I have a bit of a problem. I started using sugar free stuff such as syrup and candies and it made me very sick, so sick that I ended up in the hospital and the doctor told me it was because of the sugar alcohol thats in most sugar free items. Is there anything else I can use instead of sugar free stuff? Like to put on my mock french toast?

It is definitely a problem that most of us have with sugar alcohols and you are particularly sensitive.
Try using Splenda sprinkled on anything that you feel needs sweetening and avoid the other stuff. It's Frankenfood!

Thanks, I am very sensitive even if I only have one peice of sugarless gum my stomach cramps, its horrible. Thanks for the advice.

I know many people will probably disagree with me, and it's somewhat controversial, but I happen to like Stevia a lot. It's an herb that's really sweet and really concentrated. To many, it has a licorice aftertaste, but I personally don't get that. I too cannot eat anything with aspartame or the 'ols. Splenda doesn't affect me as much, so I use that primarily for baking. To me, Stevia is great for sprinkling on things, and anything that doesnt require long time baking. I haven't experimented fully with Stevia on baking though...

Stevia isn't approved by the FDA in the US (it's an herbal 'supplement'), so there is a lot of controversy over it (some conspiracy theorist think that big corporations such as the makers of Splenda are 'afraid' of a natural sweetener that's a plant since it may cut into their profits and have claimed that they've spread rumors about the 'dangers' of Stevia). My philosophy is that even things that are approved by the FDA have the potential of harming you (all the COX2 inhibitors controversy these days), so I just try and be sensible about it. I've never had a problem with it and I like the taste. I also like the idea of eating something natural vs something manufactured.

This is the brand I use. I prefer the dry packets to the liquid version: they may send you a sample?

http://www.steviasmart.com/wisherstevpl.html

Here's a pro-Stevia site:
http://www.stevia.net/

I'm sure you can Google to get a bunch of anti-Stevia sites as well.

Hope that helps-

KPW

Right! I forgot about stevia. I have used it and may do so again. It does make things very very sweet so I avoid it. I find that eating anything sweet, whether from artificial or real sweeteners, sets off cravings for more. Sweet stuff got me into this fluffy body so I am trying to eliminate it completely.

Thank you all so much. I have never heard of Stevia, where can I buy it?

You can buy online in the link I had in my last post. Also, I've found Stevia at Trader Joes and at healthfood stores. I prefer the powdered form versus the liquid form-

Good luck!

I'm copying this to the FAQ because I don't think many will find it here...

I am using Stevia too. Actually, it's Stevia Plus. I bought it at Kroger's. I like it alot. I use Splenda too, but I like the extra benefits from the Stevia Plus.

I got a box of 50 packets for $4.79, but it's worth it if it helps me lose all this weight.

Karen

I have problems with the sugar alcohols AND Splenda. Although it doesn't seem scientifically valid, I find that Splenda spikes my blood sugar almost as much as refined white sugar. I don't eat any artificial sweeteners of any kind except now and then a drop of LIQUID saccharine (there's no evidence it causes cancer, that's an old belief, IMO) ... I also keep in mind that the powdered sweeteners of the Sweet 'n Low type or the Nutra Sweet type contain maltodextrin or dextrose ... the SB authors don't find this a problem because of the small amounts, but I don't desire to eat those items (dextrose is SUGAR and is higher on the GI than table sugar).

Sometimes stevia in crystallized form has these high glycemic items or dextrose as well, but I've used the liquid or the powdered green leaves ... doesn't taste very good to me, though.

For me, fruit is the only sweetener I want to use. I do violate the SB "rule" of eating fruit by itself and use it in recipes when I want a bit of sweetness. But IMO, it's far, far better to simply not use sweeteners in food other than fruit ... when I do that, I lose all desire for a sweet taste, or rather, food starts to taste naturally sweet all by itself. So for me, it's better not to substitute for sugar but to learn to live without it.