I absolutely CANNOT tolerate aspartame/Equal/Nutrasweet, which has become THE industry standard for sweeteners .. even in the lowcarb shakes, which I was really anxious to use. This substance makes me fuzzy-headed, dizzy, headachy ... is a documented NEUROTOXIN .. and has been linked to many serious long-term problems. I was ill within of 20 minutes of imbibing the lowcarb drink.
Stevia, a true biological, is safe (even tho the FDA refuses to classify it as a sweetener .. it's apparently a political issue) .. it is available in health food stores as a supplement, yet it is 300 times sweeter than sugar, and is safe and needed in very small amounts.
Excerpt:
"Dr. Bertoni wrote some of the earliest articles on the plant in 1905 and 1918. In the latter article he notes:
"The principal importance of Ka he'e (stevia) is due to the possibility of substituting it for saccharine. It presents these great advantages over saccharine:
1. It is not toxic but, on the contrary, it is healthful, as shown by long experience and according to the studies of Dr. Rebaudi.
2. It is a sweetening agent of great power.
3. It can be employed directly in its natural state, (pulverized leaves).
4. It is much cheaper than saccharine."
Unfortunately, this last point may have been the undoing of stevia. Noncaloric sweeteners are a big business in the U.S., as are caloric sweeteners like sugar and the sugar-alcohols, sorbital, mannitol and xylitol. It is small wonder that the powerful sweetener interests here, do not want the natural, inexpensive, and non-patentable stevia approved in the U.S."
I urge all people interested in sugar substitutes to read the following links carefully and know what you're getting into.
Aspartame Toxicity Reactions & Health Damage Cases
Please also see
Reported Aspartame Toxicity Effects
Companies That Are Aware of The Dangers of Aspartame And Still Sell It
There ARE safe options to Nutrasweet/Splenda/Equal/Aspartame .. and I don't see any reason why substitution in your recipes would have any ill effect. .... the recipes are great .. please, just consider the sweetener. Just my 3-1/2 cents .. and THANKS, CARLO, for your help!