It isn’t easy being married to a diabetic, especially when you run a home baking business and are up to your elbows in granulated sugar on most days. I’ve posted several diabetic recipes before, but today I want to talk about one of my favorite ingredients ever, and something that’s made life so much easier for my dear husband: Agave syrup.
Agave syrup is a natural sweetener- which means that it’s not artificial like Splenda or Aspartame- from the Agave, a succulent plant common to Mexico (see photo above). Also known as Agave “nectar”, it’s similar to honey- but, as we soon discovered after receiving our first bottle, so much better.
It’s better because, unlike honey, Agave is sweeter in taste- so you need less of it. It also tastes less “floral” than honey, giving it a flavor closer to real sugar. It’s also better than honey because it has a much lower glycemic load.
It’s important to note, though, that Agave will affect your blood sugar levels. It’s made up mostly of fructose, so it’s definitely not a free-for-all food for diabetics. What is is is a worthy alternative for diabetics like my husband.