I have never used agave syrup and someone asked me what my thoughts are on the product. Let me share what I have found out. You've seen agave syrup in your grocery store or in products sweetened with it's nectar. It's about 1.5 times sweeter than sugar and comes from the same plant that is used to make tequila.

Is it better than sugar, honey, or maple syrup? Are there benefits to using it if you are losing weight or have diabetes?

The answer may be more about your personal taste than about health. If you were hoping that you could use as much agave as you like, that's unfortunately not the case.

What Is Agave?
The agave plant grows in the southwestern U.S. and through the northern part of South America. Most agave sweeteners come from the blue agave plant.  It's not the raw nectar, it's highly processed before you can add it to your tea, top your pancakes with it, or get it in an energy drink, bar, or other product.

Agave syrup, is considered a low-glycemic, product and may not have a lot of glucose, but it's has a high percent of fructose and in some cases  even higher than  high-fructose corn syrup. It's one and a half times sweeter than sugar so you should theoretically use less of it, you still need to be careful. Too much means too many calories and too much fructose and all the health risks associated with that....Read More

The American Heart Association recommends limiting sweeteners to no more than 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men per day, on average. That includes all sources, whether it's agave, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or anything else.

Health Impact
Due to its high fructose levels, agave syrup has the potential to lead to insulin resistance and significantly increased triglyceride levels (a risk factor for heart disease).

Sources:
wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_nectar
http://www.webmd.com

Lately all you hear about is how bad high-fructose corn syrup is. That got me to thinking, what is the difference between corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup or (HFCS).

Both are sugars, and we all know sugar is not the best for your health. Plain corn syrup is simply glucose, the most basic sugar molecule.  HFCS is 45% glucose and 55% fructose. The exact percentage of fructose can vary depending on the product it is used in.

The negative health consequences can be seen in the different ways that fructose and glucose are metabolized in your body. Fructose is absorbed in your small intestine and sent off to your liver for processing before it hits your bloodstream. If there is too much fructose for your liver to handle, it will be converted it into fat.  "Studies in animals show that fructose intake in particular can alter your ability to control appetite, reduce your ability to burn fat, and induce features of metabolic syndrome. This includes raising blood pressure, increasing fat, and causing fatty liver and insulin resistance," says Richard Johnson, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver and author of The Fat Switch.

In comparison, corn syrup which is glucose is dumped directly into your bloodstream, ready for your tissues to soak it up and use as energy. This is why HFCS gets a lot more bad press than corn syrup.
 
Lets face it sugar is bad for you in any form, and we consume more than we should. The recommended amount for women is no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar each day and for men is 9 teaspoons. This is according to the American Heart Association.

To put this in perspective, a 20 oz. sugar sweetened beverage, (soda, sports drink or juice) usually contains 15 to 17 teaspoons of sugar. The average American takes in more than 22 teaspoons (352 + calories) of added sugar daily.

If weight loss is one of your goals the best place to start is reducing your sugar consumption. Sugar is one of the few foods that is actually addicting, so reducing it in your diet can be a challenge.

Sources:
Shape Magazine,
Ask the Doctor Corn Syrup Confusion, by Dr. Mike Roussell
Everything you Need to Know About Sugar, by Lindsey Emery

Jaggery or Gur is a traditional sweetener in India made by evaporating raw sugarcane juice without separating the molasses from the crystals. Jaggery is essentially unrefined sugar which is obtained from raw, concentrated sugar cane juice. It's prepared by boiling sugar cane juice till it solidifies and then put into blocks. Although it can be made from other sources like the date palm and the sap of coconuts, sugar cane juice is the most commonly used.

It is known as "panela" in South America & Mexico, "gur" in India, and is softer than refined sugar, varying in color from yellow to dark brown. Refined sugar loses much of its nutritional content during production, jaggery contains trace minerals and vitamins, making it a truly healthier alternative sweetener.

According to Naini Setalvad, a renowned nutritionist and obesity consultant, Jaggery is the closest substitute to white sugar and is healthy too. It can be used exactly like sugar as you get in powder, solid and liquid form.’ Not only isgur better than white sugar which only adds empty calories to your body, it also has a few health benefits. Here’s why it is good for your health.

Health Benefits
#1 Prevents constipation
Jaggery helps prevent and relieve constipation by stimulating bowel movements. It activates the digestive enzymes in our body and thus helps in

#2 Is good for anemics
Gur or Jaggery is also an excellent source of iron, a mineral that plays a key role in the production of haemoglobin.

#3 Cleanses the liver
Eat a small piece of jaggery. It helps detoxify your liver by flushing out harmful toxins from your body. Read about

#5 Reduces PMS
Eat a small piece of jaggery daily to combat these symptoms of PMS. Caused due to fluctuating levels of hormones in your body, jaggery causes the release of endorphins aka happy hormones. This in turn relaxes your body and makes you feel good thereby preventing from premenstrual syndrome.
#6 Increases immunity
Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radical damage and also boost resistance against infections.

A word of caution!
There are no side effects but it is high in calories. Hence, people who are on a weight loss diet or are diabetic should monitor their consumption as it can lead to weight gain and fluctuations in the blood sugar levels.


Differences between organic jaggery and refined sugar:

• Refined sugar is processed using chemicals to clarify the cane sugar juice syrup, whereas organic jaggery is produced by simply boiling this syrup without the use of harsh chemicals.
• Refined sugar is solid and crystalline, whereas organic jaggery is soft and is pressed into blocks.

Sources:
wikipedia
7 health benefits of jaggery or gur you didn’t know about!
Kriti Saraswit Apr. 20, 2015
Organic Facts.net