Agave, Coconut Water & Blowing Smoke

Agave syrup

& 

Coconut Water

(this years rave)

(and what you didn't know was in the fine print)

.....................

Agave syrup is better than sugar

Try using agave instead of sugar

Agave is natural

Agave is not processed

Agave here, agave there

__

Coconut water has all those nutrients

Coconut water has potassium/magnesium

Coconut water filled with electrolytes

Coconut water better than normal water

Drink Coconut water

__

Have you heard these before?

I sure did, it was not until

I stumbled upon a few articles

on these products that I then

realized that not all of them were

really what they said they were.

Scary.

Some Truth:

Agave: 

most commercially available agave is converted into fructose-rich syrup using genetically modified enzymes and a chemically intensive process involving caustic acids, clarifiers, and filtration chemicals. Here is a partial list of the chemicals many producers use:

• Activated charcoal
• Cationic and ionic resins
• Sulfuric and/or hydrofluoric acid
• Dicalite
• Clarimex
• Inulin enzymes

Agave’s fructose content can range from 55% up to 90%, depending on the processing method used. Agave nectar with 55% fructose is about the same as high fructose corn syrup so there would be no benefit in agave at 55% fructose over sugar.

Coconut water:

Most brands contain either pasteurized or micro filtered coconut water. Pasteurized coconut water is heated, which causes changes in taste and bioactivity, while micro filtered water although not heated, also lacks in original taste and sometimes contains added flavoring to compensate.

The other two major brands(coconut water) tested had only 18 and 59 percent the "promised" levels of sodium. Sodium -- a common electrolyte -- is a key feature in sports drinks, as it can be lost through sweat.

_______________________

After reading these facts

I then realized that we cannot take info

at face value.

I started to search for products

that did not process the Agave nectar

in facilities with the chemicals

and I looked for a coconut water

that was "raw" and not heated.

_________________

What I found to be.....

☑ The best Agave: Madhave Agave in light

or raw 

(http://www.madhavasweeteners.com/organic-agave-nectar/organic-agave-nectar/)

☑ The best Coconut water: Harmless Harvest

(http://www.harmlesscoconut.com/Harmless_Coconut/factsclarity.html)

I hope this was help to someone

because I know this info was for me.

My sources:

http://www.crossfitinvictus.com/coaches/a-closer-look-at-agave-nectar/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/coconut-water-not-the-mag_n_918135.html?ir=Food

http://cgsfoods.com/site/?p=116

http://www.ecokaren.com/2010/05/agave-is-no-better-than-sugar/