(HealthDay News) MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) According to a new study, providing young children agave nectar or a sham therapy of flavored, colored water both appear to help lessen cough symptoms at night better than giving no treatment.
Dr. Ian Paul, chief of the Division of Academic General Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa., stated, “Many pediatricians advocate doing nothing for cough and cold symptoms other than maintaining hydrated and possibly administering acetaminophen or ibuprofen.”
“It’s possible that administering a pleasant liquid ‘placebo’ is preferable to doing nothing or, even worse, taking an unneeded antibiotic for families and children,” he said, adding that this is a debate families should have with their providers.
Paul’s team assessed three therapy options in 120 children under the age of four who had a nightly cough that lasted less than a week and did not appear to be related to any other ailment.
The youngsters were divided into three groups at random: 40 received no treatment, 40 received a placebo, and 40 received pasteurized agave nectar from Zarbees, Inc., which also funded the study.
According to Paul, agave nectar, a natural sweetener, was chosen since previous study has shown that honey can help youngsters with cough symptoms. Honey, on the other hand, is not recommended for children under the age of one due to the danger of botulism, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the study, the placebo was grape-flavored water with caramel coloring.
The symptoms of the children were reported by the parents the night before and the night after the treatment. According to their parents, children who received agave nectar and the placebo coughed less frequently and less badly than those who received nothing. According to the study, agave nectar provided no additional benefit above the placebo.
The findings were published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics on October 27.
“Given the scarcity of options, the placebo effect showed in our study is essential,” Paul added.
Which is better agave or honey?
If you have to choose between honey and agave, honey is the healthier option. Honey is mostly composed of fructose, whereas agave contains a higher percentage of glucose. Honey has a number of health benefits that aren’t available from other natural sweeteners. Honey is fundamentally more like table sugar than agave, despite the fact that both are plant-based and related to table sugar. While honey is the better option, agave may be more useful in modest amounts than table sugar.
Is agave anti inflammatory?
You may have heard of the Blue Weber Agave plant, which is a miraculous plant. Not just because it is the only component permitted in 100% de Agave Tequila (such as Tres Agaves), but also because it is the only ingredient permitted in 100% de Agave Tequila (such as Tres Agaves).
Agave nectar is made entirely from the Blue Weber Agave plant. The nectar is made by crushing the pias of the agave plant to extract the juices, which are then cooked and filtered to produce the simple sugar fructose, which is then concentrated into a syrup. Despite the fact that agave syrup requires more steps than, example, honey from a beehive, it is still considered a healthy alternative. Agave nectar contains the following ingredients:
- You won’t have high blood sugar levels because honey has a low glycemic index (19-27 vs. 83 and 89 in honey and high fructose corn syrup, respectively).
- Saponins found in agave have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting qualities (think quinoa and ginseng)
The probiotic inulin is also found in the agave plant. Numerous studies have suggested that inulin can help ease constipation and aid weight reduction by acting as a meal for specific gut bacteria.
What is blue agave used for?
The Asparagaceae family includes the genus Agave. It’s native to Mexico and the Caribbean, among other places in the Americas. Agave nectar is produced by the blue agave plant and Agave americana, often known as maguey or the century plant. This is the same plant used in the production of tequila.
Agave nectar is a natural sweetener that can be used in place of sugar. Because it’s sweeter, you may use less of it to achieve the same impact. It’s a healthier alternative to artificial sweeteners. It’s also vegan, which makes it an appealing alternative to honey for some.
Which is better for diabetics honey or agave?
Agave has been promoted in the media due to its low glycemic index (GI of 17) as compared to conventional sugar (GI of 68) or even honey (GI between 60-74 depending on variety). Because of its low glycemic index, agave is a favorite among diabetics. However, the American Diabetes Association recommends that agave be treated like any other sweetener (such as sugar, corn syrup, or honey) and used in moderation.
Is organic blue agave healthy?
Agave is less toxic and more natural, but it should be avoided by persons who are regularly monitoring their blood glucose levels. The high sugar level can lower insulin sensitivity and wreak havoc on the liver. Agave is also a sweetener with more calories than table sugar.
People with diabetes should avoid adding sugars to their food and instead use fruit as a sweetener.
Can infants have agave?
(The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against giving them to children under the age of six.) However, a 2014 study published in JAMA Pediatrics looked into agave nectar, a honey-like substance, and how it assisted infants aged 2 to 47 months when compared to a placebo and nothing.
Can you use agave instead of honey in tea?
Because it dissolves well, agave is perfect for sweetening hot beverages like tea and coffee, as well as cold drinks like iced tea and lemonade. (Agave nectar can also be used in smoothies.) It can be used in place of maple syrup on pancakes or waffles, as well as honey in baking.
However, Fetterly cautions against substituting it for sugar in baking because it may change the texture of the product.
This is how much agave nectar you should use
Fetterly emphasizes the importance of using sweeteners in moderation. Use it as a substitute for table sugar and reduce your typical serving size by at least half.