Scary Sweets

Many people think that a diet focused on boosting brain health can’t include the occasional treat or sweet. That’s simply not true. There are plenty of sweets out there that you can eat that won’t have an adverse effect on your health. For instance, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a few pieces of dark chocolate (greater than 70% cacao) every now and then. I know some folks sprinkle Stevia on berries and serve that as a dessert (though I find berries plenty sweet enough on their own). However, there is one sweetener that is plenty popular that you should probably try to avoid: agave nectar.

Agave nectar has become increasingly popular over the past few years as an alternative sweetener for those looking to eliminate sugar from their diet. What’s the problem with agave? Well, for starters, the refined fructose in agave nectar is significantly more concentrated than that in the now widely-demonized high-fructose corn syrup. This fructose-heavy sweetener shares even more in common with HFCS, in that the two are made using the same process, which is highly dependent upon chemicals.

I encourage you to read the article from which I’m drawing this information, and to reach your own conclusions. Again, if you’re looking for a sweetener, I’d encourage you to avoid agave. Stick to Stevia instead.