Which is better Agave Nectar or Agave in the raw for weight loss?

Answer 1

Actually, neither. These days, the review of the (good) evidence available suggests that all sugars (i.e sucrose, glucose or fructose) have the same impact on weight gain/weight loss. So in this respect, it does not matter whether you choose to consume your calories from sugar in a form of agave nectar or regular sugar (sucrose).

However, fructose is almost universally acknowledged to be implicated in causing metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, when consumed in forms other than from unprocessed fruit. (i.e fructose in soft drinks and fruit juice). In fruit, fructose is fairly dilute and comes packaged with fiber (which slows absorption) and other minerals, but in soft drinks or fruit juice, the fiber isn't there and the fructose concentration is higher, making them more harmful. The reason I point this out is that Agave nectar, whether raw or not, is around 90% fructose.

Part of the reason some people believe fructose is a 'healthier' sugar is due to the perception that "it comes from fruit, so it much be healthy". The other part is the argument that it's low Glycaemic Index rating. While it is true that it has a low GI rating, it does not negate the detrimental impact it has on your liver and metabolism - a detrimental impact which is beyond what regular sucrose is capable of.