AdvoCare is a multi-level marketing company that offers a range of wellness products, including supplements, powders, meal replacement shakes, and capsules. Their products, particularly the weight loss programs, have garnered both popularity and controversy. This article delves into the ingredients commonly found in AdvoCare products, examines their purported effectiveness for weight loss, and addresses potential safety concerns.
AdvoCare's Approach to Weight Loss
AdvoCare's weight loss program, Trim, is marketed as a Metabolic Nutrition System (MNS). The company claims that Trim "combines an essential mix of ingredients and phytochemical herbs to increase energy levels and enhance your body’s ability to burn off excess body fat," providing "vital nutrients as well as supports for sustaining a healthy weight.” The program typically features products targeting appetite suppression, optimum nutrition, and energy enhancement. A popular program is the 24-Day Challenge, consisting of a 10-day "cleanse" phase followed by a 14-day "Max" phase.
The 24-Day Challenge: A Closer Look
The 24-Day Challenge is advertised as a quick way to lose weight. During the "cleanse" phase, supplements are taken to rid the body of toxins and prepare it to better absorb nutrients, including an Omega-3 fatty acid supplement and an energy drink. The "Max" phase involves a "metabolic nutrition system" that claims to increase metabolism, control appetite, and support core nutrition through meal-replacement drinks and more energy drinks.
Key Ingredients in AdvoCare Products
AdvoCare products contain a variety of ingredients, some of which are commonly found in weight management supplements. Here's a look at some of the key ingredients and their potential effects:
Caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant known to increase thermogenesis and fat oxidation. It is a common ingredient in AdvoCare's Spark energy drink and other products. While caffeine can enhance mental focus and exercise performance, excessive intake can lead to adverse effects.
Read also: Spark Ingredients Explained
Safety and Recommended Intake:
- Health Canada and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have concluded that ≤400 mg caffeine/day does not lead to safety concerns for non-pregnant adults.
- A limit of 200 mg/day is recommended for pregnant women.
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2020-2025 state that caffeine can be consumed ≤400 mg/day.
- For children, Health Canada recommends 2.5 mg/kg/day.
Potential Benefits:
- Increased thermogenesis and fat oxidation.
- Enhanced mental focus and exercise performance.
Potential Risks:
- Acute intake of caffeine > 500 mg/day can result in headache, jitteriness, agitation, anxiety, dizziness, and tinnitus.
- Very high consumptions (> 1200 mg) can lead to tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, and seizures.
- The "more is better" philosophy, when applied to caffeine, may result in side effects, including nausea, anxiety, accelerated heart rate, and insomnia, that outweigh the performance benefits.Unwanted outcomes become more common with caffeine doses ≥9 mg/kg body mass, but maximal benefits are usually achieved with intakes of 3-6 mg/kg.
Green Tea Extract (GTE)
Green tea extract, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is another ingredient with purported thermogenic properties.
Green Coffee Bean Extract (GCBE)
Green coffee bean extract is a newer ingredient gaining popularity for weight management support.
Choline
Choline is a nutrient with expected lipotropic effects, meaning it may help with fat metabolism.
Glucomannan
Glucomannan is a dietary fiber that may promote satiety, helping to control appetite.
Capsaicinoids and Capsinoids
Capsaicinoids and capsinoids are compounds found in chili peppers that may have thermogenic effects.
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Other Ingredients of Concern
Some AdvoCare products contain ingredients that have raised concerns among nutrition professionals:
- Garcinia Cambogia: A tropical fruit extract thought to curb appetite and block fat production. Some experts caution against its use due to potential side effects.
- Crystalline Fructose: An added sugar that contributes calories and, in excess, can lead to weight gain.
- Sucralose: A zero-calorie sweetener with questionable health benefits.
Effectiveness of AdvoCare Products
While AdvoCare claims its products can aid in weight loss and improve athletic performance, there is a lack of published studies specifically on the effectiveness of AdvoCare as a whole. Some studies have examined the individual ingredients found in AdvoCare products, with mixed results.
- A meta-analysis of caffeine studies showed that caffeine intake led to a reduction in body weight, body fat, and BMI, but many of these studies combined caffeine with other substances.
- Some reviews suggest that caffeine may be protective against type 2 diabetes, but clinical studies have yielded mixed results.
It's important to note that AdvoCare often recommends combining product use with a healthier lifestyle, including a balanced diet and exercise. This makes it difficult to determine whether any observed results are due to the supplements themselves or the lifestyle changes.
Safety Concerns and Potential Risks
Several reports have raised concerns about the safety of AdvoCare products.
- Some individuals have reported severe health complications, such as gastric pains, organ failure, and adverse medication interactions.
- One case involved a client experiencing a significant spike in blood pressure and kidney failure while participating in the 24-Day Challenge.
- The ingredients in energy drinks are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and may contain artificial ingredients and stimulants.
- Consuming any supplement containing copper, is dangerous.“Copper is needed in very small amounts. It has one basic function and that is part of the transfer of a protein called ceruloplasmin, which transfers iron to transferrin, which is the transport of the blood into hemoglobin, to make hemoglobin for red blood cells,” he says. “What are you gonna do if you have all the ceruloplasmin you need and you intake copper? What’s your body supposed to do with it? It’s a heavy toxic metal.”
It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before using any AdvoCare products, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are taking medications.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Regulatory Considerations
The FDA defines dietary supplements as products taken orally that contain dietary ingredient(s) intended to supplement the diet, but not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. While manufacturers are required to maintain supporting evidence for structure and/or function claims, these claims have not been reviewed by the FDA. The FDA also requires dietary supplements to be manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices, with mandatory reporting of serious adverse events and FDA notification prior to marketing a new dietary ingredient (NDI).
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