Post Punk Kitchen Forum

http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/aga ... ad-for-you

Anyone read this? My partner and I gave up all HFCS products this year because it's so processed and high in fructose, but we've still been consuming agave. Guess we'll be putting an end to that.

Thank goodness for Florida Crystals and Maple Syrup, right? I mean, for when you must use any sweetener besides good ol' fashioned fruit.

I don't think agave's good for you but that web site and the "glycemic institute" that they use as a source just reek of bullshiitake.

Is there really such a huge difference between granulated sugar, maple syrup, and Florida crystals (Which are made from sugar cane)?

No there is not. Granulated sugar (florida crystals or not) has about as much fructose as high fructose corn syrup. Sugar isn't a health food. Enjoy it in moderation (whatever that means in your diet) and don't try to pretend it's any healthier than it is.

yeah, that's pretty much what I've learned about sugar in general. I don't have much of sweet tooth but for a while I got sucked into the agave hype, but once I started looking into it more, I realized that all natural sweeteners are really all about the same (some might have more nutrients, but if you're not eating a ton of them anyway it doesn't matter much). Just enjoy in moderation and you'll be all good.

Here is a better reference-- but is says in big words what everyone above just said.

http://jacknorrisrd.com/?page_id=904

2 TBLS a day, Oh goody!....... not much

I like the title of this thread, it's pretty emo.

i'm really not buying the whole fructose is evil-thing.

yes, sugars are "empty calories" - which just means they are a source of simple carbohydrates, and doesn't supply any vitamins and minerals to your diet.
if you are getting a varied diet, with lots of nutrients, then sugar is not too bad. it's high in calories, so avoid eating a shiitake ton of it, if you don't want to gain weight.
but sugar is not evil, it's not even unhealthy (as opposed to some chemical sweeteners). it's just a source of loads of simple carbohydrates without healthy fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. carbohydrates are good for us. just avoid getting more than 10% of your daily energy intake from refined sugars, because you need fibers, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals as well.

(i've studied A LOT on the subject, because i have a tendency to fall into the evil-food traps, but even after spending a lot of time in biology class, it seems like there really is no evidence that sugar is anything but a simple carb.)

I agree, there's nothing wrong with fructose unless you have high triglycerides or other heart disease risk factors. I also agree that there's nothing wrong with some sugar in your diet so long as it's moderation. And moderation will mean something different for different people.

I just think it's silly to pretend that any kind of sugar is a health food. Except maybe blackstrap molasses, but no one's putting blackstrap in their coffee or cupcakes. Sugar is tasty, and it's OK to eat foods just because they taste good and we enjoy them.

Huh, in the comments, the author advocates a diet with no sugar, but as much fatty meat, lard, butter, and seafood as you like (in addition to vegetables and some other things) as a method for reversing diabetes. This makes me trust her less. I don't know much about agave, though, but have never been fooled into thinking it is some magical sugar-like nonsugar.

you should try it, it is awesome!!

(i put it on everything. try it on your cornbread..... droooooooool)

I have tried it! I'm still shuddering.

Blackstrap is also gross in tea. And oatmeal. And pretty much everything else, except gingerbread. I tried to put it on everything for a while because of the iron content, but I couldn't find a way to eat it that was actually good.

I put blackstrap molasses in my burrito filling-- just about 1/4 cup to a pound of fake chicken strips in taco spices and it zings it up real good. And sometimes I use rum instead.

I eat molasses by the teaspoonful. I freaking love it, but I also really like that super-ammonia-y licorice.

hi-5 sistah!

i looooove it in coffee! tea would be an abomination, but coffee is great. (then again i am the dope who put salt in my coffee once because Somerset Maugham told me to)

I had to resort to mixing a spoonful into a mug of hot water and just chugging it really fast. If I stopped too long to think about it, it made me all gaggy. Bleh. I wish I liked it!

I used to have a spoonful of blackstrap in a mug of hot soya milk! That was a nice wind-down-for-bed type of beverage.
But it's good in oatmeal with banana and peanut butter.
Theres a recipe on vegweb for it, I went crazy over it last year.

Huh, I actually like it in oatmeal, as long as there are some spices in there too (normally mixed spice or cinnamon), and a dash of apple juice. Good warming winter breakfast.

FIFY

I fail to see how anything that (a) is delicious and (b) doesn't hurt animals can possibly be evil :)

That's not so much "instead" as "too."