Americans consume a lot of sugar. How bad is it? On average, we consume 130 pounds of sugar each year, the equivalent of 3,550 lbs of Skittles over their lifetime. Compare that to the 1820s, when the average person consumed 20 grams a year.

What makes this alarming that that some research suggests that sugar and sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup are linked with various issues such as metabolic problems, changes to the female reproductive cycle, heart disease, and obesity.

But there are alternatives, such as xylitol and stevia from Now Foods, which are all natural, non-sugar plant byproducts offering fewer or zero calories per serving, may be ideal for diabetics, people with high cholesterol, and people worried about cavities or eroding the enamel of teeth.

Are these sugar alternatives right for you? Let’s take a look!

What Is Stevia?

Stevia is a plant that grows natively in South America but is not cultivated throughout the world. The popularity of stevia is in part because of its taste, which some compare to licorice, and also that it contains zero calories.

The taste of stevia comes from the a group of compounds known as steviol glycosides. In many countries, only the use of “high purity” plant extracts containing 95% or greater steviol glycosides are allowed for use as a food additive; other stevia products are only allowed as a “supplement.” This is mainly due to a lack of long-term research about its potential effect on the human body.

What Is Xylitol?

Xylitol is an alcohol derived sugar that is found in fruits and vegetables. It is much closer to what you known as a traditional sugar, however it does have a few advantages, such as having about a third of the calories and disrupts the function of bacteria in the mouth. In fact, xylitol can be found in some oral health products and has been found to reduce cavities. But unlike stevia, xylitol may affect blood sugar levels, although its effect is less than traditional sugars.

Sugar Substitutes Aren’t Always The Answer

Before using a sugar substitute, make sure to consider if you also need to cut back on sweets. Research shows that sugars, as well as other tasty foods, can change the behavior of the brain and can cause addiction-like symptoms, such as loss of control, cravings, and tolerance to sweets that can cause you to eat too much, gain unhealthy weight, and develop health problems.

If you’re ready to make the switch from sugar to xylitol or stevia, now is probably a better time than never. NOW Foods offers several options for both xylitol and stevia, including liquid sweeteners, bulk bags, flavored varieties, travel-size packets, and a lot more. Use each to taste, but always remember that despite having fewer calories or a lower impact on blood glucose levels doesn’t necessarily make them healthy. Moderation and a healthy diet may provide your the greatest chance at supporting a healthy diet and lifestyle.