The average American adult is eating about 22 teaspoons of sugar every day—about 13 more teaspoons than the max recommended amount for men and 16 more for women. It’s not surprising, either; not only do many of us enjoy the taste of sweet treats, items like soft drinks and flavored yogurts can contain whopping amounts of the stuff that we underestimate.

All this sugar is not only dangerous to our waistlines and our health, but also to the environment. In 2004, the World Wildlife Fund released a report that indicated sugar might be responsible for more biodiversity loss than any other crop. From start to finish, sugar can be devastating, with initial habitat destruction to clear the way for plantations, heavy water consumption for irrigation, hefty amounts of agricultural chemicals for upkeep, and polluted runoff water.

Limiting your sugar intake is a quick way to get healthier (and reduce the impact of sugar on our planet), but if you want to take it a step further, it’s time to consider sugar alternatives. No, we don’t mean artificial sweeteners, which have been linked to a myriad of health problems including cancer (even Splenda). Instead, consider natural sugar alternatives, many of which are more easily processed by the body than regular sugar and don’t have the same detrimental effects for the environment. Here are five good options to satisfy your sweet tooth:

1. Certified Organic Agave Nectar, $4.69

Probably the most buzzed about sugar alternative, agave’s biggest claim to fame is its low ranking on the glycemic index, but it’s also hugely popular with vegans (as an alternative to honey) and raw foodists (because of its low temperature production). If one of your big sugar consumptions is sweetened drinks—tea, coffee or other—agave syrup is a perfect solution because of its quick-melting liquid form.

2. Certified Organic Brown Rice Syrup, $5.31

Regular sugar can cause your blood sugar levels to surge and sink, giving you a quick boost of energy and then dropping you down lower than you started, but brown rice syrup is broken down slower and steadier and won’t give you the same “roller coaster” energy rush. It’s got a slightly buttery flavor that might be too noticeable for some when served straight, but that same quality makes it excellent for baking.

3. Organic Stevia Extract, $8.30

Anyone who’s been relying on artificial sweeteners to get low-calorie and low-carbohydrate satisfaction will be happy to hear that stevia has zero calories and zero carbohydrates (without any artificial ingredients). In fact, it’s so viable as a substitute that both Pepsi and Coca Cola are quickly integrating it into their product offerings. The best stevia, however, has no other artificial ingredients and comes in extract form. You may notice a slight licorice taste at first, but regular stevia users say it’s not noticeable for long.

4. Barley Malt Syrup, $5.94

Similar to brown rice syrup, the sugars in barley malt syrup are slowly broken down by the body, making it a healthier alternative to conventional sugar, and, although you may not be aware of it, you’re likely already consuming some barley malt syrup if you drink beer. With a malty, molasses-like flavor, however, you’ll probably enjoy barley malt syrup the most when you use it in baking or as a topping on items like hot oatmeal.

5. Organic Honey, $6.39

The most widely consumed natural alternative to sugar, there’s probably already a jar of honey in your house somewhere, but there are some important things to consider when you purchase this bee byproduct. First and foremost, make sure you’re buying a honey that isn’t additionally sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (a shocking amount are). You also want to opt for organic, which is free of the chemicals sometimes found in conventional honeys (some beekeepers even spray to kill colonies before harvesting).

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