Finding Alternatives

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Greetings Friends!

In April, we did the 30 day Sugar Free Challenge where we eliminated sweets and sugars from our daily diet. If you know me and my sweet tooth, you know that this was truly a challenge for me!

After April was over, I admit to having a minor sugar binge....which resulted in tummy aches and a heavy/guilty heart. I thought to myself....wouldn't it be nice to be able to have your cake and eat it too??? (pun intended). 

So I went on the hunt. I wanted to see if I could find an all natural alternative to refined sugar that satisfied my sweet tooth but saved me from tummy ache and guilt. I am not a fan of Equal or Sweet n Low, I can't stand the taste. Equal is nothing more than aspartame which has shown to cause migraines and people with PKU Disease must avoid.  Sweet n Low has legitimately caused cancer in lab animals, and is now required to actually put that on the label. Splenda has shown to cause infertility in lab experiments and there in now current debate that it in actually unsafe for human consumption because it contains 3 atoms of chlorine.  

Good times. 

So what are other options??

Stevia is a plant based sweetener that you can find in liquid form, as above, or dry packet form.  It's plant based, no caloric content, and has shown not to cause a spike in blood sugars so it is being favored for those dealing with diabetes. I got the opportunity to try Stevia Gold, it's a liquid that I have tried with my coffee and smoothies. Not a fan in my coffee, It has a bitter after taste. But it went well in my smoothies. However, there is back and forth debate on the safety of the product and it has repeatedly been banned in the United States. Currently that ban has been lifted. 

Another option...Monk Fruit

This is the sweetener used in my favorite form of exercise hydration, Cocogo, so I did some research and I found it in the organic section at my local grocery store in dry packet form.

There have be no incidents of negative side effects reported and the FDA has given multiple "recognized as safe" notices to the product. Unlike any of the other products noted, no restrictions on consuming the fruit or it's extracts have been made. 

Sounds like a winner to me. 

What are your thoughts? Do you use a low calorie sugar substitute or stick with the real thing?




I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.