot of people posting in various places that they are using agave nectar with their gliders. Some are using it in place of honey and others are using it as a treat.
So, here is what you need to know about agave nectar:
The process for refining agave nectar is reportedly very similar to the process of making high fructose corn syrup. It is a chemical process that leaves you with a product VERY high in fructose.
In this article:
http://www.naturalnews.com/024892_fructose_food_health.html Rami Nagel tell us
- Quote :
- They are indeed made the same way, using a highly chemical process with genetically modified enzymes. They are also using caustic acids, clarifiers, filtration chemicals and so forth in the conversion of agave starches into highly refined fructose inulin that is even higher in fructose content than high fructose corn syrup.
That's right, he says agave nectar is HIGHER in fructose content than high fructose corn syrup.
This could be problematic for our gliders, for whom liver disease remains the primary cause of death. Fructose is digested by the liver. It is turned into triglycerides (fat) and stored in the liver. We are recently seeing cases of suspected fatty liver disease in gliders.
Agave nectar is a newly created sweetener. It is not a "natural" sweetener (as you can see from the process required to make it). It was first created in the 1990's.
I think that the packaging of some agave nectars is misleading. People think that they are using a natural or organic product that is good for their gliders, or at least better than honey. But it is not. It is possibly worse for the body. There are talks among nutritionists and health professionals that might place agave nectar on the list ABOVE aspertame as the worst sweeteners available. That is saying a lot, as we all know how bad aspertame is for you.
Here is one list where agave nectar makes a showing at #2 on the worst list.
http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/5-best-and-5-worst-sweeteners-have-your-kitchenOf course, the use of agave in your diet or as a treat is your choice to make. I can't say that I feed ONLY healthy thigs here - there have been plenty of posts about how terrible yoggies are, yet I feed them often to my babies. So, I am not judging here. Just saying that if you are going to use it, please do so with information on your side.
Other sources of info for your studies (good and bad):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/agave-this-sweetener-is-f_b_537936.htmlhttp://www.vitallivingcentral.com/is-agave-nectar-good-or-bad/http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondgorgeous/2012/03/agave-nectar-healthy-option-or-another-poison.htmlhttp://alteredplates.blogspot.kr/2008/12/madhavas-craig-gerbore-responds-to.htmlhttp://www.allaboutagave.com/