Recently, there's been a flurry of overheated spin in some anti-agave blogs. Using our scientific training and experience as nutritionists, we've researched the issues and claims thoroughly and have attempted to cut through the bias and confusion and get to specifics. Here's what we've found:

• Most of the concern surrounding agave involves its fructose content.
• While it's true that agave is high in fructose, it's also sweeter than sugar, which means you use less of it to get the same effect.
• Fructose is also the sugar in fruits, including the blueberries and cranberries in Zing Bars.
• Cane sugar (sucrose) is half fructose (the rest glucose). Other natural sweeteners like dates, raisins and honey contain even higher fructose levels than cane sugar. Fructose is ubiquitous in nature and well handled by the liver in reasonable amounts.
• It total, a Zing Bar has about 7 grams of fructose, less than in a medium sized apple, a small box of raisins or any serving of dried fruit.
• Some suggest sweetening only with fruit. This would actually increase the fructose content because more is needed to achieve the same flavor. And that also adds more calories.
• In a Zing Bar, agave comes with high protein, high fiber and healthy fats. This macronutrient balance helps slow down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, further lowering the glycemic index and reducing the workload on the liver as the sugars are absorbed slowly into the bloodstream. There's no magic here, any well rounded meal with reasonable portion sizes will accomplish the same result.

The suggestion is that agave—more specifically the fructose in agave—can raise triglycerides (fats) in the blood, which is not healthy.

The flaw in this simplistic conclusion is that it's based entirely on consuming extremely large amounts, and in isolation. The tests used to support this argument consisted of having subjects drink 125 to 150 grams of a fructose-sweetened beverage by itself, amounting to 25% to 35% of their total daily caloric intake from all foods combined, and without anything else to eat. This is a lot of fructose, equal to about 20 Zing Bars or 30 apples, but without the other protein, fiber and fats that come with a Zing Bar or an apple to make up more sensible and complete nutrition. The protein alone in that many Zing Bars would be equal to a pound and a quarter of lean turkey or chicken…quite a bit to eat all at one time.

Oddly, though, there was no study using small or even moderate amounts of fructose, or fructose consumed in the context of balanced nutrition.

Similar results were found with glucose beverages dosed in huge amounts. So it's not just fructose that's at issue. Any excessive rapid sugar loading seems to lead to high triglycerides, as well as blood sugar spiking and weight gain, which are well documented results of poor blood sugar management.

The real message here is that sweeteners should not be consumed in large quantities or in isolation. This means soda or other beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or cane sugar. No sweetener, agave included, is suitable for limitless consumption all by itself. It applies equally to honey, maple syrup, agave, date paste, and every other sweetener. All should be used in moderation and as part of a balanced diet with other foods.

It's a message of moderation and balance; not the stuff that sells books or inspires sensationalist blogs!

Some additional commentators on the agave topic:

• Dr. Andrew Weil, on his website, gives his answer to "Is Agave Syrup Dangerous?"
• Dr. Edward Group comments on agave nectar and high fructose corn syrup on the Global Healing Center website