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(NaturalNews) Americans are obese due to over consumption of junk foods and sugar. Sugar has been called Sweet Poison and the Silent Killer for a good reason. It has many health risks including being linked to coronary heart disease and even cancer.

There are healthy, yummy snacks you can eat to cut the sugar cravings once and for all.

Are there any good sugars?

In my book, Secret Gateway to Health, I describe the different types of sugars and their pros and cons. The natural type of sweeteners include honey, blackstrap molasses, xylitol and stevia.

Blackstrap molasses and organic honey are the best of the lot in food. In toothpaste, mouthwash and gum, xylitol is the preferred sweetener.

Public Enemy #1

Sweets can be as addicting as any drug. If you are the type that has a sweet tooth, once you take a bite of any rich, sweet dessert, it is very difficult to stop. For example, if you have gotten into the habit of having a bowel of ice cream after dinner, or a muffin with your morning coffee, it becomes downright painful to switch to a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. It's just not the same.

Chocolate is another well known comfort food, with many a chocolaholics in the U.S. contributing to the over-weight statistics. Of course, most chocolate desserts are full of sugar.

Many books have been written about the subject of sugar addiction. This is one reason why the low carbohydrate diet came into being.

Sugar causes tooth decay and has a reputation of being the enemy of good health.

It's interesting that once you stop eating sugar for a few days, it becomes very easy to not crave it. But once you tell yourself, you deserve a break since you've been so good... you are doomed back to being a sugar addict.

Snacks that Calm the Savage Craving Beast

There are some very easy ways to stop the habit and get some satisfaction for your sweet tooth.

1. After meals, chew gum sweetened with xylitol or allow a xylitol sweetened breath drop to melt in your mouth. Artificial sweeteners are controversial with potential health risks, but xylitol is natural and helps prevent tooth decay, as some recent studies are starting to report. So opt for xylitol sweetened only candy and gum.

2. Munch on a low glycemic sweet fruit after meals or whenever the craving hits you. Low glycemic index foods are less than 55.

* Cherries – 22

* Grapefruit – 25

* Dried apricots – 31

* Apples – 38

* Pears – 38

* Plums – 39

* Peaches – 42

* Oranges – 44

* Grapes – 46

* Kiwi fruit – 53

* Bananas - 54

3. Popcorn mixed with a handful of your favorite nuts also hits the spot. About 3 cups of popcorn is only 100 calories.

4. Veggies dipped with hummus. Hummus is great because it's low carb and low in fat and good for you since it is made with garbanzo beans.

5. Low fat cheese sticks or soy cheese slices are another trick to curb the cookie monster.

Next time you want to dish out the dollars for a sugar filled snack, force yourself to partake of one of the choices above. You'll thank yourself later.

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Related Articles: • American Diabetes Association peddling nutritional nonsense while accepting money from manufacturer of candy and sodas • High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Diabetes: What the Experts Say • The Harmful Effects of Sugar and Choosing Healthy Alternatives	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/024062_sugar_snacks_health.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. Embed article link: (copy HTML code below): <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/024062_sugar_snacks_health.html">Snacks That Build Healthy Teeth Can Help Stop Your Sweet Tooth</a>