If you’ve been following the latest food news, then you’ve probably learned just how bad today’s popular artificial sweetener—aspartame—is for you. According to a recent article by Dr. Joseph Mercola, aspartame has been associated with a number of neurological, behavioral, and gastrointestinal disorders. Some experts also attribute artificial sweeteners to America’s obesity epidemic, as they interfere with our body’s natural ability to monitor calorie intake. Naturally Sweet Sugar Alternatives So how do you go about enjoying a touch of sweetness without putting your health at risk? One of the alternative sweeteners many doctors are recommending these days is Stevia. Stevia is a natural plant derivative that can be used to sweeten beverages and food without the dangerous side effects of aspartame, or the added calories of real sugar. According to health experts, it’s great for anyone who needs to avoid sugar for the purpose of maintaining their health or weight. As for me, I’m a fan of honey, maple syrup, and agave. Whenever I go out to eat, instead of pouring the contents of one of those cute colored packets into my tea or coffee, I always ask for honey or maple syrup. And by that I mean REAL maple syrup, not Aunt Jemima. If they don't have it, I just go without. No biggie. If you’ve never had tea sweetened with maple syrup, give it a try. I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful it pairs with our Cocoa Rose Tea. It’s one of my absolute favorites! The way I see it, there seems to be something negative said about ALL artificial powder/dry sweeteners. So maple syrup and agave are what I aim for if anything at all. How about you? Do you have any tips you can share with me and our readers about your favorite natural sweeteners? We’d love to hear from you!