Last time we discussed one of the most acid forming things that could be put into the body - Artificial Sweeteners. So people are wanting to know:  - What are the alternatives?

Well, Stevia is a natural sweetener that I'm extremely fond of.

My philosophy is Natural = Good

Artificial = Bad

At least the vast majority of the time, this tends to be true. There are a few other natural sweeteners that qualify for honorable mention and find themselves on the Alkaline side of the chart.

Maple Syrup and Raw Honey 

Maple Syrup and Organic raw honey are alkaline forming good guys. It's important to note that processed honey finds itself on the acid side of the scale. Processing destroys much of the natural value found in pure raw honey. So when you go to the grocery store beware, if it doesn't say raw and organic on the label, then it likely isn't.

More about my favorite Stevia 

Stevia Powder Extract is made from an unusually sweet herb called stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). Glycosides present in the Stevia rebaudiana plant, such as stevioside and rebaudioside, attribute to the plant’s unique characteristics.

With stevia, a little bit goes on long way. It's very concentrated so not much is needed.

It has a Zero glycemic index. That means diabetics and people concerned about their blood sugar, don't have to worry.

It's a great substitute for sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Fruit and Fruit Juices

Fruit and fruit juices can also be useful as sweeteners. But again here we must consider the question, How much has it been processed? Pasteurization and other food processing techniques can greatly diminish the value of fruit and leave you with something not much better than refined sugar.