Ditto on all the Aspartame ragging! I used to drink the stuff because I could not handle sugar, until I started getting absolutely horrible headaches. Finally made the connection one day and stopped the diet pop – and improved tremendously. At one point I started drinking the diet soda again – and the headaches returned. So I know it was the Aspartame. If I feel the need for soda, sparkling water with fruit juice really hits the spot.
Caution on Splenda: yes, I know it’s toted as the next non-calorie, okay to consume sweetener. But it is a byproduct of chlorine, and the long term effects have never been studied, either in humans, or in laboratory animals. Short term it has been linked to cancer, neurological problems – basically your typical cacophony of artificial sweetener linked health problems.
Sorry to throw cold water – I thought Splenda would be the answer for me too – until I started reading about it. Guess I will have to make do with more natural things – fruit juices, and an occasional shot of sugar when the need arises!