I emailed BSN's customer service seein why they use it or whateva, didn't really expect an answer etc. but damn I'm impressed with their customer service even if I don't continue to use No-Xplode I'll definitely try the other he mentioned... heres the mail sent...
*****, I wish there was a better sweetener for NO-Xplode than aspartame, too. You are not alone.
The issue has to do with taste. No other sweetener or combination of sweeteners out there was able to overcome the 'chemical' taste of the powerful ingredients in NO-Xplode.
I don't know if you've tried any of the other pre-workout formulas out there, but we get many customers telling us that they taste quite poor --sometimes prohibitively so.
Please note that there is a great deal of misleading information on the Web about the dangers of aspartame. I've talked to many university research scientists around the globe over the years about this issue. They confirm that the Web-based claims are patently false.
One of the main concerns expressed on the Web is that aspartame consumption leads to the formation of methanol, a toxic chemical.
Actually, this is true. Aspartame consists of aspartic acid attached to phenylalanine. Both are naturally-occurring amino acids. Also part of the aspartame molecule is a methyl group. When this breaks off in your gut, it combines with water to form methanol (wood alcohol).
Guess what? If you eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, you get loads of pectin (a type of fiber). Pectin contains methylated carbohydrate molecules. Inside your gut, the pectin methyl groups come off, forming methanol.
Over millions of years of biological evolution, our bodies have developed the metabolic capacity to handle methanol produced by high-fiber diets. Indeed, fiber from fruits and vegetables is certainly not toxic; only beneficial.
The amount of methanol produced by aspartame is much smaller than what you get from healthy consumption of fruits and veggies.
Something to think about.
Rest assured, *****, we are always looking into new and better sweetening agents. Some time down the road, we may well have an aspartame-free NO-Xplode. Though we're confident it is safe, we do have to contend with the concerns spark by the aforementioned Web site 'scares'.
Also note that our forthcoming energy drink, Endorush, does not contain aspartame.
Thanks again for writing us, *****. I hope I've been of some help.
Feel free to contact me whenever you have comments about BSN products, ads, or the like.
Sincerely,
Anthony Presciano
Business Development Executive
Customer Support Manager
BSN
6500 E. Rogers Circle
Suite D
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Main Ph.: 561-994-8335 ext. 9457
Direct Ph.: 561-214-9457
Fax: 561-994-8336
Toll Free: 1-877-673-3727 ext.9457
