How much agave for 1 cup of sugar

But since agave is 1. The best conversion, of course, would be to have a book of favorite recipes converted and tested with agave. Those that exist have as many critics as fans. Find more information at AllAboutAgave. Agave syrup is made from the sap of several different succulents grown commercially in Mexico.

One, the blue agave, is also used to make tequila. Experiment a little at a time because the substitution changes the baking chemistry. There's more moisture in brown sugar and recipes are adjusted accordingly.

Nutritionist and cookbook author Robin Miller tackles your food and dining dilemmas. Find her at robinmillercooks. E-mail your questions to robinsrescue azcentral. Facebook Twitter Email. Robin's Rescue: How to use agave nectar in food, drinks. Robin Miller Special for the Republic. Share your feedback to help improve our site! Now commonly used as an alternative to sugar, honey or maple syrup, agave is a popular replacement for table sugar.

Its taste resembles molasses and, as a rule, the darker the colour, the richer the taste. Agave syrup is about one-and-a-half times sweeter than sugar, which means you can achieve the same sweetness by using less.

It works well in chewy bakes like flapjacks, as well as sticky cakes and muffins. For more tips on baking with alternative sweeteners, see our sugar-free baking guide. It therefore does not have a special nutritional profile and only contains small amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Agave contains less glucose and so has a lower glycemic index GI value than table sugar. This means the body absorbs agave more slowly into the bloodstream and as a result does not cause such a rapid spike in insulin. However, agave contains significantly more fructose than sucrose table sugar. Although this gives it its sweet taste, fructose is metabolised differently from glucose.

Whereas glucose is converted into energy by the mitochondria of all cells, fructose is primarily metabolised by the liver. Consuming excessive fructose is thought to put pressure on the liver and may have undesirable effects on the body.

Because fructose is considered to be one of the most damaging forms of sugar, always use agave in small quantities and buy organic, raw agave rather than the cheaper, highly processed version.

Some people also have trouble absorbing fructose and may experience unpleasant side effects such as bloating or abdominal discomfort in sensitive individuals, particularly those with irritable bowel syndrome.

The jury is out on whether agave is actually better for you than table sugar. It will have less of an immediate impact on your blood sugar levels due to its low GI score but the high fructose content may make it more difficult for your body to process.