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.
Very interesting article and well written. I have just finished a quick review of Advocare and Spark that some of you might find interesting.
http://advotruth.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_3.html
I decided to write the article after reading about a pregnant woman that was thinking about using the product. Then I read other articles where parents were giving their children spark. The unfortunate truth is that studies show that too many doctors are misdiagnosing ADHD http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/18/nearly-1-million-adhd-misdiagnoses-study-says/
I noticed one of the visitors gave the spark drink to his or her child, which is their choice, If you read my article you see that it is supported by viable information and research. Some of the research pertains to women and pregnancy. Thanks for the great article.
Ed thanks and that’s an interesting article you wrote as well.
I’ve been testing out spark for about a week or two. One thing that I’ve found super important is that you (or at least I do) MUST eat prior to drinking spark. I’ve always had some form of caffeine on a daily basis and had no side effects or anything but I did with spark.
I don’t normally eat breakfast because it makes me feel sick but if I don’t eat a good sized meal before I take spark I will get extremely shaky and dizzy and get hot flashes.
That could just be a side effect to all the energy inducing chemicals but even with energy drinks I do fine. That’s just something I’ve noticed personally when I take it.
Thank you for the informative review. I began using Spark with the 24 day challenge five years ago. I had a hard time with Spark at first – way too stimulating. I stuck with it and became very dependent (addicted) to Spark.
I am beginning to link my increase in migraines and also kidney pain and stones to Spark. Lately I have reduced my consumption of Spark and will soon eliminate it all together. Let’s see if my migraines and kidney problems are reduced. That many questionable ingredients cannot be good for the body.
Deb, you are very welcome and I hope you eventually feel better. Let me know what happens.
I just read every single comment after your article and I have to say that all of my questions have been addressed. I’m fascinated with the ADHD/ADD vs Ritalin concept and will look into that article. I initially was looking for reviews on Spark for energy since I’ve started doing Crossfit.
I’m still undecided about trying it since I have a history of IBS but feel better informed in my consideration. Thanks so much for the info!
Jackie, you are very welcome and I’m happy that your questions have been answered.
Since you are working out intensely, see my review of rhabdomyolysis which can sometimes occur following intense exercise. Read the comments also http://joe-cannon.com/rhabdo
Remember to listen to your body when you work out. When you think you’ve had enough, stop.
I’m a distributor with Advocare and have loved using Spark the last few use years. Unfortunately the new formula of Spark causes a huge crash within a few hours and I can no longer use it. Very disappointing.
Kosten07, thanks for sharing. Is the new formula different than what I reported here? Just curious if I need to update this
Yes the new formula is different that what you have listed.
Sarah, thanks. That’s quite interesting. I wonder why they changed the formula?
I started taking Advocare in October 2014 and quickly became a huge fan. I lost 25 pounds in about 2-3 months and everything was great… or so I thought. After the first couple of days/weeks, I started having major gi/indigestion issues, headaches, etc.
At first I didn’t put two and two together, then I figured it had to be something in Advocare and blamed it on the probiotic course of the program. When I was finished with the probiotics, I thought it was something within the max phase vitamin pack (MNS). I tried two of the three MNS options (opting out of the energy version) and I had such a bad reaction to the “3” version (although I had taken a course of it before) that I had to stop MNS entirely.
I continued to use other Advocare products, namely, Spark and the meal replacements but kept dealing with real bad indigestion along with some other side effects. I finally had enough and started doing my research. I lined up all my products and realized the common denominator was sucralose.
So, I googled sucralose and sure enough, I was suffering a good portion of the possible side effects even though most people aren’t sensitive to it. I stopped all Advocare products and after a week I’m starting to feel a bit better.
Initially I thought I would slowly work some products back into my lifestyle to see if there was one thing specifically that was causing the problem but I’m now starting to think my experience with Advocare will end here. My reasoning for this is, a) after reading about sucralose I decided I wanted to avoid it whenever possible (sure, it could very well be safe but it just didn’t sound like something I want to willingly put into my body especially if that’s what’s causing my issues), b) it’s a very expensive habit to keep up, and, most importantly, c) I had lost 20 pounds before I even started Advocare so I was doing something right to begin with.
I’m not knocking Advocare or it’s products, I suppose I’m just hypersensitive to some things (caffeine is another one, which is in a lot of their products). For me, the winning ticket is changing my eating habits and getting up off the couch. There is no easy out or quick fix, you have to put the work in for results whether you use a supplemental product or not.
Well written article. Thanks for the feedback. I am curious what you would recommend regarding an energy supplement for athletes instead of Spark. I play and coach Ultimate Frisbee, and the nature of our sport requires weekend tournaments with multiple games per day. Finding ways to get more energy is always on our minds.
Alex, honestly, I think you would get more out of a regular sports drink with carbs than an energy drink. Most energy drinks are just caffeine and/or other stimulants. When you are playing Frisbee, your muscles are using carbs and fats for energy. While caffeine can improve exercise performance, would other caffeine-containing beverages work as well as energy drinks? I think they would but I know this is a personal choice we all have to make.
There are 55 mg of caffeine in a 12oz can of Mt Dew and of course tons of sugar.
If your not tolerating the caffeine content in Spark I would suggest asking your Advocare coach about V16. You’ll get the same benefit as Spark but it is caffeine free.
You can also divide the serving of Spark and only drink half of it.
(Keep in mind also that headaches are sometimes common when cutting back on caffeine, if you choose to go that route)
This was so incredibly informative! I am on Day 15 of the 24 Day Challenge. I have been drinking the Spark drinks one in the morning before work out (as told by my coach) and then one in the afternoon if my body needed it. You are to not drink sodas during this time, so for me the Spark drink was to replace my daily morning Mountain Dew.
I ha no idea though that there was 120mg of caffeine in one of these Spark drinks. Which makes huge sense why I get a massive headache if I don’t drink one late in the day and why when I did drink one late in the day I couldn’t sleep at night.
I’m not a person who needs a lot of caffeine and am probably sensitive to drinking it too late at night. I am not a coffee drinker, so my only comparison to this amount of caffeine is the Mountain Dew. I guess the whole idea on your 24 day fix is to remove the coffee or soda out of your diet and replace it with this so that you get the same caffeine with out all the calories of the soda. Thank you again for your article!
Jamie, you are very welcome 🙂
I have been drinking spark for about a year now mist of the time just 1 a day. Have recently upped it to 2. Somewhat heaping scoops. For the last month i have had hemorrhoids first internal now external. I’m not sure if its the spark but i cant seem to figure out the cause. Reading all of this is making me wonder if i should stop? Could it possibly be related?
Bonnie, I don’t believe Ive heard of people getting hemorrhoids. It could just be a coincidence or not. What I can say is that it cant hurt getting off of it for a few weeks and see if things get better. Might also be worth a trip to the dr if for nothing else than to get help with this.
I searched online and found this article that might help: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hemorrhoids-can-often-be-prevented-and-treated-with-supplements-diet-and-exercise/2013/10/14/0c56dc44-06af-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html
For the month of May, i’m replacing my bulletproof (butter) coffee with Spark. So far I’m sleeping better and feel a bit more focused and relaxed. I think the focus is from the caffeine and relaxation is from the GABA. I think I’m sleeping better due to the fact that I’ve cut out about 2/3 of the caffeine I was drinking in my bp coffee. It is not going to help anyone lose weight.
Only a healthy, well balanced diet will do that. I do think it makes people happy and relaxed though, which can definitely help make it easier for someone to make better choices in other areas of their life.
I am on day 14 of the 24 day Advocare challenge. On day 13, i noticed that my face is swollen, bright red, and has a burning sensation. I am trying to determine if it is something in the challenge or just an allergic reaction to anything outside of the challenge. Have you ever heard of this from anyone else from the challege?
Alicia, That sounds like an allergic reaction to me? Niacin can cause face flushing but the Spark drink contains a version of niacin called niacinamide which shouldn’t do this. Is Niacin in any of the other Advocare products you are using? Your face swelling up concerns me. I recommend you stop all Advocare products and see your doctor.
Have you ever tried Onnit’s Alpha Brain? It is suppose to be a nootropic to help with mental focus and memory. Im curious on your opinion if something like this actually works? They have some clinical trials at https://www.onnit.com/clinical-studies/alpha-brain-clinical-trial/ . It is a bit over my head to understand everything noted in the trials so i was hoping you can shed some light on to this for me. Also i liked your review on sparks and reading some of the problems that may occur when drinking this from real people commenting this and not just HR of advocare.
Sung, while I have not heard of Alpha Brain, I did look at its website. I saw that it has huperzene in it. If you look at my review of Procera AVH you can read more about that ingredient. While it looks like they have done a study on Alpha Brain, it does not appear yet that they have published the study in a medical journal. I feel this is a critical step that needs to be done so others can better understand the product.
Joe, From my prior knowledge of how ingredients absorb in your body in relation to how they dissolve in water, I was skeptical of this product. It has a lot of powder that does not dissolve in water. Any connection as to the validity of its absorption rate in relation to how poorly it dissolves in 8oz of water as stated on the label? I agree to what Raymond and Donna said btw. Look forward to more reviews from you.
danebessard, I’m not aware of any differences between how it dissolves in water vs in the body.
I was a spark user for months and loved it so much. Then my husband and I switched to a more natural diet of a more “paleo” nature, basically just fresh (raw) fruits and veggies organic meats and nuts and stuff.
So tonight I was feeling a little sleepy so I thought “why not use a spark?” I got so jittery my heart rate increased (slightly) and now my arms feel strange. Almost as if they are cold and slightly electrified.
I have no idea if this is directly related to the spark or something else but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this?
Joe,
Thank you for the review! I have been reading several and I really appreciate your insight.
I have not been holistically tested since I was young (12) and I am now 31, but when I was tested for imbalances I was informed that at that age I had a Vitamin B deficiency. I was given a vitamin B regimen to help me stay more balanced and at a young age It seemed to help.
I am always skeptical of products like these, but I just had my first Spark this past weekend. I felt very energized and focused. So perhaps it was because I already have a deficiency and got an additional Taurine/Caffeine boost in top, but I certainly could tell a difference.
Will keep reading your reviews!
Thank You,
Kevin
Kevin, you are very welcome and I’m happy that it has helped you.
I have been using Spark in my 24 day challenge and I have had no problems actually had nothing but solutions to my energy problem!! It has helped me drop 13 lbs in 12 days on my 24 DAY CHALLENGE!!! I have helped dozens of ppl with their weight loss goals using Spark n the 24 Day Challenge and never once had complaints of stomach pains or racing heartbeats!!
I actually had digestive problems which were solved with the herbal cleanse in the first 10 days of 24 day challenge. It was the best life choice I have made and I willing to share my experience and advice with anyone who is struggling with weight loss and energy!!! We should all help each other n not keep secrets!!! Any questions??? Easy solutions!!
Have a blessed n energetic day I know I will!!!!
Hi Andrew. Glad its helping you. Question. Are you an Advocare distributor? Just curious.
Yes, I was first just a consumer and recently I have became a distributor because of the results I’m having.
Thanks for letting us know Andrew.
I am addicted to caffeine, I had to have a dr. Pepper everyday before work, and many throughout the day or I would get severe migraines. My trainer recommended trying spark and the 24 Day challenge. I am deathly terrified of anything diet-related due to the movie Requiem for a dream, and I’m one of those weird people that despises medication of any sort.
I was diagnosed with ADHD and ADD at a young age, and based off the definition of what they are, I do believe I still am and will always be. I made the choice after becoming an adult that medication isn’t for me, so I learned to live and maintain my ADHD and ADD. Lots of calendars, sticky notes, and planners.
Anyways, I tried spark before working out, it gave me a nice clean energy, nothing drastic, and I never felt it wearing off. I had no issues sleeping that night, and woke up fine. I drank it every morning for a couple of weeks, same thing, no insomnia, no side-effects, no change in me, just more energy. I stopped taking it for almost 2 weeks because I was getting much needed sleep and didn’t need the boost.
Yesterday, I mixed and drank some at around 4PM. I was a little skeptical because of how late in the day it was, but sure enough, no side-effects besides energy, gave me the boost, and I was able to go to sleep when I laid down around 11:30. To each it’s own, everybody has different experiences with different things. I didn’t lose my appetite, no fatigue, and I’m extremely comfortable and happy with the product.
Kaila, Im happy that it is helping you. Are you off Dr. Pepper since starting Spark?
I’m noticing that after using it my ears begin to get red, I mean REALLY red. I’m not sure if this is an allergic reaction or maybe overdose of a certain ingredient because I also take a multivitamin in the mornings (9 hours prior to drinking the spark & exercising.) I also get a massive headache around an hour after having taken the spark. I know it’s not dehydration because I’m drinking 100+ ounces of water a day, roughly 3 liters.
Anyways, wonder if anyone else has felt the same.
Adrianloera, My guess is that might be due to some of the B vitamins in the Spark but either way, they don’t sound like pleasant symptoms. Id stop taking it if I had those reactions.
Joe,
Seriously, everything Raymond said is exactly what I think!! I’m very impressed!
Thank you,
Donna
Donna, thanks so much! 🙂