Advocare Spark markets itself as a ‘Vitamin and Amino Acid’ supplement, giving you all your energy needs in a 7g serving.
Especially if you’re trying to live a bit healthier or more ethically, you might be wondering if Advocare Spark Energy Stick is suitable for a vegan diet.
In brief, Advocare Spark doesn’t seem to be made through vegan-certified means, as confirmed on their official website. Most of their ingredients are either plant-based or synthetic, but the Glycine, L-Tyrosine, and L-Carnitine are of unclear origins so if you’re vegan, it’s best to steer clear of Advocare Spark.
Read on for the nitty-gritty details!
Advocare Spark Energy Ingredients
First off, let’s take a look at the list of Advocare Spark Energy Drink ingredients to see what’s included:
- 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
- L-Carnitine (as tartrate)
- Inositol
- Maltodextrin
- Citric Acid
- Sucralose
- Silicon Dioxide
Are The Ingredients in Advocare Spark Vegan?
As for whether or not the ingredients of Advocare Spark are vegan, the company’s official stance on the matter can be found on their FAQ page:
AdvoCare products are not formulated to meet the unique requirements of those on focused diets such as kosher, allergen-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or halal.
Advocare Spark FAQ
So there you have it, Advocare Spark doesn’t seem to be made with vegan-friendly practices in mind.
Still, let’s do a deep dive into Advocare Spark’s ingredients to pinpoint which ingredients might be problematic for vegans:
| Ingredients | Source | Is It Vegan? |
| L-Tyrosine | Organic/Synthetic | Unclear |
| Taurine | Synthetic | Yes |
| Caffeine | Synthetic/Organic | Yes |
| Glycine | Organic/Synthetic | Unclear |
| L-Carnitine | Synthetic/Orgnaic | Unclear |
| Inositol | Plant-based/Synthetic | Yes |
| Citric Acid | Plant-based/ Synthetic | Yes |
| Sucralose | Synthetic | Yes |
| Silicon Dioxide | Synthetic | Yes |
I’ve cross-referenced the table above with PETA’s own animal derivative ingredients list but feel free to give it another run-through.
For more details on the ingredients of Advocare Spark, read here.
Is L-Tyrosine in Advocare Spark Vegan?
L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that assists in memory and countering the effects of sleep deprivation, which makes it a pretty useful ingredient to have in an energy drink.
It’s no wonder Advocare Spark has it.
As for where it comes from, L-Tyrosine is often derived from synthetic or plant sources, whereas some variations are sourced from animals, which could make it non-vegan.
As we don’t really know where the L-Tyrosine in Advocare Spark is sourced from, it’s pretty unclear whether the L-Tyrosine content is ethically vegan or not.
But if you’re a vegan for the health benefits, the effect on your health is practically the same no matter the source, so it’s much less of an issue for you.
Is L-Carnitine in Advocare Spark Vegan?
L-Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that helps the body turn fat into energy, although its more popular claims don’t have much science backing them up.
If you happen to be vegan or vegetarian, you would probably have a lower level of carnitine present in your system, so the carnitine content present in Advocare Spark might be beneficial.
Of course, if you’re vegan and are concerned about the carnitine levels in your body, you should probably choose supplements instead of relying on getting enough of them from an energy drink.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Spark?
There’s 120mg of caffeine per 7g serving of Advocare Spark, which is a milder amount of caffeine compared to some other more caffeinated energy drink brands out there.
For comparison, a similar 7g serving of G Fuel has 150mg of caffeine, while a regular 16 fl. oz can of Rockstar or Monster has 160mg of caffeine each.
I personally prefer to have between 50 to 100mg of caffeine per serving, which I find to be just the right amount to give me a nice boost, but not so much that I might get a headache afterward.
With 120mg of caffeine, Advocare Spark’s caffeine content isn’t that much higher than what I would normally go for, so I can definitely see myself having it every now and then.
Of course, depending on your caffeine metabolism, you might need slightly more or less caffeine to feel its effects. Fortunately, since Advocare Spark is a powdered energy drink, you can adjust it to suit your taste.
However, you really shouldn’t ever go overboard with caffeine. The FDA approves a caffeine intake limit of no more than 400mg per day. Any more than that might lead to side effects such as:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
As with most things, moderation is key.
Does Advocare Spark Have Artificial Sweeteners?
While Advocare Spark is entirely sugar-free, it does contain a zero-calorie sweetener, sucralose.
As sucralose is a zero-calorie sweetener, it doesn’t really add anything to the drink in terms of nutrition, though it does give you about 200 to 700 times the taste of sugar with none of the guilt associated with it.
Although there are some controversies surrounding the use of artificial sweeteners, they’ve been approved for use by the FDA, so it should be fine to have them in moderation.
If you’re not too keen on artificial sweeteners and prefer some old-fashioned sugar, I’ve written about the best energy drinks with less sugar, where you can find some great options.
Is Advocare Spark Gluten-Free?
While Advocare Spark doesn’t seem to contain traces of wheat, rye, or barley in the formula, the official FAQ page mentions that it’s not manufactured in gluten-free certified facilities.
Unless you happen to have celiac disease (and therefore a gluten intolerance), a gluten-free diet is mainly for improving your overall health, which I find shows varying degrees of success.
As for whether or not Advocare Spark is gluten-free, the official FAQ page for the drink has this to say:
AdvoCare® products are not produced at certified gluten-free manufacturing facilities. As a result, it is not technically feasible to label AdvoCare products as gluten-free.
Advocare Spark FAQ
So while there’s no obvious mention of gluten, it’s best to avoid Advocare Spark if you happen to have celiac disease, and you should definitely consult a health specialist if you plan on adding it to your diet.
Is Advocare Spark Keto-Friendly?
As each stick of Advocare Spark only has 15 calories, it’s perfectly fine to have them even if you’re following a keto diet.
In a nutshell, the keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that provides a bunch of purported health benefits such as weight loss and other general health improvements.
Being on the keto diet usually means greatly reducing your carb intake, so sugary energy drinks are definitely a big no-no.
Since they don’t contain any complex carbohydrates, you can still have low-sugar and zero-calorie energy drinks. Though for the best results, zero-calorie energy drinks are the way to go
As Advocare Spark is sugar-free, it shouldn’t really add anything to your carb intake quota, so it’s a pretty good option to complement your ketogenic diet.
Remember, not all energy drinks are suited for a keto diet, so if you happen to be looking for keto-friendly energy drinks, I’ve written a complete guide that you might find helpful.
Is Advocare Spark Vegan-Friendly?
To conclude, Advocare Spark doesn’t seem to be particularly vegan-friendly, as confirmed by the company itself.
AdvoCare products are not formulated to meet the unique requirements of those on focused diets such as kosher, allergen-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan or halal.
Advocare Spark FAQ Page
So if you do happen to be vegan, you should definitely be looking somewhere else for a more suitable vegan energy drink. There are plenty of them out there if you know where to look.
On the other hand, if you’re simply looking for a powdered energy drink to wake you up in the morning, Advocare Spark certainly does a pretty good job at it.
Does Advocare Spark cause kidney stones?
Advocare Spark, the dietary supplement, is not associated with causing kidney stones. Although it has been a subject of some health concerns and allegations in the past.
Containing over 120mg of caffeine is a small sachet for an 8oz drink. The controversy surrounding the product was made by individuals who had drank it several times daily for months, which will naturally happen with any energy drink or caffeinated drink.
If you are undergoing medication or have some health issues then maybe think twice before trying this out. It is best to consult your doctor before using Advocare Spark.
Advocare Spark Energy Drink Flavours
- Strawberry
- Fruit Punch
- Mango Strawberry
- Mandarin Orange
- Grape
- Cherry
- Blue Raspberry
- Watermelon
- Pink Lemonade
- Limeade
- Green Apple
Advocare Spark Energy Drink Alternatives
Advocare Spark Energy might not be wholly vegan, but here are some alternatives that might work better for a vegan diet:
If you’re looking for some great powdered options, check out:
REIZE (10 out of 10)
While Advocare Spark may have its merits, how about trying an energy drink that I think is even better?
REIZE is an awesome powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is completely sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
REIZE also contains a smart blend of taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins, all from vegan-friendly sources, providing you with the perfect energy boost, without the crash.
As REIZE ships straight to your door for only about $1 per drink, it’s great value for money as well.
Try REIZE today and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a smarter choice than Advocare Spark Energy Drink.