I was asked to find an Advocare Spark natural alternative, and I did find a few really healthy alternativse. Let's start with the ingredients comparison. And how few ingredients there are in the alternative compared to Spark.
Megafood Daily Energy Booster: Beets, Green Tea, Ginseng Root, Vitamin B12, Eleuthero Root, Ashwagandha Root.
ZXM+: Purified Spring Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Proprietary Blend (five parts of the Moringa oleifera tree), Natural Green Tea Concentrate, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Natural Desert Tea, Natural Caffeine, Trimethylgycine, Ginseng, Natural Flavors.
Spark Ingredients: Vitamin A (as beta-carotene), Vitamin B-6 (as pyridoxine HCl), Vitamin B-12 (as cyanocobalamin), Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid), Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl acetate), Thiamine (as HCl), Riboflavin, Niacin (as niacinamide), Pantothenic acid (as calcium pantothenate), Zinc (as zinc monomethionine), Copper (as copper glycinate), Chromium (as chromium citrate), Choline (as bitartrate and citrate), L-Tyrosine, Taurine, Caffeine , Glycine, Citrus flavonoids, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), L-Carnitine (as tartrate), Inositol, Maltodextrin, citric acid, sucralose, silicon dioxide
So what do all of those energy drink ingredients mean?
So let's start with Spark. First off, Glycine seems to be safe for most people when taken by mouth or applied to the skin, although there have been a few reports of nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and drowsiness have been reported. And you can easily get enough citrus flavonoids just by eating an orange. The appropriate dose of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions... and none of that is taken into consideration when you are drinking down a Spark drink.
Now the nasty stuff. Inositol, which inositol powder is made up of, is a chemical compound made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It can interfere with blood sugar control, can increase the risk of irregular heart beat and make gallbladder problems worse. It can also cause liver disease, might accumulate in those with kidney disease, and could make a peptic ulcer worse.
Sucralose is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups. According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center), concerning the significant reduction in size of the thymus gland, "the manufacturer claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant for the rodents to eat in large doses and that starvation caused the shrunken thymus glands. There are reports of the following after eating sucralose:
Now the nasty stuff. Inositol, which inositol powder is made up of, is a chemical compound made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It can interfere with blood sugar control, can increase the risk of irregular heart beat and make gallbladder problems worse. It can also cause liver disease, might accumulate in those with kidney disease, and could make a peptic ulcer worse.
Sucralose is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups. According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center), concerning the significant reduction in size of the thymus gland, "the manufacturer claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant for the rodents to eat in large doses and that starvation caused the shrunken thymus glands. There are reports of the following after eating sucralose:
Gastrointestinal problems
Seizures, dizziness and migraines
Blurred vision
Allergic reactions
Blood sugar increases and weight gain
If you look at the research you will see that in fact 15% of sucralose is absorbed into your digestive system and ultimately is stored in your body. To reach a number such as 15% means some people absorb more and some people absorb less. In one human study, one of the eight participants did not excrete any sucralose even after 3 days. Yuck and yuck.
The caffeine in the Mega Food Daily Energy is natural stimulant-free green-tea, and select Foodstate Nutrients, including new beetroot powder plus botanicals to promote energy levels and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. A first to market product, in delivering targeted whole food powder formulas to easily elevate the nutritional value and health benefit of any smoothie, shake, meal replacement, or juice/non-dairy beverage. Features FoodState B12 and Chromium, plus new FoodState Farm Fresh Beet Root with additional energizing botanicals to promote energy levels and maintain already healthy blood sugar levels. Non-GMO ingredients third party verified by the Non-GMO Project.
Russian scientists coined term adaptagen to describe the effects of Eleuthero root. They discovered that secretaries who took eleuthero made less mistakes. Athletes given eleuthero performed better and factory workers took fewer sick days when giving the herb. It was discovered that this relative of ginseng helped the body cope better with stress by reducing the output of stress hormones. Those with metabolic syndrome know exactly how important this is, and adaptogenic herbs are very helpful for reducing stress levels and have been shown to help balance your blood sugar levels and even reduce insulin resistance.
Daily Energy also includes the most important B vitamin for energy, B12, to help to control homocystein risks and improve general health. And B12 helps to metabolize fat and proteins for energy. Ginseng is a natural energy booster that they've used in breast cancer treatment studies. Research from Texas' Baylor University found that Ashwagandha reduced inflammation related to type 1 diabetes. In Germany the did a study at the University of Tuebingen and found the Aswaganha reduces oxidative stress and alters gene expression to help cells with energy production. Another study from Brooklyn's Woodhull Medical Center found it increases circulating cortisol levels and improves insulin sensitivity which is great for those with adrenal insufficiency.
What about the ZXM+? The Moringa oleifera tree is like a “vegetable tree,” in the manner that it is loaded with so many supporting vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, making it a true superfood. This has about the same caffeine intake as what you'd get from two regular cups of coffee and you can feel free to mix it with about 36 oz of water and drink half in the morning and half after lunch to reduce that afternoon slump. The green tea and ginseng aid in weight loss, appetite control, and increased metabolic energy. And there are so many benefits of ginseng, but my favorite is that it helps the body deal with physical or mental stress. The added tea also improves cardiovascular capacity, oxygenation, and circulation. That natural caffeine comes from plants, leaves, beans and fruits, and delivers energy that is fast-acting and long-lasting. Also the fruit pectin contributes to the reduction of harmful cholesterol as well as protecting cells.
So I ask you, which energy booster do you want to take? It's up to you, but I love that you have options out there. Be sure to share your favorite coffee alternative to get you going for the busy day.
The caffeine in the Mega Food Daily Energy is natural stimulant-free green-tea, and select Foodstate Nutrients, including new beetroot powder plus botanicals to promote energy levels and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. A first to market product, in delivering targeted whole food powder formulas to easily elevate the nutritional value and health benefit of any smoothie, shake, meal replacement, or juice/non-dairy beverage. Features FoodState B12 and Chromium, plus new FoodState Farm Fresh Beet Root with additional energizing botanicals to promote energy levels and maintain already healthy blood sugar levels. Non-GMO ingredients third party verified by the Non-GMO Project.
Russian scientists coined term adaptagen to describe the effects of Eleuthero root. They discovered that secretaries who took eleuthero made less mistakes. Athletes given eleuthero performed better and factory workers took fewer sick days when giving the herb. It was discovered that this relative of ginseng helped the body cope better with stress by reducing the output of stress hormones. Those with metabolic syndrome know exactly how important this is, and adaptogenic herbs are very helpful for reducing stress levels and have been shown to help balance your blood sugar levels and even reduce insulin resistance.
Daily Energy also includes the most important B vitamin for energy, B12, to help to control homocystein risks and improve general health. And B12 helps to metabolize fat and proteins for energy. Ginseng is a natural energy booster that they've used in breast cancer treatment studies. Research from Texas' Baylor University found that Ashwagandha reduced inflammation related to type 1 diabetes. In Germany the did a study at the University of Tuebingen and found the Aswaganha reduces oxidative stress and alters gene expression to help cells with energy production. Another study from Brooklyn's Woodhull Medical Center found it increases circulating cortisol levels and improves insulin sensitivity which is great for those with adrenal insufficiency.
What about the ZXM+? The Moringa oleifera tree is like a “vegetable tree,” in the manner that it is loaded with so many supporting vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, making it a true superfood. This has about the same caffeine intake as what you'd get from two regular cups of coffee and you can feel free to mix it with about 36 oz of water and drink half in the morning and half after lunch to reduce that afternoon slump. The green tea and ginseng aid in weight loss, appetite control, and increased metabolic energy. And there are so many benefits of ginseng, but my favorite is that it helps the body deal with physical or mental stress. The added tea also improves cardiovascular capacity, oxygenation, and circulation. That natural caffeine comes from plants, leaves, beans and fruits, and delivers energy that is fast-acting and long-lasting. Also the fruit pectin contributes to the reduction of harmful cholesterol as well as protecting cells.
So I ask you, which energy booster do you want to take? It's up to you, but I love that you have options out there. Be sure to share your favorite coffee alternative to get you going for the busy day.
It does taste good, like your eating vitamin C or something and it does give you loads of energy with out the crash and burn effect of the eating chocolate or coffee. I like it and so done my son who saw me eating it and wanted to try it out as well. He loved it and went on with his day.
ReplyDeleteYou are not kidding, Casper. My energy level after a tough workout is still on point after using Focus, and it's not that jittery, shakey feeling you get from so many other options, including the energy drinks at the local market. For the price and what you get, it's something we all should take the jump and try out. Thanks for sharing you testimonial.
ReplyDeleteThere is an error above. Inositol was considered to be a B vitamin until recently when it was found that the body produces inositol itself. It's actually very important in the making your cells pull in sugar so that you don't get an insulin spike. There are many people who take this specifically for insulin resistance.
ReplyDeleteRuntoMary,iInositol, unofficially referred to as "vitamin B 8", was referred to in the above post as a "powdered ingredient" in the Spark ingredient list. I agree that the real substance is important in our diet. Naturally as a paleo vegeo follower you can get this in soaked nuts, seeds, soaked beans, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. These supply a substance called phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphate, or IP6), which releases inositol when acted on by bacteria in the digestive tract. The typical American diet provides an estimated 1,000 mg daily. I know that many women with PCOS supplement to help ease their symptoms, but there is evidence to suggest inositol may trigger manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap!
ReplyDeleteI am floored by all the poison they tout as good for you! Yikes! I found a non GMO all plant based system that is working for me. In fact, I got off type 2 diabetes meds in ONE WEEK.
I believe Core 3 saved my life.
Check out mypuriumgift.com for info. Oh, and "sharethebounty" gets you a discount. Happy healing!
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ReplyDelete