Update 5-15-22. AdvoCare is a supplement company that markets a variety of products devoted to weight loss, wellness, and exercise performance. The supplements are said to be based on “the latest scientific knowledge” and contain “ingredients that are present in effective amounts and work synergistically for superior results.” In this review, I want to look specifically at the AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink Mix, which is said to “enhance mental energy and focus,” and provide “long lasting energy,” among other things. I’ll dissect the product by its ingredients and show you the relevant research on those ingredients and any research I can find on the Spark Energy Drink itself. Hopefully, this will help you evaluate whether this supplement is right for you or not.
What Is AdvoCare?
Advocare, also called AdvoCare LLC and AdvoCare International, is the company that markets the Spark Energy Drink. The AdvoCare company was started in 1993, according to the Better Business Bureau. According to the AdvoCare website, the company is located at 2801 Summit Avenue, Plano, TX 75074-7453.
Contact Advocare
Customer Service #: 800-542-4800
Another number is :972-665-5800
BBB Ratings
At the time this review was updated, the Better Business Bureau gave Advocare an A+ rating. See the BBB file for updates and more information. Sitejabber, another consumer site, gave Advocare 4.5 our of 5 stars, based on 2 reviews.
What Does Advocare Mean?
I contacted AdvoCare company about the meaning behind their name. They told me AdvoCare is a reference to the values of the company’s founder, Charlie Ragus, who wanted to be an “advocate who cared.” That's a pretty catchy name then.
Advocare Spark Energy Drink Research
I searched the AdvoCare website to see if there had been any published studies on the Spark Energy Drink itself showing that it increases energy or mental focus levels in humans. The website makes no reference to any such studies.
I then searched the National Library of Medicine for “AdvoCare” and found a study of Spark energy study where it was given to college football players. In this investigation, AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink was given to 20 college football players who then participated in sprint tests (they performed 6 sprints with 10 seconds of rest between sprints). During one week, the football players received the Spark drink and did the sprint test, and the next week they received a placebo and did the sprint test.
Results: the Spark Energy Drink did not result in any significant changes in these college football players.
Let’s now look at the ingredients in Spark Energy Drink. By doing this, we can shed light on the research and what the drink’s active ingredient/ingredients might be.
Spark Energy Drink Mix Ingredients
From a pdf document located on AdvoCare website, we see that the Spark Energy Drink (Mandarin Orange flavor) has the following ingredients and Nutrition Facts per serving (a serving 0.53 oz / 15 g ):
| Amount per serving | % DV | |
| Calories | 45 | |
| Total carbs | 11g | 1% |
| Vitamin A (beta carotene) | 1000 IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 180 mg | 300% |
| Vitamin E (d alpha tocopheryl acetate) | 30 IU | 100% |
| Thiamine | 3 mg | 200% |
| Riboflavin | 3.4 mg | 200% |
| Niacin (niacinamide) | 60 mg | 300% |
| Vitamin B6 | 15 mg | 750% |
| Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | 45 mcg | 750% |
| Pantothenic acid | 50 mg | 500% |
| Zinc | 3 mg | 20% |
| Copper (copper glycinate) | 200 mcg | 10% |
| Chromium (chromium citrate) | 24 mcg | 20% |
| Choline | 500 mg | N/A |
| Tyrosine | 500 mg | N/A |
| Taurine | 200 mg | N/A |
| Caffeine | 120 mg | N/A |
| Glycine | 100 mg | N/A |
| Citrus flavonoids | 50 mg | N/A |
| GABA | 50 mg | N/A |
| L Carnitine | 10 mg | N/A |
| Inositol | 10 mg | N/A |
- DV =Daily Value.
- N/A= No % DV established.
- mg = milligrams
- mcg = micrograms
- % DV is based on eating 2000 calories per day.
Since writing this review I discovered that the formula may have changed to one that is a bit lower in carbs.
Note. GABA is in the following flavors: Mandarin orange, grape and cherry. GABA is not present in Pink Lemonade or Mango Strawberry flavors.
Spark Other ingredients
Also listed include maltodextrin, citric acid, beetroot extract (for color), natural flavor, sucralose, and silicon dioxide.
This is a lot of ingredients; however, I don’t believe the vitamins and minerals provide any energy, help in focusing, or weight loss, in healthy people. I believe the AdvoCare company, for the most part, agrees with me because both the website and the pdf document for the product, indicate that the “key ingredients” in the Spark Energy Drink are:
- B-vitamin complex (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and pantothenic acid),
- taurine
- L-tyrosine
- choline
- caffeine
- GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
In other words, these 11 ingredients put the “spark” in Spark Energy Drink. Since they are said to be the most important, I will only look at the relevant research on these ingredients.
The B Complex Vitamins
Spark Energy Drink Mix contains various amounts of the B vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and pantothenic acid. The B vitamins help us turn food into energy. They also help us store energy (in the form of carbs and fat). Many energy drinks contain B vitamins (especially B6 and B12) but there just isn’t any good proof that they improve energy levels in healthy people—such as the way caffeine would.
Likewise, I’m not aware of any good proof that B vitamins help people lose weight. Vitamin B12, in particular, has a big reputation in some circles that it helps weight loss. I’ve looked into this but can’t find any evidence it does.
See the review on vitamin B12 and weight loss
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid we make naturally. While it might play several roles in the body, taurine is also something found in many energy drinks, possibly because of research showing it might help mental performance. For example, in a study of 36 people, researchers noted Red Bull significantly improved memory, reaction time, and concentration.
While studies like this are encouraging and appear to justify the use of taurine in supplements, it is interesting to note most of the studies showing that “taurine works” actually combine it with caffeine. In addition, there is also research noting it is the caffeine in the mixture that provides the benefits—not taurine.
For example, in a review of energy drink studies from 1997-2006 titled, it was concluded that caffeine was likely the “secret sauce” in energy drinks, rather than taurine or other exotic ingredients.
This result was substantiated by another review of energy drinks. These researchers conclude caffeine—and caffeine alone—is the main active ingredient in energy drinks responsible for effects such as improved focus and physical performance.
Researchers in the UK, looking at a type of “soft drink” which contained various herbal ingredients, caffeine and sugar, concluded that caffeine, along with sugar, improved mental performance and memory.
Some people take energy drinks to boost their workouts in the gym, in other words as a “pre-workout” supplement. However, according to this small study neither the energy drink nor caffeine improved strength in college men.
Researchers in the United Kingdom performing a test tube experiment of mice muscle cells noted that taurine—by itself—did not produce any increase in power, time to exhaustion, or muscle recovery. On the other hand, the taurine plus caffeine mixture did. While this was not a human study, this investigation further points to caffeine as the main active ingredient in energy drinks.
L-tyrosine
Tyrosine is also a type of amino acid that most of us make in the body. Tyrosine also helps us make thyroid hormone (thyroxine), so it might also be found in supplements marketed for hypothyroidism.
With that in mind, I searched the National Library of Medicine for:
- Tyrosine thyroid
- Tyrosine thyroxin
to see if any studies were conducted to determine if tyrosine increased thyroid hormone production. Unfortunately, I saw no human studies on this issue.
As far as exercise is concerned, one small investigation has noted tyrosine supplementation does not help exercise performance in 7 men who cycled in hot temperatures.
The amount of tyrosine used in this study was 150 mg per kilogram. In people terms, a 180-pound person (82 kg) would have used 150 x 82 = 12,300 mg of tyrosine. This is a lot more than the 500 mg in a serving of Spark Energy Drink.
Ironically, in other study, these same researchers noted in tyrosine did help exercise in hot temperatures. Regardless of the different outcomes, the amount of tyrosine used was a lot: 150 mg per kg of body weight—far more than is in Spark Energy Drink.
See the Black Seed Oil Review – section on the thyroid – for more insights.
Choline
I’ve seen choline in many memory supplements over the years. This may be because choline helps make acetylcholine, a neutrotransmitter that helps the central and peripheral nervous systems function properly. So, I searched the National Library of Medicine for:
- Choline memory
- Choline supplementation memory
While I did see some rat studies of choline helping memory, I did not locate any studies involving choline supplements and memory in humans.
Caffeine
Pretty much every energy drink I have ever seen has contained caffeine. The reasons for this are obvious and so I won’t recount the research here, as I’m sure everybody is already aware of the stimulating effects of caffeine. If you search this site for “caffeine” you will see various studies to which I have already linked.
The Advocare Spark Energy Drink Mix contains 120 mg of caffeine per serving. This is similar to that of an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
GABA
GABA stands for Gamma-aminobutyric acid (also called γ-aminobutyric acid). GABA is classified as an inhibitory neurotransmitter because it tends to calm things down. Because of this, it was even called “liquid zanax” on a segment of the Dr. Oz show.
While that statement resonates with a lot of people looking for a natural way to relax, I think it’s more complicated than this, given some evidence suggests GABA supplements might not be able to enter the brain. In other words, GABA supplements might not work. As such, comparing GABA to Zanax is an oversimplification.
Truth be told, GABA does many things. While both choline and GABA are essential for nerve function, muscle control, and memory don't necessarily mean taking GABA or choline supplements improves these things in healthy adults.
Note: GABA is not present in all flavors of Spark. I only saw it listed in Grape, Mandarin orange and Cherry flavor. Pink Lemonade flavor did not contain GABA.
AdvoCare Advisory Board
On the science page of the AdvoCare website, there is a list of MDs and PhDs who serve on the advisory board of AdvoCare. While it’s nice that they have an advisory board, what this page does not list is any research on AdvoCare products published by any of these individuals.
Spark Energy Drink vs. 5-Hour Energy
It appears AdvoCare has less caffeine per serving than 5-Hour Energy. A serving of AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink has 120 mg, while, as I mentioned in my review of 5-hour energy, that product has 215 mg per serving. That doesn't mean 5 Hour Energy is any better or worse but I wanted to mention this for those who were curious. There are other differences also, so see my review of 5-Hour Energy for more information.
See the 5 Hour Energy With Protein review too
Spark Energy Drink and Kids
In a New York Times article on Advocare from 2005 titled, A Sports Drink for Children Is Jangling Some Nerves, there were references to Advocare marketing the Spark drink to kids and young athletes. I see no reference to kid marketing on the AdvoCare website as it appears today. I have however seen testimonials from athletes like Drew Brees and AdvoCare independent distributors—several of whom appear in physically active situations.
The subtle message to people is AdvoCare is good for a physically active lifestyle. While it’s tempting for kids to look for a competitive advantage during sports, I can tell you that there is no clinical proof -yet- Spark Energy Drink improves exercise ability—in kids or adults.
To be fair, I don't think kids should use any energy supplements either. Parents need to remember kids are not miniature versions of adults.
Spark Drink and ADHD
After I posted my review, I was alerted that I missed a study that compared Spark Energy Drink to Ritalin (methylphenidate). Online, this investigation is sometimes called the Texas Tech Spark Energy Study. The actual title is A Comparison of the Neuropsychological Effects of Methylphenidate (Ritalin) And Nutritional Beverage Versus Placebo on Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
This study took place at the Center for Family Medicine in Amario Texas and looked at how Spark Energy Drink compared to either Ritalin (methylphenidate) or placebo in 72 kids, age 6-17. The study lasted 4 months and took place in 1998.
Kids were broken up into 3 groups
- Placebo group which received caffeine
- Ritalin group
- Spark Energy Drink group
All treatments were given to the kids 2 hours prior to ADHD testing.
Researchers noted kids getting Spark Energy Drink scored as well as kids getting Ritalin in 3 out of the 4 ADHD tests that were administered.
While this is good, it's important to note this study did not say the Spark drink was better than Ritalin, but rather that kids scored as well as those getting Ritalin in 3 out of the 4 tests they used.
Looking at this from another angle, the results also mean Ritalin did as well as the Spark drink in 3 out of the 4 tests and that Ritalin was better than Spark in 1 out of the 4 tests also. Still, the results are interesting.
What's good about this study: It appears the researchers controlled for caffeine which may have had an effect. In the summary I saw, the researchers did not say the caffeine content of the placebo was the same as that in Spark drink, but I'll assume it was.
What's bad about this study: It does not appear to be published in a medical journal. In the summary of the study I have, it only says “Presented at Experimental Biology April 1999.” Studies presented at medical conferences don’t have to be peer-reviewed. I searched medical databases for the study but could not find it. Why didn’t the researchers ever attempt to get this study published?
Another downside is the researchers were not able to determine which ingredient/ingredients in the Spark drink were responsible for its effects. For example, was it taruine? Was it GABA? We can't tell from this study.
Without more research I cant say if Advocare Spark helps people with ADHD or not.
Spark Drink Side Effects
In healthy people, I think Advocare Spark is probably safe in most people. I’m not aware of any bad side effects from the Spark Energy Drink and when I googled “AdvoCare spark energy drink side effects,” I didn’t see a lot of really negative side effects. That doesn’t necessarily mean there are none, and if you have had issues, I hope you will leave a comment so you can help others.
Based on the ingredients in the product, here are a few things that I think people should be aware of. This list is not complete:
- Not intended for pregnant women or those breastfeeding
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery
- Choline might cause diarrhea and at higher doses an odd fishy body odor
- Speak to your pharmacist first if you take any medications
- Don't take it close to bedtime due to the caffeine
- Some people report feeling jittery when they first take it
- Don't use it if you are younger than 18 years of age
- Start with less at first to see how you respond to it
Currently, the upper tolerable limit ―beyond which side effects might be noticed―for choline is set at 3.5 grams per day. A serving of Spark Energy Drink has 500 mg of choline (1/2 gram). Good food sources of choline include milk and eggs. Theoretically, it’s possible that a few servings of the Spark Drink per day plus normal food intake might put people over this limit. I thought I’d mention this in case anyone noticed this strange body odor.
There is conflicting evidence that choline might—or might not—be linked to colon cancer. More research is needed. Those who take choline supplements should discuss this concern with an oncologist who likely has seen this research.
Some say caffeine can dehydrate people, due to its diuretic effects; however, newer research finds caffeine isn't dehydrating in those who are accustomed to it.
One report exists of a taurine energy drink causing a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, Interestingly, this report indicated the woman who experienced the allergic reaction only was sensitive to synthetic taurine and not natural taurine. I don’t believe supplements indicate whether taurine is natural or synthetic.
Energy drinks have also been associated with death in apparently healthy people. In this instance, a 28-year-old man consumed three cans of an 8-oz energy drink (I don’t know which brand) 5 hours prior to a basketball game. There are no reports of death in those taking Advocare Spark.
Spark Energy Drink FAQ
Buy Advocare
Advocare supplements are not sold in stores like Walmart, CVS, Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Costco or Sams Club. You can only get them from the Advocare website or through an Advocare Associate. Supplements may also be found on Amazon
How Much Caffeine
Each serving has 120 mg of caffeine. This is roughly the same in a cup of coffee and less than other energy drinks
Is It A Preworkout Supplement?
Some may use Spark as a pre-workout. Whether it helps people exercise better is open to speculation. On the plus side, Spark does not contain questionable ingredients found in other pre-workouts (beta-alanine, etc).
Does Spark Raise NAD Levels
NAD is an energy molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Niacin helps us make NAD. Because Spark contains niacin, its possible it may raise NAD levels. But, what this means is not clear. Im not aware of any research of Advocare Spark and NAD levels.
I mention this because things which raise NAD are quite popular in the anti-aging world. For more on this, see these reviews
Can You Drink Spark During Pregnancy?
Advocare says to not drink Spark during pregnancy or while breastfeeding your baby.
Why Do They Call It Spark?
The name, Spark may refer to spark-plugs that are needed to make the engine in your car turn over. Spark makes your engine go too. That's how I interpret it anyway.
How Do You Use Spark?
It's pretty easy. Blend, shake or stir the contents of one stick pack or scoop into 16 fluid ounces of water. Drink.
Is Spark Energy Drink Safe?
Spark Energy has been around for a long time. I have not seen any clinical proof it was not safe. To make sure it's safe for you, it's wise to start with less than is recommended. This is to help you gauge how you respond to it.
The Advocare FTC Lawsuit
In 2019 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued the AdvoCare company over its being a pyramid scheme. The result of that lawsuit was a return of almost $150 million to over 200,000 distributors who lost money on Advocare supplements.
Is Spark Energy Good For you?
Good is a relative term. It does have some vitamins which we need to stay healthy. While that's nice, I'd always point people to eating better to get those. See my smoothie recipe for an example. Some people report they feel better when they take Spark so that may be good. Overall, this is a hard question to answer for everybody.
How Does Spark Compare To Other Energy Drinks?
I have not seen studies that compare Spark to things like 5 Hour Energy, Monster Energy, Bang, or other energy drinks. The caffeine in Spark is less than in other energy drinks but other than this, it's hard to say how it stacks up against other similar products.
Advocare vs. Crystal Light
Spark has caffeine while Crystal Light does not. On the flip side, Crystal Light contains phenylalanine which should not be consumed by people with the PKU genetic disorder. There is no phenylalanine in Advocare Spark.
Does Advocare Spark Energy Drink Work?
I think the active ingredient in AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink is the same as for most energy drinks―caffeine. As such, I would not be surprised if people felt more energized after using it. The same can be said for any caffeine-containing beverage too.
hmmmm, did someone delete my comment?
Kristy, nope, I just posted them. I moderate all comments to stop spam so it may take a little bit before a comment appears. Both of yours are now posted 🙂
Spark energy drink alone is not supposed to help you lose weight. Advocare is a lifestyle in my opinion. I started the 24 day challenge 4 days ago because I’m so fatigued all day everyday and have a hard time staying awake. The 24 day challenge includes spark but it also includes fiber mix, herbal cleanse, pro-biotics, meal replacement shakes, about 10 different vitamins, omega-plex, etc…..it’s a specific plan and DIET that you follow to lose the weight which in turn gives you more energy.
The first 10 days is the cleanse phase, the remainder 14 days is the max phase. i can honestly say in these first 4 days that I’ve started my challenge i have not felt tired once! it’s amazing. i think it’s a cummulation of cleansing all the toxins out of my system, eating healthy, and drinking the spark which just gives me that pep that i need in the morning.
I also forgot to add that i was nervous about trying spark because i haven’t drank caffeine in about 5 years. I had horrible anxiety and panic attacks for years and i was afraid of caffeine. The spark gives me no side effects and no “crashing” effects at all.
Thanks for mentioning the allergy to Taurine! I tried the 24 day challenge about a year ago and had an allergic reaction that put me in the ER with breathing problems and a swollen face, neck, hands, etc. I told my up line and was told I was imagining it! It may work for folks. But not for me!
KT, sorry that happened to you. I’m glad you are ok now.
Oh my, someone actually told you , you were imagining the effects? That is harsh and reckless, I am an AdvoCare Distributor, I use the products, have been for roughly 2.5 years, Spark got me away from an excessive amount of energy drinks being used and helps fight cravings for sweets- but i have always wondered why they chose splenda/sucralose, over stevia- the convention I went to for them, the question was asked and answered but to a short extent of it’s safe and fine to use.
I just don’t like artificial anything if i can help it. I have been feeling fatigued lately- I do however work 3rd shift for the last 1.5 years. I was wondering if anything in mainly spark would cause this effect now down the road- may due to long term use etc. Spark is the only major product i take full time- from 1 to 3 a day from around 2pm to 4am- then i sleep from around 730 to 1/2pm and start over- I sometimes only do 2 servings/drinks per that same time frame-
I see that the GABA is the “Zanax” which is crazy to me- of why that would be in the “energy” drink-
Any thoughts?
Any studies showing it causes joint pain?
John, I looked but didn’t see anything concrete regarding Advocare Spark causing joint pain. Why dont you try this. Show the ingredients to your pharmacist and see what they think. They may be able to shed light on this. If you do this, please let me know what they say.
Hi Joe,
Thank you for taking the time to post such a well-written, and excellently researched, review of Spark. It is refreshing to see such a thoughtfully put-together piece; I am also very impressed with how measured and respectful your replies to various comments are. Great job, I really appreciate it and look forward to enjoying more of your posts.
Raymond.
Raymond, you are very welcome and I appreciate you saying that. You made my day 🙂
While Advocare could be considered a multi-level marketing corporation, they are the least pushy about it that I have ever seen. I became an Advocare distributor in June simply because I get a 25% discount on my products, AND I give that discount to anyone that buys from me, I mean why not? Advocare isn’t my job and I don’t need to make a profit off of you. I became a distributor because I fell in love with Spark. I am in no way addicted to it, but I honestly don’t want to live without it (I use to drink Starbucks 2x a day and have crazy caffeine crashes..vicious cycle)
So just as I wouldn’t tell you to give up your daily coffee, I will keep my daily Spark which is significantly cheaper by the way…. Also yes, Spark does have caffeine.
HOWEVER the caffeine is to help the immediate effect of the drink, the long term energy comes from the many vitamins and amino acids that Spark has that naturally create all day energy.
All in all I am totally and completely in love with Spark and really all Advocare products. I wont push it on you because everything works different for each person.
Personally this is the only one that has ever worked for me. Plus a box of Spark (14 servings) or the canister (42 servings) come out to far less than my Starbucks habit.
ANYWAY don’t knock it till you try it! I suggest you go out and try to find some samples and if you seriously can’t I would love to send you some free samples! IG: CarrieDiana
Hi Carrie, I appreciate your offer. I actually have tried Spark in the past. I didn’t feel any different unfortunately. I am happy that you do though. 🙂
Carrie,
Please be careful about giving your discount to others and not charging the retail price. I know, many of my friends do it, but when you become a distributor, you sign a statement saying you will not do this. You could lose your discount level. Just be careful.
My husband is an Advocare Distributor and I fell in love with Spark. It helps me to focus and I feel it helps put me in a positive state of mind. I look (looked) forward to my drink each morning.
However, back in May I became sick and was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and had an abscess that had perforated. I’m sure due to symptoms I’ve had, with NEVER being regular, I’ve had the diverticulosis (the pockets on the colon) for a long time, but they never became infected.
After my 3 day hospital stay this last May, I came off everything that was not natural to give my colon time to heal. I missed my Spark during this time so bad and so after a month I started back on my morning drink. I started feeling pains in the area where my diver’s was and immediately came off the Spark.
I have been off for some time now and the last two days I decided to try again and today I’m feeling slight pains in on my right side. (Issue in May was on my left.)
I have no clue if the Spark is to blame, but at this point I’m feeling like I’m going to have to quit using it since I don’t seem to have these pains when I’m not using it. I’m sad since I know it helps me, but I sure can’t risk my colon health for it.
In my research back in May, I did come across this website where someone is claiming that it affected their colon. (Scroll down until middle of page)
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Advocare/Carrollton-Texas-75006/Health-Problems-Due-To-Advocare-Products-ADVOCARE-RUINED-MY-HEALTH-AND-MY-LIFE-Advocare-134484
Angel, that’s an interesting report.
Angel, it may just still be too soon to go back to taking it again. These things do take time to heal. That said, Id rather your colon stay healthy so while you may one day be able to take it again, if not, just know its for the greater good.
Here it is 4 years since I wrote my comment and had been off Spark the whole time and no divers problems. However, decided to give Spark another chance and started drinking one every few days.
For the past several weeks, got hooked again and was drinking every morning.
Last week I started having a divers attack and have been on clear liquids for 4 days and feeling better. I feel 100% it’s the Spark so, sadly, no more for me. Not sure what is in it that affects my colon, but something does.
Hey Angel, good to hear from you again! Sorry to hear you had a repeat performance of diverticulitis problems with Spark. Based on what you said, I’d agree the diverticulitis and Spark seem to be related. The good news is you are feeling better now.
Is your husband still an Advocare distributor? Has he heard of anybody else getting these symptoms?
My neighbord gave my 21 year old some samples of Advocare, But because I use Reliv suplements, I told him no to take them because We do not know the ingredients. Have you done any reviews on Reliv? Marie M.
Marie, So far I have not looked at Reliv however if you look at the comments for Plexus Accelerator, there is a person who said Reliv caused serotonin syndrome. Here is the link
http://supplementclarity.com/plexus-slim-accelerator-plus-review-ingredients-side-effects/
I have been a part of Advocare for 15 years. Spark is not pushed for children, but as a mother I did use it for my Son in the 3rd grade. I chose to give him something I trusted for his ADHD instead of the drugs that had such side effects. Luckily over the years the taste has gotten better. I had a heck of a time to get him to take it during the early years. I ended up having to put him on Adderal. He had severe reactions including a stunt in his growth. He had rage spells and a very fast heart rate. I took him off again and took the Spark to the nurses station and had it given to him there instead of his medicine.
It took a few years of being back on Spark for him to finally start growing. He had missed two growth spurts according to the doctors. He made it all up going into his last years of high school. Spark was just a way to control his ADHD without those harmful drugs. He might have done just as well with the red bull and Monsters, but I didn’t feel he needed the acids that are in those that cause your body to release too much magnesium. I do not let them have a lot of carbonated beverages because of that.
Speeding up he is now 6 ft, and I am glad he is a healthy size, after fighting with him to grow and gain weight all his life. As a mother, I chose what I felt was healthier, and I wished I had never caved to the teachers that were pushing for him to be on that medicine when my son would skip the spark due to the taste..I also thank god that they have new flavors. He now steals my spark daily and sometimes more. I have always used it even when it didn’t taste as well. I just knew it worked.
I personally use just about everything from Advocare, and will not jump on whatever new product that comes out. I trust the science department to do their due diligence and provide a product that will work, not just promote a product due to hype.
You “trust the science department to do their due diligence and provide a product that will work” yet you can’t see the lack of peer review or the lack of any sort of study showing that their products work more than a placebo?
Jeez. Us.
And you were giving it to your 3 year old child? Yikes.
If you had read, it said third grader. There is a Texas Tech study for Spark against Medicines for Adhd. Spark didn’t have side effects those drugs had. 15 years and I’m healthy and both my children are. There are no peer review of supplements.
At least the doctors that help design our products are top of their field. They are not going to back a product that can blacken their image. They have too much at stake. They as well trust the Products enough to take them and give to their families.
Peer review of about 500000 distributors who also trust the products is also a strong case.
Tammy, if I can jump in for a moment on a couple of things you mentioned
1. there are supplements that do have peer reviewed studies. See my review of Juice Plus for one example.
2. As for the Texas Tech study, it’s interesting but its not peer reviewed. It also dates back to 1998. Given the results, I wonder why it was never published and why clinical studies since 1998.
3. 50,000 distributors selling the product isn’t the same thing as a peer reviewed study.
That said, I do wish you continued success with the product.
I have a question. Can Spark affect your liver in anyway due to the ingredients? Possibly causing spots or growths?
Sophia, When I searched for “Spark drink liver” I didnt see much in the way of people saying it did anything but I did see a Facebook group called “Advo-Truth” whcih I dont know anything about but they did list a series of side effects one of which was liver damaged assocated with Nicin. Here is the link they mentioend on the FB page: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/niacin-overdose/faq-20058075
the Spark drink does have a lot of niacin but it has a different form called Niacinimide. I did some further searching and found this site
which notes that both forms in high doses can harm the liver: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/924.html
That said, I dont know if the level of niacin in the Spark drink would do this or cause spots/growths on the liver. What I would recommend is showing the ingredients and their concentrations to a liver specialist. They may be able to shed more light on this.
I hope some of this helps Sophia and I’m also going to say a prayer tonight for you that this isn’t serious and that you are put in contact with medical experts who can help you.
Niacin in large amounts can lead to liver damage .
While I do recommend everyone to do what is right for them, I have done what was right for myself and my family. I do know our scientist have researched everything before it gets into our products and we have a doctor specifically for making sure there is nothing toxic level in our products. I have used the products for 15 years and have not had any bad side effects. I use the products as recommended and do not exceed what our scientist recommend.
I choose spark over any of those canned energy drinks due to acids that make the carbonation. I feel that is more detrimental due to the minerals being broken down in your body.
Again, this is a personal thing for me. I have seen the cost of sodas on kidneys in my own family. Those drinks that add those acids actually cause the vitamins they claim to be in their products to be broken down before it ever enters the body.
Joe,
Appreciate your write-up/review. I just wanted to bring up a few of the ingredients that might be leading to NVD (nausea/vomiting/diarrhea), not mentioned in your post.
Inositol:
sucralose:
Maltodextrin:
Titanium dioxide: In certain flavors of the Advocare Spark
Artificial ingredients: I know there is no make up of the artificial ingredients used in the coloring or flavoring, but could these also be cause for concern?
Also, check your section on L-Tyrosine- In the quoted blue paragraph, I think you planned to reference Tyrosine but instead listed Taurine. ” In people terms, a 180-pound person (82 kg) would have used 150 x 82 = 12,300 mg of taurine. “
JD Bell, thanks for pointing that out to me. Yes it was a mistype on my part. I corrected my mistake and I appreciate you letting me know about it. Some people do report issues with artificial sweaters and additives. This is the main reason I think people should start new supplements with less than is recommended, just to see and minimize – any side effects that might crop up.
It seems that I am the only one out of all my friends that takes comfort in peer review. I recently had one of them tell me that the all the ‘lack of peer review from Advocare’ talk seemed silly.
For a multi-million dollar company that has been around for quite a long time, why is there still no peer review? Nothing except the few studies you’ve talked about that pretty much say there is no more effect than the placebo.
To me, Advocare is pseudoscience preying on the inhibitions of the scientifically illiterate. Not only that, do a google search “Advocare scam” and you’ll find several ‘unbiased’ (ha) reviews all set up the same way, all with the same structure, all that reek of (SEO) search engine optimization. Thoughts?
Mike, I’m sure some companies do seo so I wouldn’t be surprised if what you said was true. The only way to combat it is for people like you and me to share good content with friends online and elsewhere.
I had some given to me by a sweet friend! I definitely want to be healthier HOWEVER after seeing the actual list and questioning the “natural” flavors and sucralose all she could send me was a study saying sucralose (Splenda) was safer than Stevia. (Study done BY advocare of course). When I told her I wouldn’t be able to buy because of that – I have broke out in hives before from Splenda and I’m sorry but it would seem to me that even the most processed Stevia (which I don’t use) would be healthier than Splenda since it is an actual herb and not made in a lab. Thank you for this review.
TimsArmyWifey, you are very welcome and thanks for writing and sharing.
This is kind of embarrassing, but I figured I’d just throw this out there. I used to drink between two and four energy drinks per day. Although I knew this was not a smart idea, I couldn’t stop. This lasted for about 2 years. I started working in the fitness industry and was introduced to spark. I wasn’t too excited about it at first, but the boss man raved about it and my coworkers were all spark junkies who signed up to sell it. I eventually gave in and tried Spark.
Surprisingly I was impressed with its effects. My energy was great, the kick lasted longer, and I didn’t crash. I quickly became hooked on spark and found that one slightly overflowing scoop in the morning was usually all I needed. I would sometimes drink a second full serving around one or two if I needed a pick me up. What a pleasant alternative to the constant energy drink roller coaster I was used to functioning on. I drank one to two servings of spark per day for over a year.
I’m not sure how long after I started drinking Spark that I developed stomach problems like diarrhea and abdominal pain. After about six months of misery dealing with chronic diarrhea, it clicked with me that something was wrong with my stomach and had been for a few months.
Worried it was cancer (first thing to come to mind when anything with my body is a little off), I avoided going to the doctor and just pretended I didn’t have a problem and figured I would just wait it out and it would go away on its own eventually. I didn’t make the connection between my GI issues and my spark consumption.
Like any substance, gradually my body got used to spark and the effects weren’t nearly what they used to be. I quit drinking spark about three months ago because I was sick of shelling out 50$ per container for something that wasn’t helping me like it did in the beginning.
The craziest thing is over the past month I’ve noticed everything in my abdomen is settling down. No more running to the restroom unexpectedly, no cramps, no andominal pains… Just gone. Hmmmmmm…..?? Wondering if the spark had anything to do with my GI issues.
James, I dont think Ive heard of constipation and GI issues from Spark Energy before but you said you were using up to 4 per day (which is a lot) so I’d suppose its possible -and it stopped after you ceased taking it. Go and get checked out by your doctor anyway just so you rule out anything else.
It sounds like this discomfort caused you some emotional stress (thinking it might be cancer). Moving forward, please do see your doctor when stuff like this happens. If anything bad really was happening, its much better to find out -and do what you need to do to get better.
I would drink up to four 16 oz monsters or rockstars before I tried spark. Once I switched to spark, I decreased to one scoop in the morning and an occasional second scoop around 2pm. From what I’ve read, this is a moderate amount.
James, If it helps, I always feel its best to start any new supplement with less than is recommend on the label, just to help get an idea of what side effects might be. I’m not a fan of energy drinks because they are mostly just expensive caffeine supplements. Most think because they are sold over the counter that they are safe for everybody but thats not always the case. Here is a report where a 14 yr old girl died after consuming 2 monster drinks http://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/mom-sues-monster-energy-drink-over-teens-death-f6C10455622
Since you mentioned you were a personal trainer, here is something I wrote about personal trainers and supplements -incase your clients ever ask you about what you recommend:
http://www.joe-cannon.com/personal-trainer-recommend-supplements-ephedr/
I have a friend trying to get me to do this but my concern is that energy drinks make me sleepy, nausea, diarrhea and migraines. They haven’t always done so. It’s like it happened overnight. I would only do a 5-hour energy drink when I had a lot of stuff around the house to do, like paint a room. But then one day the energy drink made me sick. I tried it two more times, weeks apart, with the same results. I had also been doing B12 under the tongue for energy and that worked fine for a while and then I started feeling like I had taken a Bynadryl.
I’ve decided it’s the B12 and the Taurine. So I’m hesitate to try the Adovcare though my friend is convinced it won’t make me sick.
I use Advocare products and I’ve tried Spark but I am sensitive to caffeine so I had to switch to V-16. It only comes in one flavor though.
Spark is called an energy drink but it’s more of a mental focus effect without the spike and crash like other drinks out there. Advocare does state on the Spark packages – not recommended for use by those sensitive to caffeine or choline.
I’ve not heard of anyone getting sick from using Spark but the caffeine (amount equal to about one cup of coffee – 120 mg) is an issue for some.
I don’t know a lot about other energy drinks, I’ve never tried them but I know many people that have benefited by drinking Spark with great results. One of my dear friends lost 90lbs over a 2 yr period by using Spark alone. She has many GI issues and couldn’t use a lot of the supplements Advocare has, but it gave her enough energy and focus to get up and start moving. To date she has lost 190 lbs.
It’s a great product, you could possibly dilute it a bit more at first or drink it slowly over the course of an hour or two to see how you do with it. (If you haven’t already, I know your post was from last Sept.)
Sorry to ramble. Hope this helps
Sucralose.
Finally, someone mentions one of the worst ingredients in this drink: sucralose. Sucralose causes me low-grade nausea, intestinal issues, and a general feeling of unease.
I am currently looking into whether it has caused 10 times liver enzyme elevation in my body. it’s the only thing I’ve changed over the past year. My $200.24 day challenge is turning into a $500 medical bill between ultrasound and doctors visits.
I have stopped taking the product and will have my blood retested in two weeks. if it has gone down then we will know that spark is the problem with way too much niacin for your liver to handle.
Heidi, wow, so sorry to hear you are going through that! I do hope your liver enzyme go back to normal soon. Do let me know if what happens.
Have you reviewed the advocare v16 drink?
Debbie, not yet. Never heard of it. What’s it supposed to do?
It’s basically Advocare’s energy drink without the caffeine. People with a sensitivity to caffeine take this instead of the Spark energy drink everyone usually takes.
Alex, I looked it up on their site. Advocare V16 has several ingredients but these are said to be the “key” ones
Golden root, leuzea extract, schisandra extract, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, thiamine, folic acid, niacin, vitamin K, biotin
The b vitamins are common in most energy drinks but they won’t help boost your pep/energy levels. Since golden root is listed first, I think its the main ingredient. Its also called Rhodiola rosea and its been in several products Ive looked at. Just impute it in the search box to see what Ive said before about it.
I had a terrible crash from spark…. I use to live off Redbull and still love 5-hr energy. It was crazy! A distributor tried to tell me it was because my b12 was low, which my doctor told me, when the doctor also told me drinking b12 and taking a pill aren’t well absorbed…
Amber did your doctor also tell you your B12 was low? Are you a vegetarian or taking diabetes medications like metformin?
I used spark 5 days a week for 2 weeks with no issues. Then, I stopped for a week while out of town. The first Monday back, had my Spark and bam! Instant nausea resulting in vomiting and *ahem* some bowel issues…as in 6 times a work day (8-9 hours).
I took a few days off thinking I had caught some stomach bug, no issues on the days off, and this morning went back to Spark with the same results. I’ve always been sensitive to caffeine, but not to this extent.
I was hopeful I’d found my pick-me-up, but after this morning’s episode, I’m done. If it works for you, fantastic, but be cautious.
Jennifer, sorry that happened to you!
I drank my first Spark at 2:30 on the afternoon. After awhile I started feeling weird. At 10:30pm I was wired and afraid I would never get to sleep. This morning I still feel weird. My mind is over stimulated and the sleep I did get involved crazy dreams. I am not a coffee drinker. I only drink a cup of tea in the morning I’m afraid to drink spark again and I just ordered the 24 day challenge!!
I hope things are better and you talked to your sponsor about your issues with Spark! V16 contains no caffeine and is similar to Spark in all other aspects. Or Rehydrate is also a great choice…. My best friend only does half a pack of spark at a time because she is sensitive to caffeine. Hope all is well!!
This is so interesting. Thank you for the review! As a mother of an Autistic Child, I was told of SPARK as an alternative to medications. In your research, did you come across anything that might support this claim. Again thanks for doing all the hard work. 🙂
Ali, Im happy you were able to find my review helpful. Ive never heard anything that AdvoCare Spark energy drink helps autism. Are there any websites that discuss this you can point me to? Ill be glad to take a look at it and update my review with what I find.
Google Texas tech Ritalin vs spark study! Thanks for an unbiased review–as an Advocare advisor and a nerd-girl I appreciate it!
Christie, Glad to help and big thanks for bringing this study to my attention. I was not aware of the Texas Tech Spark Energy Drink Study. I did Google it as you suggested. Can you point me to where this study was published (which journal)? I saw summaries of the Texas Tech study mentioned online but from what I see, the study was only presented at Experimental Biology (presumably a science symposium) in 1999. If the study was ever submitted for peer review, it should be published somewhere by now. That would give the study more credence. I couldn’t find it when I searched pubmed.gov. if you can find out this info for me, Id much appreciate it.
Nope!!! Here is the link to the cleanse phase information.
advocare.com/131140496/24DayChallenge/cleansePhase.aspx
Thanks PJ!
Joe,
Thank you for reviewing SPARK from an Advocare distributor, user of SPARK, and friend. I can honestly say I use it to help me stay focused and energetic about my doctoral studies…….. never encountered any crash or side effects. SPARK is not Advocare’s best pre-workout drink, although can be used as one. Thanks again!!!!
PJ thanks and Im glad its helping you stay focused. As a distributor what would you say is AdvoCare’s most popular supplement? I want to review another one of their products.
Muscle Fuel, Catalyst, or Rehydrate are excellent choices…..
Thanks P.J., I will be adding them to my list. Appreciate the assist!
Herbal cleanse, sleepworks, carbEase, crave check sr, meal replacement shakes are all very popular.
Charlene, I looked up Crave Check Sr. It has green coffee bean extract. You might be interested in my Green Coffee Review.
The 24 day cellular cleanse would be interesting
Brad
Brad, Ill add it to my list but since there is no evidence that the human body needs to be cleansed I dont how how effective it would be.
It is the 24 day challenge, which is comprised of the first 10 days of toxin cleanse to ensure optimal nutrient absorbtion during the metabolic nutrition phase which is days 11-24.
PJ, the geek in me has to ask, what toxins are being cleansed? Do they have any data showing toxin release during the cleanse and better nutrient absorption as a result?