AYURVEDIC FOODS

Agave Nectar Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Agave, the main ingredient in Tequila, has resurfaced as a health fad in recent years. Sticky and delicious agave nectar, produced from the agave plant, has been touted as a healthier sweetener because it has a slightly lower glycemic index than sugar. However, according to the American Diabetes Association, "It is okay for people with diabetes to use agave nectar as a sweetener, but they should not treat it any differently than regular sugar or corn syrup. It provides just as many calories and carbohydrates as regular sugar, honey, etc."

Agave, Appetite & Fat Tissue

Agave, like corn syrup, is high in fructose. Like corn syrup, agave bypasses our natural appetite suppressor mechanisms, which can lead to overconsumption. Additionally, the liver converts agave sugars directly into fat tissue, bypassing the normal conversion of sugars into glucose. For this reason, diabetics can consume agave without raising blood sugar levels. Increased fat production, however, is hardly a solution for diabetics.

Agave is a Highly Processed Food

Using the word nectar to refer to agave sweetener may be misleading, as it is not made entirely from the sap of the plant. A better term would be 'agave syrup.' Instead, starches in the plants bulbous root are extracted, refined and highly processed. These starches are strikingly similar to those in corn and rice used to make high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose syrup.

Nutritional Content

Unlike jaggery and molasses, the nutritional content of agave is negligible. It also lacks the fiber of natural sweeteners such as raisins, dates, and bananas. Unlike honey, agave syrup is cold and Kapha provoking. Honey, the only 'heating' sweetener, remains Ayurveda's sweetener of choice for Kapha dosha.

Want to buy a duck?

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Although promoted by health stores, modern sweeteners like agave syrup may simply sweep under the rug a sugar addiction of epidemic proportions: we consume over 150 times the amount of sugar than our ancestors only a hundred years ago.

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Is Agave Nectar Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Agave Nectar' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.
SERVING SIZE: 1/2 tsp
SPECIES: Agave tequilana
FAMILY: Asparagaceae

Metabolic Nature of Agave Nectar

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

TOXIC

ABOUT TOXIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOXIC

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Tissue (dhatu):
Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH' FOODS / HERBS


Family: Asparagaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Agave Nectar
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Agave Nectar

Potato Starch

Potato Starch has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Romano Cheese

Romano Cheese has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Taro Root

Taro Root has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Okra

Okra has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Basmati Rice

Basmati Rice has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar Cheese has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

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Cream Cheese

Cream Cheese has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Pasta

Pasta has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Condensed Milk

Condensed Milk has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Demulcent

LEARN MORE

Heavy Cream

Heavy Cream has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Agave Nectar

Asparagus root

Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Slippery Elm

Slippery Elm has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Safed Musali

Safed Musali has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Solomon's Seal

Solomon's Seal has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Comfrey Root

Comfrey Root has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Vata Shirodhara Oil

Vata Shirodhara Oil has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Bala

Bala has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Cornsilk

Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Red Clover

Red Clover has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Demulcent

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Agave Nectar may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.

Clinical Tools & Resources

Give smart recommendations to your clients and improve efficiency in your clinic with these tools.
About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Agave Nectar'

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