After looking at numerous website and articles I think that organic blue agave is at best no worse than sugar or high fructose corn syrup and at worst is worse than these two. The main argument seems to be with level of fructose and how fructose is processed by the body. Sugar has 50% fructose, HFCS has 55% fructose, and agave nectar can have between 55% and 98% fructose. I looked up the information on the organic blue agave that you can buy at Sprouts made by Wholesome Sweeteners, who's website says that it is made up of 75% fructose. http://www.wholesomesweeteners.com/AgaveFactsVSFiction.html
I wasn't familiar with fructose so I also looked up what fructose is and why it is bad for you. The nutritionandmetabolism.com website said that a small level (16 - 20 grams) of fructose is good for you. These are typically the levels that come from eating fruits and vegetables, but the typical daily consumption is 85 - 100 grams. After looking at various websites the main reasons given for fructose being bad for you are that it is processed by the liver and may contribute to higher triglyceride levels, may slow the basil metabolic rate leading to metabolic syndrome, increase insulin resistance, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, may contribute to the increased rate of diabetes, and may inhibit certain signals that indicate you are full leading to an increase in calorie consumption.
I did find one site that says that "true organic agave nectar" has benefits, but you have to find true organic agave. You basically have to know how it is made to know whether it is true organic agave. "Recent claims regarding agave nectar urge us to be aware of the type of agave we are purchasing. Many brands sold in the supermarket, claiming to be organic, are nothing more than refined fructose. Common forms of retail-refined agave syrup sold in supermarkets do not tell consumers what has been done to the syrup in the laboratory. While the label may claim that the agave is “organic and all-natural,” the label does not explain that the syrup has gone through an extensive process of chemical refining which changes the enzymatic structure of the syrup, converting it into a man-made chemical fructose. Herein lies the main concern surrounding the nectar that many well-known nutritionists are recommending as a healthier sugar-substitute. There is a direct link between man-made chemical fructose and deadly degenerative diseases such as cancer and diabetes." http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/is-agave-nectar-safe/
Going back to the Wholesome Sweeteners it is certified organic yet contains 75% fructose but later says that it's not the same thing as HFCS because it is natural. "Natural" is debated on a lot of website and Wholesome Sweeteners of course disagree with all of the negative stuff written about fructose and agave and offers links that will support it's position. What I found interesting is that to me it sounded like they were hedging their bets by making it clear that fructose is processed by the liver and the liver is vital and you need to keep it healthy. I also didn't see anything that distinguishes between man made and natural fructose just low levels and high levels.
When it comes to the agave it basically comes down to who do you believe, the people who say it's a healthy alternative to sugar and hfcs or that it's just as bad if not worse. I'm personally going to error on the side of it being bad for you and not start using it. If I'm going to clean up my diet then I don't want to start using something that has so many questions around it.
I just thought that this was interesting. It's called Sugar: The Bitter Truth
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