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First things first. . . excess sugar consumption is the root cause of obesity, diabetes and many major health issues worldwide.
In the US, the average American consumes approximately 17 grams of added sugar per day (2-3X the recommended max).
To put it into perspective the American Heart Association advises:
Men should consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) of added sugar per day.
Women should consume no more than, 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day.
Considering one 12-ounce soda contains 8 tsp (32 grams) of added sugar, it doesn't take much to reach that max.
The leading sources of added sugar in the American diet are:
Sweetened Beverages - soft drinks / juices / sports drinks / coffee & tea
Snacks / Sweets
Processed & 'Fast' Foods
Simply cutting out sweetened beverages and processed foods can have immediate positive impacts on weight and health, but for those who are eating fairly healthy and are still looking for better ways to satisfy their sweet tooth there are some great alternatives to sugar in cooking and baking that wont sacrifice flavor and can even provide additional nutritional benefits.
Eat less Sugar : Agave vs Honey
Both Agave & Honey have similar properties and perform similarly in baking.
Both are sweeter than their sugar counterpart and thus less is required for use (approximately 1/3-1/2 the amount of sugar).
Both have less fructose than sugar - studies have shown a strong correlation between fructose intake and insulin resistance.
Agave offers a larger variety of vitamins, is plant-based and vegan.
Honey provides additional minerals and has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
See Breakdowns (as found on FoodStruct.com, did not link directly due to amount of ads):
No matter which you choose, Agave or Honey, both are great alternatives and the main take home is to EAT LESS SUGAR.
REFERENCES
Food values are sourced from the FDA’s Food Central and consumption stats were obtained from the AHA website: