Aspartame vs. Splenda

Question
I've begrudginly given up Diet Soda due to all the recent findings that diet drinks contribute to weight gain.  I am drinking pomegrante juice diluted with water but I need Splenda to sweeten it a bit.  Does Splenda have the same negative effects as the ingredients of diet drinks?

Thank you for your time.

Answer
Dear Stacey,
 You have made a wise choice by getting off diet soda! The jury is still out on splenda (sucralose) and many reports are conflicting in nature with aspartame. If you have personal reservations about artificial sweeteners and you would like to keep sugar consumption low, try stevia.
 
 Stevia is an herb found in South America which is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Many people are turned off by stevia because they do not use it properly. If you use too much it leaves a bitter after taste. You can purchase this sweetener at your local health food or grocery store in pre-measured packets. Usually one packet is good for 12-16 ounces of liquid. Stevia also comes in liquid form and I have even seen fruit flavored stevia. Experiment with the amount that is right for you. Try an on-line search and you will find that stevia as an herb can curb your sweet tooth and may have other health benefits.

Thank you for your question,
Dan Haley

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