Aspartame...scary

Ive been drinking no added sugar or diet drinks since I was at least 10, now 35. never really had a problem. Apart from being overweight and diabetic now. Who knows what roll aspartame had in that if any. I do try to limit it now and tend to drink water 90% of the time, mainly as I think it makes you want more sweet things.

Yes, the aspartame debate has been going for ever.
I avoid it where possible, but am not fanatical about it.
It gives me a headache that lasts most of the day - depending on quantity.
Would definitely prefer sugar to aspartame, no matter what the sugar did to my BG.

Actually, I avoid all the chemically sweeteners. They either make me feel odd, headachy, or they leave a weird taste in the mouth...

I've used agave nectar in the past, but switched to xylitol a while back. Maybe 2 teasp a day, max.

But I view anything that processed with suspicion...

It's up to you whether you want to use it or not, I hate the taste of it in sweetened drinks; they are too sweet but I'll still use one in black coffee.
There are a huge number of internet myths/hoaxes about Aspartame.
The European safety authorities have just completed a review of it's safety . They conclude that it is safe but even so the controversy continues as you can read in the report of it here