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Sugar and artificial sweeteners are a poor choice if loosing weight and a healthy lifestyle are what you are striving for. It is a well known fact that sugary desserts can be a diet killer. However if you have a sweet tooth and you love dessert you may be in need of an alternative sweetener.

Alternative sweeteners fall under two main categories. The first alternative sweetener is artificial sweeteners like saccharine, aspartame and Splenda. Artificial sweeteners have been used in packaged foods and soft drinks for many years. The main fault of artificial sweeteners is that they are not natural. Artificial sweetener are processed and made by man, not by nature. Artificial sweeteners have also been linked to ill health effects such as cancer and high blood sugar.

The second type of alternative sweetener is natural sweeteners such as honey and stevia.

Honey is a very concentrated food and is an excellent choice for an alternative sweetener. Honey can easily be used in small quantities when dieting as long as the amount of honey remains in small amounts. Honey may contribute to trouble controlling blood sugar which may make honey a poor choice for diabetics. Honey is also high in calories. If you are looking for rapid weight loss honey as an alternative sweetener may not be a good choice. The best selling point for honey is that honey is natural. Honey comes the way nature intended with no additives.

Stevia is a second alternative sweetener. Stevia is an extract from the leaf of the Stevia plant. Stevia is very sweet and can be an excellent sugar substitute. Diabetics may find Stevia a good choice in controlling blood sugar because Stevias' intensive sweetness allows for only a small amount to be used when sweetening foods.

Stevia can have a liquorice taste to it and may take a bit of getting used too. When purchasing stevia extract look for brands that do not contain any fillers. Fillers may help to subdue the liquorice flavor of stevia but the artificial fillers negate the healthful benefits of stevia.

About the Author

Shauna Hanus a work at home mom discovered after having children she had gone from a slender size 8 to a size 16. Once she decided to do something about her weight she began to tell others what she has learned. Shauna's site http://www.buydietfood.com is dedicated to real people who want to lose weight and lead a healthy life style. Shauna offers tips on weight loss, healthy diets and guides you through selecting a diet that will work for you.