Agave syrup, sometimes referred to as agave nectar or raw blue agave syrup, is a sweetener categorized as being natural made from a cactus plant that originates from Mexico. Agave is often marketed as a healthier sweetener alternative. However, like most sweeteners, agave syrup contains sugar and should only be consumed in moderation.
Carbohydrate Content
A tbsp. of agave syrup contains 60 calories and 16g of carbohydrates, while 1 tsp. of agave syrup contains 20 calories and approximately 5g of carbohydrates. The total carbohydrate content of agave syrup is very similar to what is found in other type of caloric sweeteners, such as granulated sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey or high-fructose corn syrup. Carbohydrates is the nutrient that contributes to raising your blood sugar levels the most after eating and all the carbohydrates in agave syrup are found as sugar.
High Fructose Content
What differentiates agave syrup from other sweeteners is its high proportion of fructose, which correspond to 70 to 90 percent of the carbohydrates found in agave syrup. The remaining 10 to 30 percent of the sugar is found as glucose. By contrast, fructose constitutes 50 percent of the sugar in white and brown sugar and 55 percent of the sugar in high-fructose corn syrup.
Sweetening Power
One of the particularity of the sugar in agave syrup is that its high fructose enhances its sweetening power, which means that teaspoon for teaspoon, agave syrup is sweeter than regular sugar. Agave syrup is estimated to be 25 to 40 percent sweeter than regular sugar. The higher sweetening power of agave syrup can help you use less of it and can actually result in a decrease in your carbohydrate and sugar intake if you use it sparingly.
Glycemic Index
The high proportion of fructose in agave syrup gives it a low glycemic index. The glycemic index allows to classify carbohydrate-rich foods according to their blood sugar raising potential. A high glycemic index leads to high blood sugar levels, while a low glycemic index helps you maintain your blood sugar levels more stable after eating. Table sugar has a glycemic index of 60, which is considered medium. However, agave syrup has a very low glycemic index value ranging between 10 and 19.
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