- I was wondering whether agave is really better for you or a more green option than sugar? – Liz L.

Ah, the debate over agave. Here is the one thing about agave that is a fact: it is a low-glycemic sweetener. This means it won’t cause your blood sugar to spike, so it won’t cause you to crash a short time after you consume it. (For the vegans out there, it is also completely vegan, while some processed sugars contain animal byproducts.) Other than that, when it comes to sweeteners, sugar is sugar is sugar. Aside from the minerals in maple syrup and healthy properties of honey, there is no real benefit to ever consuming any added sugar. We get plenty of sugar from the food we are already consuming, such as fruit, grains, milk, and other carbohydrates, so it is only a matter of there being better and worse choices of sweeteners. But only the most hardcore of us can really avoid them completely (I mean, are there really people who don’t eat any chocolate by choice?), so you should just opt for the more natural options. I consider agave to be one of them. Make sure to look for an organic, raw version. As for it being more “green”, I’d actually maybe say it’s somewhere in the middle, as it’s imported (whereas cane sugar is usually domestic), but it has yet to succumb to the Monsanto-type warping that has created high fructose corn syrup.

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Meet our Nutritionist: After years of struggling with food and fitness, Adina Grigore finally decided to study holistic health, nutrition, and personal training. Since she knows how very confusing it all is, she now works with her clients to help them make small steps to take better care of themselves. She is also founder of sproutarevolution.com, a wellness company and completely all-natural and handmade skincare line. Follow her on Twitter @SproutWellness and connect on Facebook.

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