Why No Insulin Rush From Agave Nectar?

"Insulin resistance" has almost become a catch phrase in American culture. The increased prevalence of obesity in the U.S. has been accompanied by a higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, conditions that are characterized by higher-than-normal blood insulin levels and insulin resistance. In an effort to avoid the consequences of high insulin levels, you may have decided to replace sugar and other sweeteners with agave nectar, which has a reputation for not producing an insulin "rush" after you eat it.

Carbohydrate Digestion

Carbohydrates represent the major source of dietary energy for most people. These compounds, which include sugars, starches, pectins, gums, glucomannans, xylans and beta-glucans, are all broken down in your intestine to simple sugars called monosaccharides before they are absorbed into your bloodstream. Elson M. Haas, M.D., author of "Staying Healthy with Nutrition," notes that glucose, galactose and fructose are the primary monosaccharides derived from the foods you eat. Fructose, the primary monosaccharide in agave nectar, does not trigger an insulin surge after you eat it.

Pancreatic Receptors

Your pancreas releases insulin into your circulation whenever glucose-specific receptors on your pancreatic beta cells are stimulated. If you eat carbohydrates, your insulin level rises in response to increasing blood glucose levels. Furthermore, the more readily a glucose-containing carbohydrate is digested and absorbed, the faster and higher your insulin level rises. Unlike glucose, the fructose in agave nectar does not prompt a rise in your blood insulin level. According to an April 2004 review in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," your pancreatic beta cells do not possess receptors for fructose, so fructose does not trigger insulin release.

Glycemic Index

In an effort to help diabetics and other insulin-resistant individuals make dietary choices that prevent insulin surges and improve insulin sensitivity, scientists developed the glycemic index, a carbohydrate-ranking system that classifies various foods according to how quickly they increase your blood glucose level. Glucose, the reference food, is assigned a glycemic index value of 100. Since agave nectar is primarily composed of fructose, its glycemic index ranges from 11 to 19, depending on how much fructose a particular brand contains.

Considerations

On the basis of its lower glycemic index, agave nectar is promoted as a healthy alternative to sugar, honey and other caloric sweeteners. However, fructose, the main constituent of agave nectar, may carry its own adverse health effects. For example, scientists at Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center report that fructose is more readily converted in your liver to inflammatory triglycerides, and -- since fructose does not "switch off" your appetite like glucose does -- consumption of fructose-rich foods can contribute to higher caloric intake and obesity in the long run. Therefore, moderating your intake of all caloric sweeteners is probably your healthiest alternative.