As nice as it would be if we could solely rely on serums, lotions, gels, and the likes for great skin, for skin that truly glows, being healthy from the inside out is key. Countless studies have been conducted that have shown potential relationships between what we eat and how we look. Kelp, a type of seaweed, for example, contains an ingredient called fucoxanthin that helps the body burn fat, which in turn has been shown to help prevent cellulite (no wonder Japanese women have been swearing by it for centuries!). With it being just a few days away from Memorial Weekend, I know bikini season is on most of our minds and that, unfortunately, often goes hand-in-hand with cellulite. There isn’t a ton we can do to prevent it and sugar has been shown to increase the appearances of those pesky dimples. So what’s a gal to do when summer is all about sweet drinks and frozen treats? Look for alternatives, of course!
There has been a lot of chatter about agave as a sugar substitute among beauty professionals and if you go to a “healthy” restaurant you’ll usually see that they’ve replaced honey, maple syrup, artificial sweeteners, and traditional white and brown sugar with it. While in terms of calories, fiber, protein and fat, agave and sugar are fairly similar, however; agave has a low glycemic index, meaning it breaks down slowly and releases glucose gradually into the bloodstream, so it won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar. Sugar, on the other hand, has a high glycemic index, so it will cause that spike and won’t keep you full for as long as agave will since it’s digested a lot faster. The best part though, is that agave is 40% sweater than sugar, so you’ll need less of it — meaning less calories, fat, etc. So while you definitely want to remember that agave is still a sweetener and should be consumed in moderation, agave is definitely the way to go when you’re sweetening up your summertime treats.
One thing you need to watch out for, however, is faux agave! Some brands actually label high fructose corn syrup as agave. A trustworthy brand is Organic Nectars. They’ve got a whole line of delicious organic, unrefined, raw vegan, gluten-free, non-dairy kosher agave products, including ice cream! Aside from agave, the brand has also just released an amazing new product called PalmSweet which, like agave, is low glycemic, vegan, organic, and kosher but, unlike agave, is also very high in vitamin C, zinc, iron, B1, B2, B3, B6, and in a lot of other nutrients. Plus it’s more similar to sugar in it’s structure (solid vs. liquid), so for some people it may be an easier substitute. I’m kind of a health nut, but even I never thought I’d enjoy powdered coconut palm sugar…I mean how could that be anything like sugar? Turns out it’s so flavorful I don’t miss traditional sugar at all.
On a side note, the agave syrup comes in dark and light form, the darker being the more flavorful of the two. If you’re wary about making the transition to agave, start off with light as it’s more approachable.
Images: Organic Nectars
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