Nutritional Information Of Agave Nectar

Agave nectar is a naturally sweet syrup somewhat similar to honey. It comes from the agave cactus that grows in Mexico, and it is becoming increasingly popular because it spikes blood sugar levels slower than other types of sugar. Many people are starting to use agave nectar instead of table sugar, honey or artificial sweeteners.

Calories

According to the nutritional database The Daily Plate, a serving of agave nectar, which is one tablespoon, has 60 calories. This amount of calories is comparable to honey yet greater than artificial sweeteners, which have anywhere from 0 to 5 calories per serving. The calories in agave nectar can add up if you use too much of it, but a tablespoon is plenty to sweeten a cup of tea or a cup of plain yogurt.

Carbohydrates

A serving of agave nectar has 16 g of carbohydrates, according to The Daily Plate. Carbohydrates are the primary source for fuel for the body and are used for a variety of other important functions. The health website VegFamily.com states that while the carbohydrates in some sweeteners come from unnatural fillers and stabilizers, the carbohydrates in agave nectar come directly from agave juice.

Protein and Fat

Agave nectar naturally contains no protein or fat. Protein and fat are both essential parts of the diet, yet it is easy to get them in other foods such as meats, beans, tofu and nuts.

Sugars

Agave nectar has 15 g of sugars per tablespoon, according to The Daily Plate. Naturalist physician Dr. Andrew Weil states on his website that even though table sugar, fructose and honey have around the same amount of sugars per tablespoon, the difference with agave nectar is the glycemic load. He explains that the glycemic index is a way of rating how quickly a food is digested and turns into sugar in the body when consumed. Foods with high glycemic loads turn into sugar quickly and spike blood sugar levels. Foods with low glycemic loads raise blood sugar levels much slower, which is safer for diabetics. Weil states that the sugars in agave nectar are digested slower than those in other types of sweeteners.

Steroids

Weil states on his website that there are other important compounds in agave nectar. He explains that some species of the agave plant have been identified to contain steroids such as anordin and dinordin, which can cause contraceptive side effects and lead to miscarriages in pregnant women. It is important to look at the label of any agave nectar product before purchasing it to make sure it does not contain these steroids.