Sweet Stress
Thank goodness that it’s Friday because I am feeling really stressed today. I realize that I juggle a lot (CNC, NuVal, Health, OpenSky, Gordon’s, writing a book), so stress is expected in my life, but today it’s totally overwhelming me. 
I know that I am very fortunate to have all of these wonderful opportunities– I just needed to vent for a minute, ya know? As my husband always says: “It will all work out.”
Snack
When I arrived at NuVal, I immediately made myself a hot cup of Rooibos tea with a squirt of agave nectar. It warmed me right up. The weather is in the 40′s today, but I was still really cold this morning.
Lunch
For lunch, I dug into a homemade salad.
In the mix:
- Romaine hearts
- Spinach
- Grape tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Crumbled blue cheese
I also had a Siggi’s Orange & Ginger yogurt, which was absolutely divine. It was such a treat! 
A little while later, I made a “mocha” by mixing a packet of sugar-free hot cocoa with some coffee. It was just okay, so I only drank about half of it.
When I got home from work, I made myself a whole wheat Sandwich Thin with peanut butter and banana slices.
I was so hungry. It definitely hit the spot!
Agave Nectar
I’ve received quite a few questions about agave nectar. Like many of you, I’ve read some negative articles floating around the internet about agave nectar and the health benefits associated with it. I’m not really sure what to think about these statements. But, from talking with my Registered Dietitian friend about agave nectar, HFCS, table sugar, etc., we basically came to the conclusion that sugar is sugar. I’m not a RD, so I really shouldn’t comment on the health benefits/risks related to agave nectar and sugar, but in case you have any questions, here’s some info that might help you make your own decision:
- The Truth About Agave: Great Alternative to Sugar, Honey and other Natural Sweeteners
- How Is Agave Processed
- The Truth About Agave Syrup: Not As Healthy As You May Think
- Not All Agaves Are Created Equal
- Sugar Solutions
What do you think about agave nectar and its claims?
P.S. Can someone please come take these cashews away from me!?! I’ve eaten like 50 of them while writing this blog post!
Tags: agave nectar
Kelly — February 19, 2010 @ 3:57 pm
I use agave nectar in coffee and tea, on top of Greek Style yogurt and in my morning smoothies. I never use that much at one time but I use it every day multiple times a day.
Kelly @ Healthy Passion — February 19, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
I like the way agave nectar tastes but I totally agree with your friend, sugar is sugar is sugar. Everything in moderation.
Sam (Healthy Lunch Ideas) — February 19, 2010 @ 4:04 pm
While I agree in some respects to sugar is sugar (a calorie is a calorie), there are a few differences – Agave does not raise blood sugar levels in the same way that other sugars do, thus making it a particularly useful sweetener for diabetics.)
That said, my main concern from both an environmental and health standpoint is the level of processing that many sugar products and sweeteners alike go through. Just because agave isn’t hfcs, it still can go through a heavy refining process that strips nutrients and adds chemical additives. Choosing minimally processed agave is the way to go.
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers — February 19, 2010 @ 4:07 pm
oh lord i know the feeling w/ those cashews! i’m that way with any and every nut… and nut butter. peanut butter – oooooh man!!!
Traci — February 19, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
I agree with Sam in that it all depends on the level of processing. I have never head anything negative about Agave and, being an dietician myself, I do not believe that sugar is sugar and think hfcs and refined sugar are pure evil for many reasons and should be avoided at all costs. I am intruiged now to look up the negative articles about agave!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — February 19, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
Rooibos tea is the best! I always add a HUGE splsh of mil to mine — my current favorite is the vanilla rooibos at Starbucks — have you tried it? It is such a wonderful treat with a bit of skim milk and agave.
Thanks for the info on agave! I occasionaly use it when baking, but not much other than that — i take the approach that anything is fine in moderation (agave included! – a sugar, is a sugar and just because it’s healthIER, doesn’t mean it’s HEALTHY.
Megan @ Healthy Hoggin — February 19, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
I agree, sugar is sugar. I use agave very rarely, and when I do buy it, I try to get the “raw” kind, so that it’s minimally processed. I think it’s fine to use in moderation, but I actually prefer using liquid stevia to sweeten things, since it’s a natural, no-calorie sweetener.
Jen — February 19, 2010 @ 4:13 pm
I completely agree – sugar is sugar. Agave has been so hyped up in the “health world”, but really, it’s just sugar!! I also wrote a post about agave this morning, check it out! http://healthylaps.com/2010/02/19/agave-good-or-bad/
Danielle (Coffee Run) — February 19, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
I also agree, sugar is sugar. I’m kind of disappointed to find out that it’s not a *miracle* food like I thought it was
I’m still going to use it though- everything in moderation!
Julia — February 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
nuts. once to start you can’t stop. Fact of life
I’ve never had agave. I just use sugar or honey when I need it. Actually I’ve hardly ever needed it; I don’t even own any “sugar” ingredient. I suppose if I baked or drank coffee then it would be different.
I think sugar is sugar. Everything in moderation
Lauren @ Eater not a runner — February 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
I’ve been reading a lot about agave as well. I think everything in moderation is probably the right way to look at sweeteners in general!
Ashley @ Good Taste. Healthy Me — February 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
Darn I actually was mighty dissapointed when reading this post. I thought for sure I found a healthier sweetener…but now I’m not so sure…it doesn’t appear to be any better.
Traci — February 19, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
Ok. Wow. . .where have I been? I can’t believe the negative articles out there about agave. I have always valued it as a low glycemic index sweetener and have been recommending it to many as a natural alternative to sugar. Yikes. . I’ll be researching more tonght that’s for sure!
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self — February 19, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
I’m not an expert, but I agree with what others have said – sugar in any form should be consumed in moderation, and we should try to choose types that are as natural and as minimally processed as possible. Also, I’ve heard that because agave is sweeter than refined white sugar, we use less of it…so that’s a plus!
Angela (The Lady Loves to Eat) — February 19, 2010 @ 4:22 pm
I don’t really use agave so I can’t really comment on but everything in moderation is always the best. I have been seeing that siggi’s yogurt a lot I want to try it!
Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place — February 19, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
you have a lot going on, I don’t know how you do it! I always try to take a couple hours for myself every day and that really helps my stress levels.
I’ve never tried agave nectar. I’m fine with my honey, table sugar, and maple syrup!
Nicole — February 19, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
Don’t worry, Tina! We all get that stressed out feeling. You are only human. And like Mal said, “It will all work out.”
That’s so funny about the “mocha”. I tried that at work once and I thought it was going to be this awesome hot drink and it only turned out to be ‘meh’. Oh well! I guess you gotta go all coffee or all hot cocoa, huh?
I like to bake with agave and squirt it on my food every now and again. However, I try not to add too much ‘extra’ sweetness to any of my foods. I’ve gotten used to drinking my coffee black now…wow, and I used to use so much regular milk and sugar…eek!
Morgan @ Life After Bagels — February 19, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
it’s okay to vent! Even though my job is totally awesome, it still stresses me out sometimes. I think it’s our generation (well that’s what my dad always tells me) that we take on SO MUCH STUFF to do in our lives.
Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ — February 19, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
You should try Tazo’s vanilla roobis tea, it’s so good
Jen @ VegetarianInTraining — February 19, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Feel free to send the cashews my way. I have a serious cashew addiction. YUM!
Chelsea — February 19, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
What are you juggling at Gordon’s?
Jaclyn — February 19, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
Oh goodness, cashews. I’ve been there before (yesterday), eating them out of the bag always results in eating more than planned! I’ve learned to just accept it. I guess I could just take the amount I want out of the bag and put them away before starting to snack but that rarely happens!! On the topic of agave though, I agree with most people here, moderation. Just because it’s a natural sweetener doesn’t mean that it’s healthy to use it in large amounts. You said it right, sugar is sugar!
Lindsay — February 19, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
I just blogged about sugars. I agree with some of the above…moderation! Think of sugar like salt- use to taste however with caution in day-to-day meals/drinks/snacks etc.
Heather (Heather's Dish) — February 19, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
I’m not sure what I think about the agave nectar, but i figure that it’s probably OK in moderation!
I’m glad that you took some time to vent…it’s nice to know you’re human
(i mean that in a good way). Mal’s right, everything will work out, and it’s all going to be great! in the meantime, i’m glad you shared 
Jen — February 19, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
I am glad you put this out there, a lot of people think agave is a magic bullet but it’s not. A sugar is a sugar is a sugar. Also, different brands of agave are all different levels of refined depending on the process so one may be higher on the GI scale than another. I do not agree with Sam, I don’t think it’s any safer for diabetics than regular sugar.
Kelli — February 19, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
Cashews are one of my weaknesses, too! (Darn you CVS and your 2-for-1 sales) I definitely think that agave nectar is a mixed bag. As far as sugar alternatives go I definitely think it’s one of the better ones (but I have no blood sugar problems, so I’m not sure how it negatively or positively affects people who do). Luckily I’m a college student and I’m not a coffee drinker, so added sugar is something I rarely have to think about.
Marisa (Loser for Life) — February 19, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
LOL! Cashews are so good! Hard to eat just a few!
Glad you vented, T! Sometimes that’s all it takes to make you feel better. Hang in there!
Sami — February 19, 2010 @ 5:05 pm
Awh, darlin’…. don’t stress! You’re doing an awesome job…and quite inspiring, too! Hope everything calms down a bit for you soon!
Nutritious Foodie — February 19, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
My thing is… if there are articles out there saying that its not healthy why bother eat it. I stick to my brown sugar or honey and don’t even want to bother with Agave and HFCS..
Sarah R — February 19, 2010 @ 5:26 pm
I can’t imagine doing all that you do. You’ve essentially got 4+ jobs! Crazy lady, I don’t know how you end up fitting it all in, but you do and for that I am envious. As far as agave goes, I’m with those that say sugar is sugar and everything in moderation.
elle p. — February 19, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
If it were b/w honey and agave, I’d choose honey for flavor and b/c it’s processed less.
Kelly — February 19, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
I was recently in a store and saw a few different types of Agave and I almost bought some, but then I realized I didn’t actually know how to use it. But I would probably use it if I knew how, I mean I still drink diet soda soooo
Heather @ Side of Sneakers — February 19, 2010 @ 5:41 pm
Let the stress melt away in the fact that it’s friday
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com — February 19, 2010 @ 5:51 pm
Oh gosh, I never realised there was such a problem with it! I have about a tsp or so a day with some greek yogurt or something…but I think I might follow up on those links you posted and do some research on it :s Health is important!!
Caitlin @ Right Foot Forward — February 19, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
I think everyone feels overwhelmed once in awhile. It helps to keep everything in perspective, and Mal’s right! Things always find a way of working out. Just think about why you are juggling so many different endeavors, and I’m sure you’ll remember why each one is important to you.
At least it is cookie friday!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing — February 19, 2010 @ 5:57 pm
I agree with others, everything in moderation. That goes for granulated sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, etc.
Ann @ Turbo Teacher — February 19, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
Guys are so much more relaxed than we are! I will be stressed out to the point of tears and Ben says, “It will all work out!” ~ But he is always right
Take one thing at a time!!
Kathleen — February 19, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
I actually disagree that sugar is sugar. I have hypoglycemia and agave nectar is a god-send for me. I get very jittery, lethargic, headaches, etc. when I have sugar and agave nectar gives me no such effects. I have figured out my body to the extent that if I am going to have refined sugar, I need to have a small amount and pair it with protein or my body is all out of whack. I am thankful that agave nectar exists because boy do I have a sweet tooth. Now I don’t think it is a health food or anything but for people with low blood sugar, it is wonderful.
Kathleen — February 19, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Also, I too have read these supposed studies and recall that it seems that they are sponsored by organizations having an interest in HFCS and the sugar industry. I go by how I feel and have no scientific opinion but I would take thosse articles with a bit of a grain of salt….Specifically I read these posts from a blog I go to and read other articles. It was a while ago but I determined I would keep using agave nectar.
http://alteredplates.blogspot.com/2009/05/agave-nectar-police.html
http://alteredplates.blogspot.com/2008/12/madhavas-craig-gerbore-responds-to.html
Tara — February 19, 2010 @ 6:30 pm
Thanks so much for posting those articles. Very interesting
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) — February 19, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
Sweeteners, in general, are a touchy subject. I am not sure there is a right or wrong answer out there. Some people can’t have sugar for health reasons and they need to find alternatives that are right for them. Everything in moderation…right? As for being stressed…I am sorry. Hopefully things will work out soon! I hope you have a relaxing weekend.
adrienmelaine — February 19, 2010 @ 6:39 pm
salted cashews are so good with chocolate ice cream- incase you need something to add to it!
I love agave- I’m into anything that’s not white processed sugar- well, I’m into white processed sugar too, but I wish I wasnt!
Cynthia (It All Changes) — February 19, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
I hear ya on the stress. Somedays I just want to bury under the blankets. But keep moving forward and it will be okay.
christie @ honoring health — February 19, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
I agree that sugar is sugar is sugar but I give mad props to agave for not raising blood sugar. I don’t eat any sugar at the moment but once I am able to have a little sugar again, I will use agave.
Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat) — February 19, 2010 @ 7:06 pm
Sugar is sugar. Everything in moderation and you’ll be fine.
I cannot start eating nuts or I will never stop. 
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] — February 19, 2010 @ 7:25 pm
Stress is in the air today. I’m feeling it too. I’ve been curious about agave lately too. I used to think it was healthier, but now have my doubts as it is 90% fructose. Humph…sugar IS sugar.
kalli@fitandfortysomething — February 19, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
Thank you for sharing that info on agave. I am sorry you are feeling so stressed!
MelissaNibbles — February 19, 2010 @ 7:46 pm
I agree that sugar is sugar. I use regular sugar because it’s natural and doesn’t bloat my stomach like artificial sweeteners do. That’s just my take though, people should do what’s right for them.
I need to find that frosting…uh, I mean yogurt. I heard the vanilla tastes like frosting!
Michelle — February 19, 2010 @ 7:50 pm
I agree that sugar is sugar. I’m sure many of those claims about the “unhealthiness” of agave all go back to having too much of a sugar substance in general. There’s always going to be findings about how something we are eating is “not perfect” for me, but I’m not about to turn my life upside over it. I’m still weaning myself off Splenda for long-term health and flavor reasons, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw out all the Splenda I still have in my pantry, nor am I going to completely boycott everything that might have an artificial sweetener for the rest of my life. Everything in moderation, and there really comes a point when obsessing about micro-issues about food becomes frivolous. I’m all about eating well and being good to your body, but there’s no way I can know ALL the facts about what I’m eating and what’s going on in my body. I do what I can, but I also understand that I can put forth all my energy, resources, and studies into eating all the wonderful, perfect foods I can, but I’m still not going to live forever. There’s only so much we can do given our culture, circumstances, the state of the world in this millennium, etc. There comes a point where going with the flow is healthier than stressing over eating the “perfect” diet.
Paige — February 19, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
I do not like agave nectar. I had a bottle, and tried several different recipes. The trail mix bars I made had no flavor whatsoever, and we actually had to throw away an apple pie that I made using Agave. The cookbook came with the Agave. Maybe it was just me, but I didn’t care for it at all!
Karla — February 19, 2010 @ 8:32 pm
I use agave nectar. I think it tastes great in recipes! I still think of it as sugar though
GurlOnA"Diet" — February 19, 2010 @ 8:33 pm
a lot of the “negative” press is about the high-processed syrups- i only use raw, organic agave syrup from trader joe’s
that being said, i still think it’s much better than white sugar- i feel it too (maybe it’s a placebo effect, but oh wellz)- i don’t get the crash. it also isn’t artificial (in structure or taste) like splenda, sweet n low, etc. i think if you need sweetness (like i do), agave’s the way to go…just raw agave!
Jenn (j3nn.net) — February 19, 2010 @ 9:03 pm
Your lunch salad looks great, so fresh and crisp looking.
I have a bottle of agave nectar in my cabinet unopened for about 2 years now. I view agave, sugar and honey in the same class: All from nature, except sugar which is processed. While agave and honey have minimal health benefits, they are still sugar. However, I don’t feel they are the same as HFCS or other chemically altered sweeteners. Sugar is refined but it’s still only one ingredients, where as HFCS and other sweeteners are tampered with and man-made. I consider sugar of any kind a flavor enhancer, NOT a food group, sort of like salt or other spices.
It seems that so many are into eliminating sugar in their diet and cutting out grains, and while this can be healthy, I don’t feel it’s necessary if you can just practice moderation and leave discretionary calories to 10-20% of your total intake. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to diet, there’s just balance. You have to find yours and what works for you.
Jenn
Nicole, RD — February 19, 2010 @ 9:14 pm
As an RD I agree with your RD friend on agave nectar. People are wanting a non-nutritive, completely safe, great-tasting sweetener…and there’s just not one out there
Stevia aside, “all natural” sweeteners have a lot of calories with little nutrition, and should be used in moderation. Great post!
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — February 19, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
what dressing did you use with the salad?
Kristilyn (My 29th Year) — February 19, 2010 @ 9:47 pm
Orange and ginger yogurt? Looks interesting! I haven’t seen Icelandic-style yogurt here in Canada, but I’ll have to try it if I ever find it – Kath had it on her blog, too!
As far as agave nectar goes, ANYTHING, when eating it large amounts is bad for you. I think just because it’s labeled as a natural sugar doesn’t mean people should go out and eat boatloads of it.
Cashews rock. That’s all I have to say about that! LOL!
K
Cole — February 19, 2010 @ 10:01 pm
I agree that sugar is sugar. Moderation, moderation, moderation!
Christie — February 19, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
That sandwich thin looked so good! I love to add a little drizzle of honey to it.
Go ahead and mail those cashews my way
~Christie
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday — February 19, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
Agave syrup is basically high-fructose corn syrup masquerading as a health food:
Check out this Huffington Post Living article.
http://bit.ly/banNga
Jen — February 19, 2010 @ 10:50 pm
Just an added comment to those that posted after me about the low glycemic load. Yes it is low glycemic so doesn’t cause that blood sugar spike. But conversely it is very high in fructose which causes damage in other ways, specifically the liver. You don’t feel the effects physically as much as you do with high glucose foods but the damage is still being done.
caronae — February 19, 2010 @ 11:06 pm
I tend not to use agave just because it’s expensive and I’m lazy. I love stevia and maple syrup more for their flavors too, and sometime I use honey. Sugar is sugar, but I don’t think they’re all exactly equal in how our bodies metabolize them. I just go based on taste, I guess!
Erica H. — February 19, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
Your blog always inspires me because you DO do so much, and everything “always works out” and it amazes me. I’m sure this time will be no different
Also , I’m absolutely hopeless around Cashews … so don’t pass them to me!
Jaclyn — February 20, 2010 @ 12:09 am
I think agave is a better alternative but that it is still a sugar. I think ultimately it is better than a sugar substitute though–better for you than splenda!!
Hannah — February 20, 2010 @ 3:27 am
If you can’t vent here, where can you vent? Go for it! You do do a whole lot, and I’m amazed at how well you manage all of it. But you’re more than welcome to stress occassionally!
Cara — February 20, 2010 @ 7:12 am
Yay cashews!!!
Julie @ Pickley Pear — February 20, 2010 @ 8:01 am
I’ve done a fair amount of research on Agave Nectar, and essentially it is natural, as opposed to Splenda, per-se. For the 1/2T used not even daily for me, I am going to enjoy the light sweetness it adds. I like the “real” flavor, and being low on the glycemic scale, that is what I need!
shelly — February 20, 2010 @ 8:23 am
I think that with everything else it comes down to moderation. If you are having too much of something than it will end up being bad for you. If you use it sparingly there is no harm.
You need to add moving to your list of stuff that takes your time… that alone is a big stress. I bet you will feel better once you are totally settled, unpacked and feeling at home in your new space.
Lo @ Life of Oats — February 20, 2010 @ 9:55 am
I agree with you, sugar is sugar, the good thing about Agave is I guess the fact that it’s vegan while white sugar *can* be not vegan.
.
I use Agave not because I think I’m doing something great for my health but because I like it, it’s less expensive than maple syrup and I just like syrup sweeteners
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather — February 20, 2010 @ 10:04 am
I like to use agave in stead of sugar and honey at times. I like to switch my sweeteners up so that I get a variety… everything in moderation!
Shelly — February 20, 2010 @ 1:02 pm
Eh, I use agave in coffee and oatmeal instead of white sugar. And I use honey in my unsweetened yogurt. I use these because they were recommended by my nutritionist who said “I’d rather drink my own urine that something sweetened with artificial sweetener like Splenda.” Haha. It got the point across!
I think the rationale she gave me for these particular sweeteners is that “sugar is sugar, but these are sweeter than sugar, so you use a little bit less, calorically speaking.” I’ve also found that honey and agave don’t give the same gross aftertaste that I get when I drink something with white sugar in it.
And really, I don’t worry about it because I only use a little in the morning in my coffee, so I think it’s fine. I try not to needlessly sweeten things because I think it’s better to appreciate the subtle sweetness in things like fruit and roasted veggies.
Shelly — February 20, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
@Kristilyn (My 29th Year): There was a sale on the icelandic yogurt at my local Whole Foods last week so I tried some. It’s pretty good! Very thick and tart and only slightly sweet, which I like.
Shelly — February 20, 2010 @ 1:13 pm
Okay I just thought of one more thing about the agave issue- how much of it is bad for your liver?
My parents are splenda-holics and my dad recently started thinking that he might have become allergic to splenda (he has a rash that won’t go away- it’s a long story) and so I looked online and read a bunch of comments of people saying “I drink 8 splenda flavored sodas or cups of coffee a day and have XYZ symptoms” (and that wasn’t an extreme example). And at some point in their lives, these people were probably doing the same with sugar or HFCS! I think the SAD diet is incredibly over sweetened so yes, at those concentrations, I can totally see why any sweetener, natural or not would have a huge impact on your health. (My parents drink (or would drink) cup after cup of splenda sweetened tea- I think they made a gallon a day- they would eat frozen berries with a bunch of splenda dumped on top of it- it looked like snow- and they even put splenda on their veggies! Oh, Mississippi!)
I do think that at low levels, natural sweeteners are probably not so bad- it’s just when we take in more than our body is meant to manage! (And in the case of artificial sweeteners, our bodies aren’t meant to many any of that stuff!)
Laura — February 20, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/stevia-is-sweet-but-is-it-safe/article1333389/
This is an article about the health risks of Stevia. Moderation seems to be the key in all foods, sweeteners, too.
yoda — February 20, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
I use SweetLeaf brand of stevia and love that it has 0 calories, 0 carbs, and a 0 glycemic index!….I’m also very confident that it is very safe…. and health promoting! (the stevia leaf stevia contains 100 different nutrients)
http:ultimatehealthylifestyle.com/blog/health-and-wellness/are-you-sweet
Ashton — March 7, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
I have heard that you can use honey as a 1:1 substitute for agave nectar– as it is very hard to find here in the country. I haven’t been able to find it anywhere– do you suggest somewhere to order online?Kudos
-Sylvia