Alternative sweeteners may be more popular than ever, but Americans still love their sugar: As of 2003 we consumed about 142 pounds of sugar per person per year! Doctors are seeing an unprecedented explosion of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases - all of which can be caused by or aggravated by excessive sugar intake.
Health conscious consumers know how important it is to eliminate or restrict sugar intake. But that doesn't mean you have to live without sweets or sweet-tasting foods. There are many great alternative sweeteners available making it easier than ever to kick the sugar habit. Stevia, xylitol and sucralose are all versatile sweet-tasting alternatives to sugar and have none of sugar's metabolic "side-effects."