How to Lose Weight With Stevia

Sugar is largely responsible for the national epidemic of obesity. All of those cans of sugary soda pack on the pounds--and corn syrup added to everything from cereal to marinara sauce has been blamed for weight gain. One way to drastically cut calories while still enjoying the sweetness of sugar is to use the natural plant Stevia instead of the powdery white stuff.

Instructions

1. Stop consuming table sugar, corn syrup, molasses, maple syrup, honey and other forms of sugar. To really go through with this plan, you'll need to start reading labels. Aside from the produce aisle, the supermarket will suddenly feel limiting so you might need to do your grocery shopping at natural food stores instead.

2. Use Stevia in place of sugar. Sprinkle some in your coffee, bake with it, stir it into your cereal or add it to diced tomatos and olive oil to make a marinara sauce that tastes more like the jarred stuff. A Stevia recipe book would be a good investment since you'll need help measuring the right amount out.

3. Purchase both pure Stevia powder and Stevia extract. Different meals will require different forms of this natural plant.

4. Make other healthy lifestyle changes to make sure your efforts with Stevia don't go to waste. Avoid foods high in trans or saturated fats as well as foods with sugar for the best results and the healthiest body. Also add exercise to your routine--5 to 6 days of cardio and resistance is a solid plan.

Tips & Warnings

• Stevia is not FDA approved as a sweetener because its safety hasn't been studied when consumed in vast quantities. Stevia is thought to be safe when used in moderation but not to excess. Use Stevia in moderation.

• Stevia is extremely sweet. Measure it very carefully when following recipes. When flavoring drinks or food, start out with a very small amount before increasing the sweetness.