You drink diet coke, eat sugar-free candy and other artificially sweetened drinks/foods to satisfy your sweet tooth. You use sugar substitutes because you’re calorie conscious. You don’t want to pack on any extra pounds.

While artificial sweeteners may satisfy your sugar cravings, these substitutes are just chemicals with no nutritional value. And, studies show that even though people drink and eat foods sweetened with aspartame and saccharin, they’re not getting any thinner. Artificial sweeteners may slow down digestion and actually increase your appetite.

There are two safe and natural alternatives for your sugar cravings – Stevia and Agave. Stevia, a sweet herb and typically in powder form, is extracted from the Stevia plant and is 300 times sweeter than sucrose. Agave is a nectar that’s derived from a cactus. It looks and tastes similar to honey-and it’s very sweet.

A few steps a sugar addict can take include: reducing or eliminating caffeine, drinking more water, eating sweet fruits and vegetables, using natural sweeteners, increasing physical activity, getting more sleep and relaxation, experimenting with different spices, and, most importantly-finding sweetness in life.

One of the best things you can do for your diet and your health is to cut down on refined sugar and reduce (or even eliminate) artificial sweeteners – saccharin (Sweet’N Low), aspartame (Equal & Nutrasweet) and sucralose (Splenda).

When you need a sugar replacement, use all natural, Stevia or Agave (found at Trader Joes, or any health market).

Caution: Fake sweeteners may trick you.

Be real, natural and organic.