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.
I love spark, tastes great, gives me the mental focus and energy I need for 6 months give or take. After that I still kept drinking one pack a day in 16 oz water in the morning and I noticed I was in a haze, lost focus, lost interest and gained weight while still buzzing around aimlessly!
I will continue to drink spark but I also take breaks from it from time to time and I always make sure I have a probiotic supplement, spark tends to bind me up.
Side note: one day I dropped a bottle of my spark water mixture on my garage floor and it took me a minute to clean it up, the spark left a permanent white mark on our concrete, this has also altered my feelings towards the product, unfortunately.
Hi Amanda, thank you for sharing your experiences. That is quite interesting about the mark on your garage floor.
I have been drinking Spark for several years now and it is part of my daily routine. While I only drink 1 a day, it is what I refer to as my “crack” for the day….preferring it to coffee or any other caffeine drink. About 6 months ago, my GERD symptoms started resurfacing with a vengeance after being under control for years.
Also, I have been having horrible headaches everyday for several months. I have been trying to blame it on anything I can because I don’t want to give up my Spark. I finally went several days without my “daily crack” and I have to admit, I am thinking that Spark may be the culprit.
Today I didn’t have a headache at all until the afternoon when I tried having a Spark around 2:30pm. I didn’t even have ⅓ of it and began having a headache. I am heartbroken beyond belief.
I just started researching Sparks ingredients when I came across this site. I am still trying to decide if it isn’t an intolerance to the “sugar-free” part of the drink.
Hi Amy, sorry to hear about your problems. Ive heard of others who have gotten headaches from Spark but I’m at a loss as to what might be causing that problem, especially after they have been using it for a long time. The easy answer is to blame it on sucralose (spelenda) but since you’ve been using Spark for a long time, I’d think headaches would have occurred before now. If you find out anything, let us know what you turn up.
Does anyone else have feedback for Amy?
I used to love Spark because it helped my migraines. However, I believe it had caused SEVERR stomach and esophagus issues. Since using Spark for several months, I developed chronic esophagitis, chronic grastritis and severe gerd. I had to have a scope which showed a change in my stomach lining which is a pre-cancerous condition. I stopped using Spark for almost a month and my symptoms almost disappeared.
I started taking Spark two weeks ago and all symptoms are back. I am on Pepcid, Nexium, Carafate and Gaviscon-several times a day again. My GI dr told me I was consuming 3x the amount of vitamin C I should with Spark alone. I’ve also done some reading about too much Niacin being consumed. I’m disappointed because Spark did help my migraines, gave me energy and gave me mental focus. My grandson has ADHD and sometimes drinks Spark which helps him focus also.
Plan to contact Spark’s customer service to give feedback.
Hi Minteeg, thanks for sharing and I’m very sorry to hear about your experiences. I hope you will keep us posted on any other developments.
I’m in the same boat, my GI system is destroyed because of Spark. I have been in and out of the hospital for about 2 years because of the damage this product has done to me.
I quit selling it and informed all of my clients what it can do. I’m glad that all of your symptoms stopped when you discontinued use. I’m hoping I can get better soon!
Kat, so sorry to hear of your problems. Can you give us an idea of how many sparks you were drinking and how long? How do you know it was Spark that did this?
I came across this page when my family practitioner told me my TSH levels were slightly low. I am a 40 year old female who exercise daily and eats mostly lean and clean. I’m in excellent health. Thyroid stimulating hormone will increase when thyroid levels are low and will decrease when they are high. It is a positive feedback system. I am wondering if my low TSH is due to elevated thyroid hormone that can be attributed to the tyrosine in the 2 sparks per day that I drink. I’m going to keep it to one per day or none at all just in case.
Hi Linda, good question and I am not sure. Sometimes TSH sputters -it goes up and it goes down. Could that be the reason? Im not sure. Keep us posted on how things go when you get your TSH tested again.
Look at it this way. When a 300 lb woman who has eaten horribly for a decade switches from 500 Frappuccino calories to 15 calories of spark and a single granual the size of a salt Crystal of sucralose, I’m ecstatic. Splenda is nothing more than chlorinated sucrose. You have far more chlorine in your stomach (hydrochloric acid) than you’ll ever get from 100 packets of Splenda. Look at a packet of Stevia. You don’t shake a Stevia plant and get crystals. That Stevia plant is far more chlorinated than Splenda. The processing is considerably harsher. To stabilize and crystallize a plant takes a lot chlorine. Have a kick ass Sunday!!
what about Splenda and sucrose being linked to cancer? I wonder about all the artificial sweeteners and still see many that continue to gain weight.
Fried foods….
Exhaust fumes….
Cheesecake….
Hot dogs…
Lots of things in excess are considered bad for us. Proof by so many studies show that moderation is key in all things. Is Spark better for me than 3 pots of coffee? Yes.
Maltodextrin is just another name for High Fructose Corn Syrup and Sucralose is another name for Splenda. Neither are healthy.
Would dosage be important when considering certain products??
Hi Alexander, I’d think it would be.
I love the taste of Spark. However, spark does not love me. I gather the spark runs. It even changes the color of the above because of the beets (regular beets do the same).
Advocare and Spark are not for everyone. Our household is divided. Husband can take all the products and I sadly have 5 products that I can take.
Check out all the people, including myself, that have had bad issues with stomach problems with Spark. 3 weeks of use and my guts were turned inside out. Severe constipation followed by bad diarrhea and bad bad pain throughout the digestive tract. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
I’ve been having stomach pains, and I’m starting to associate the pains with taking Spark. The most recent attack was just a few weeks ago. I started drinking 1 drink per day usually around 10AM when I’m at work and just need some “focus”. After about 4 days my stomach was hurting so bad they thought it was my gallbladder. Are there ingredients in this drink mix that could cause colic type symptoms or crampy, painful stomach issues? I’ve never had a sensitive stomach, so I’m not sure why it affects me so badly. If you have any recommendations of what ingredient might be causing this, I would love to hear about it!
I’m interested to hear this answer as well. Usually I struggle with diarrhea but after drinking spark twice, I’m bloated and constipated….unheard of for me.
Under the section entitled “Spark Drink Side Effects,” you said you “goggled” that phrase. Just in case you wanted to fix the typo, I thought I’d post.
Hi James, good eye – I just corrected it! 🙂
I used Spark for a couple of months a few years ago. I would only use 1/2 packet and drink it over a period of 2-3 hours. I could not believe the amount of work I accomplished. I did not use Spark for exercise, although I think it did help me go longer than without it. I took Spark just to go through my daily routine. I found that I could get all my daily tasks finished and not feel exhausted at the end of the day. (I am a stay at home mom, with two active children.)
I also found that I could really concentrate and stay focused. I am probably somewhat ADHD and sometimes struggle with staying on task. Spark gave me focus. I would like to take something that just gives me that focus! It was the best feeling.
Then the negative side effects kicked in: on the days I did not take Spark, I was exhausted. So exhausted that I had to take long naps and felt like I had just unpacked a house! I think that was because Spark helped me get so much done, my body was worn out, even though I had energy.
I think I would like to start taking it again, but that exhausted feeling really put me off.
The biggest concern that I have is the drink is sweetened with sucralose. For a company promoting health and wellness, I would think they would avoid artificial sweeteners. They should use a plant based, natural sweetener. When going through cancer, my doctors gave me a list of things to avoid with supporting documentation. At the top of the list was sucralose and aspertame.
Amy I hope at the top of that list was sugar which is completely natural. Cancer feeds off of sugar, that is how is stays alive in your body.
Joe you spent all this time writing this article did you actually try the product? If not why? Best reporting is investigative reporting. I have been drinking spark for 10 years, no problems at all. With that said I also try and live a healthy life style.
A lot of people who try spark do so after they made the decision to make a change to their life style and go from unhealthy to healthy. When they make this decision they change many factors that could result in stomach aches or headaches. These are all common side affects to the body cleansing itself from toxins. Which is totally possible if someone starts exercising and changing their diet over night.
Think about it this way, if I take a coach potato and take him to they gym and make him pump iron as hard as he can, the next day he will hurt so bad that he can’t move. Does that mean this pain relates to unhealthy or a poor decision. If I take my dog and switch her off her food and put her on the healthiest food on the market she is going to blow sh*t all over my house for a week.
Does that mean the food is bad or that the adverse side affects aren’t good for her. We know the answer it is no. In time the coach potato will not get sore anymore and will become healthy. My dog’s stomach will adjust and the healthier food will benefit her life style. We are no different.
Hi Josh, I usually don’t try the products I review and here’s why:
1. It would not be possible to try them all and still review products regularly. It might take take more than a month to try a single product and there might be interactions with other things I was taking.
2. Because you don’t know me personally, you really dont know if I was telling the truth or not. Suppose I did try it. How would you know I really did?
For example, one product I did personally try was tribulus, which some people said improved testosterone and energy levels. I started to have a weird side effect when I took it. If you read the comments in that review, you’ll see many people didn’t believe me. I did in fact have the problem I described and other people wrote that they too had the same problem too, but there were those who didn’t believe me. Here is my Tribulus review
That is why I like to stick to the science and show it to people so they can see it for themselves.
At the end of the day, we all do what we feel is best for us. I hope that makes sense.
I fee like I can’t write or control my hand. I don’t like the way it makes me feel at all.
AnnA, when you said you cant control your hand, that sounds scary to me. Do you have pain going down your arm? Any back pain, jaw pain or do you feel nauseous? those are signs of a heart attack. While I dont know what you mean by cant control your hand, that scares me. If it were me, Id go to your doctor today and if you cant, go to the hospital
I hope you are ok. please let me know how you are doing.
Sounds more like a reaction from an ingredient or too much stimulation.
I have always been against pre workout drinks & supplements. I am also extremely sensitive to caffeine, matcha & cacao which all give me heart palpitations & the sweats. Oddly, Spark I tolerate very well. Of course I only drink on occasion but i have found it gives me stamina for my workouts after a full 12 hour work day & 5 am mornings.
I am not a rep for Advocare or any other nutritional supplement company. I drink coffee on some days and Spark on others. Coffee gives me energy, but tends to make me more jittery and scattered. When I drink Spark, I tend to be more productive and have greater attention span with tedious tasks. I took Ritalin as a youth, but quit due to side effects.
Not very scientific I know, but the positive effects of Spark are significant enough for me to keep spending money on it.
David, thanks for sharing. I’m glad Spark is helping you.
According to the list of ingredients,
(a serving is one pouch =0.53 oz =15 g)
Total carbs 11g
Where do those 11g carbs come from?
Hi Martinia, my mistake, each stick has 4 grams of carbs (not 11) and a stick is 0.25 oz (7g). Sorry for the confusion I caused you.
I am a biased opinion, but I think you will want to give up coffe after trying Spark. Have had people that got the same migraines and they kicked coffee with Spark no issues. That being said, results vary from person to person so no guarantees here.
I enjoy my coffee but now drink decaff.
But, it was more of a choice. I do believe excessive use of anything can be habit forming and dangerous. My coffee was the first that changed. I have 2 cups of decaf a day maybe. This is compared to 2 pots of caffeine coffee per day plus any purchases during the day.
This is the model for all things in my life. We work to moderation in all things.
Do you use a MNS box. My friend had some migraines that stopped when the thermogenic pill was stopped.
Instead of Spark, why doesn’t one have a cup of black coffee (120 mg caffeine) — ground coffee beans and water — that’s about as natural as you can get!! In addition take a multi vitamin. It’s way way cheaper and seems to be the same thing you’re getting in Spark. That’s what I do.
I agree, I am a Shaklee user and 100% agree that natural is the safest way to go. All of the Shaklee products are SAFE, PROVEN and GUARANTEED. Scientific studies and Landmark studies galore. Google it. Absolutely recommend it. My family love it.
I have also had my worst migraine to date today after I have drank spark 3 days in a row. I had not had one else over 1 year prior to this. It made my hands and feet go number, very bad aura, nausea and the feeling of passing out.
My wife had the same exact symptoms after one “spark”.