[STARWISE]

Carlo, your enthusiasm is infectious! Thank you for providing suggestions for combatting the perpetual battle of the waistline.

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!

[carlo3b]

Thank you, I have often heard that some folks get great reactions to substitute sweeteners, and with a little additional reading with what you furnished I will know.. Wonderful sources Thanks again..

BTW you are free to experiment with any of my recipes of course, with one proviso, that you immediately report back with the results.. :o)

[millefleur]

what are the dangers of Splenda ? I had not heard of any since it is only maltodextrin and sucralose.
If anyone knows why Splenda is dangerous I would be interested to hear.
thanks!

[ET(end tyranny)]

Do you by any chance know the difference between stevia and stevia plus?

[Ditter]

What is stevia? Is it a plant?

[Rocket4]

Is sucralose different from these sweetners when it comes to the toxicity problem?

I've been doing Atkins since July and have lost 27 lbs.

I feel better with my blood suger being more stable, but I am always looking for ways to substitue something sweet for those times when I need a taste after dinner.

[Lee'sGhost]

"There ARE safe options to Nutrasweet/Splenda/Equal/Aspartame .. "

Two questions:

What are the safe options and what's the deal with Splenda? I thought Splenda was option of choice for substitute sweetners.

[Politicalmom]

How does the Stevia taste in hot tea? I have been thinking of trying a low-carb diet, but I just don't think I can give up my hot tea. : )

[Cincinatus]

Sucralose (brand name: Splenda) is NOT aspartame and is the recommended sweetener on the Atkins website. Click HERE.