[joesbucks]

I have used Splenda in many things. It does two things to me. First is I can do a symphony between belly rumbles and flatulance explosions (thankfully no odor). Almost 1812 Overture. Then the Green Apple Quick Step kicks in. That's when the odor takes over. I've bared many bathroom walls of paint after eating Splenda.

[Yaelle]

Also, besides the uncomfortable digestive effects, Splenda tastes (to me) absolutely terrible. I baked my birthday cake with it last June and I took one bite and threw the whole cake away.

I despise fake sugars. However, I just bought some stevia from Trader Joes and have used it in two things: a tiny bit in my tea, which is wonderful and I do not miss the sugar at all; and in the allowed dessert on Phase One of the South Beach Diet, which also tastes very real and yummy. (That dessert should be known to all: you take ricotta cheese, put it in a bowl, and mix in a tiny bit of stevia or other substitute and a teaspoon or less of unsweetened cocoa powder, a couple of drops of vanilla, mix well, and eat! It doesn't seem like diet anything! Yum!)

Anyway, stevia is not fake. It's just a sweet plant. Not bad at all.