Sugar is one of the first things people try to eliminate from their diets when they decide to be more health-conscious. One of the ways to do this is to go on a ketogenic dieting program. Anyone on this journey will want to know if agave syrup is keto-friendly and how long fruit syrups last.

Even though there are plenty of alternative sweetener options available for keto dieters, it’s a good idea to research what the impact is of every one of them, including our Skinny Syrups. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at one of the sweetening options—agave.

Why Choose Agave For A Low-Carb Diet?

To answer the above question, let’s take a look into some of the main reasons agave became a popular sweetener brand. Here are a few things to consider:

• Like with raw honey, agave nectar is 100 percent all-natural.
• Some say that agave nectar naturally consists of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. However, these benefits get lost during most agave nectar production processes.
• Last but not least, agave is an essential ingredient in tequila, which could help explain how it was discovered as a sweetener and become so popular.

Some Background On Agave

Agave is a spiky plant that grows in Mexico, the southwestern United States, and South America. Like the maple tree, it is full of sweet sap, which some refer to as agave nectar. In its natural state, this nectar holds fructans, a kind of fiber that can help control one’s appetite.

Speaking of maple syrup, if you’re wondering if maple syrup is keto-friendly, check out our post on the topic!

Although agave nectar has several health benefits, the process used to create the sweetener products you find on the store shelves called agave syrup uses enzymes and heat that destroy essential fructans. As a nutritive sweetener, agave syrup is a source of calories and carbohydrates. We can’t say the same for artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame.

So, Is Agave Keto?

The simple answer to this question is no. Agave contains too many carbs to make it a viable sweetener option for keto dieters. Even those who are more flexible about their daily carb counts have trouble fitting agave nectar into their diet. A standard serving of agave contains over 40 grams of carbs, making it a no-go for keto dieters.

In addition, commercially refined agave products usually have little to no nutritional value. As earlier mentioned, despite the plant’s nectar being a solid source of disease-fighting antioxidants and other dietary anti-inflammatory bio-compounds, almost all of these elements are lost during the refinement process.

On a positive note, there are much better sweetening options—such as those we offer here at Skinny Mixes—that you can use instead of agave if you are on a keto diet.

Final Thoughts

The thing about a keto diet is that it requires you to consume foods that contain small amounts of carbs. These include chicken, meat, fish, eggs, non-starchy veggies (e.g., spinach, cheese, cauliflower, etc.) and fats, like oil and butter. 

But everyone still needs something sweet to stimulate the taste buds, especially at breakfast. Our Skinny Mixes products are keto-friendly and can help you maintain your keto diet. You may even find options much sweeter tasting than regular sugar. 

So don’t let keto kill your sweet tooth. Check out our Skinny Syrups today!