These natural sweeteners are considered less processed, however, these natural sweeteners still add a significant amount of calories to a recipe,” Certified Health Coach Shellie Wingate told SheFinds. “Additionally, eating foods that contain a lot of sweetener in the morning can cause a sugar crash which may lead to cravings and feeling lethargic.
Natural sweeteners have become more popular as people are realizing just how bad sugar actually is. Sugar contributes to weight gain, as well as inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and several other healthy conditions.
Eating more than the daily recommended sugar intake, which is about six teaspoons, can be harmful to your health. So it only makes sense that people are interested in finding a healthier alternative. However, that alternative should not be agave nectar.
Nutrition Researcher and Nutritionist Hiba Batool of Marham.pk told us, “[Agave nectar] is made from the same plant used to make tequila. This sweetener is highly processed and contains 1.5 times more calories than white sugar.
"Also, this sweetener is 90% fructose and only 10% glucose. So, if you are looking for weight loss or any other nutritional goal, this sweetener should not be in your grocery cart.”
If you are looking for a better sweetener to buy, try using honey or maple syrup. Both are excellent options for sweetening hot drinks or oatmeal, and you don’t typically need to use too much to get a lot of flavor.
Many people also like using stevia as a sweetener, as it is naturally low in both calories and carbs.