You're telling me. :o\ Camping, fishing, biking and all the outdoor stuff should be interesting, although I can safely say I'll be breathing easier next year than I did this year while snorkling.
That same question about the source of the "sugar" occurred to me right away. Cane sugar? Corn sugar? Birch sugar?? This really bites because Splenda tastes good and so many foods and drinks are being made from it. My diet just got even more restrictive... Oh well. Do what I'm good at - adapt.
I looked up Xylitol online and found that it's also a sweetener in Toms of Maine (and perhaps other toothpastes, etc.
"http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/ifs/xylitol.asp
What is it? > Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that can be found in plants, fruits, and vegetables and is even produced in the human body by normal metabolism. The xylitol used in our toothpaste is produced from birch tree pulp. Though there is some processing involved in extracting the ingredient from birch pulp, the end result is identical to the xylitol found naturally in plants.
"What are the risks?
Xylitol has no known toxicity or carcinogenicity. It is listed by the US Food and Drug Administration as an ingredient that is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). It has a long history of use in food dating back to the 1960's and is included in such products as chewing gum, syrup, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and pharmaceuticals. "
AND from http://www.caloriecontrol.org/xylitol.html
"Xylitol occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables and is even produced by the human body during normal metabolism. Produced commercially from plants such as birch and other hard wood trees and fibrous vegetation, xylitol has the same sweetness and bulk as sucrose with one-third fewer calories and no unpleasant aftertaste. It quickly dissolves and produces a cooling sensation in the mouth.
Xylitol is currently approved for use in foods, pharmaceuticals and oral health products in more than 35 countries. Xylitol is used in foods such as chewing gum, gum drops and hard candy, and in pharmaceuticals and oral health products such as throat lozenges, cough syrups, children's chewable multivitamins, toothpastes and mouthwashes. In the United States, xylitol is approved as a direct food additive for use in foods for special dietary uses."
Seems you're in for a bit of research into the products you use, Ladysmith. good luck!