The real story here is about fructose.

And Agave is really high in fructose.

Equal to or greater than high fructose corn syrup.

And just how is fructose metabolized by the body?

Check out the video for the answer, it will surprise you. There is a list of issues related to excess fructose. The liver is where fructose is metabolized.

This video gives a great overview of agave nectar and why it may not be a good alternative to other sweeteners.

Stevia is my favorite alternative sweetener. I just planted a couple stevia plants in my garden. A few leaves on my salad and it really gives it a flavor boost.

My father recently died from complications of diabetes. Diabetes runs in my family, so I have to pay attention to anything sweet. Agave is obviously not a good choice for me. – Jeff Yentzer.

Sure fructose occurs naturally in fruit.  But as you will see from the video, it is the cumulative daily total intake of  fructose that becomes a problem. So even though agave may be natural, pay attention to the fructose quantity.

My personal tip: Get good nourishment. This helps to ward off cravings. We all know that we are supposed to be eating more fruits and vegetables. But what if you are in a time crunch? That's where powdered greens come in. Mix one small scoop in water (purified), shake and go. There are many good greens products on the market. My current favorite is Core Greens, by Synergy. It has the best formulation of ingredients I have seen so far. (An yes, I do make a commission from the sale of this product, and you can too. Full disclosure is always a good policy.)

Would love to hear your opinion on healthy sweeteners, please use the comment box below.