My REDCON1 Total War Pre Workout Review First Look

When looking for a pre workout supplement I want something that can keep me feeling awake, alert and motivated.

Pretty much everything I do not feel right now.

This is because I must be jet lagged. Being a time traveller (or at least being on a long haul flight) has taken its toll on me.

So, with this seemingly fighting against me, I want something to give me a hit for my lunch time workout.

So while I am not a bodybuilder, would something like Redcon1 Total Ware be suitable for bodybuilding or strength trainees?

Who are REDCON1?

However, they are now commonly used by students looking to concentrate while stay up late as well as gamer’s and even machine operatives or long distance drivers.

The main key benefits are:

• Increase energy – Smash your workout with more intensity
• Motivation – Get straight out of bed for an early morning gym session
• Improved focus – Zero in on your weights program or even revise harder
• Alert – Stay alert and improve concentration

However, not all pre workout supplements are equal, and some are downright terrible or contain potentially dangerous ingredients in dangerous doses, or concealed doses.

We analyse each one with an in depth review.

Total War Ingredients: The Science

Citrulline

This is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement. L-Citrulline supplementation results in reduced fatigue and improved endurance for both aerobic and anaerobic prolonged exercise.

An increase in growth hormone has been noted with exercise, but not at rest.

L-citrulline boosts nitric oxide production in the body.

Nitric oxide helps your arteries relax and work better, which improves blood flow throughout your body.

Supplementing can help lower blood pressure in people with pre-hypertension.

This is often found in the best pre workouts.

To supplement L-citrulline to enhance sports performance, take 6,000 – 8,000 mg of citrulline malate about an hour before exercise.

To improve circulatory health you should take 1.76g of Citrulline Malate per 1g of Citrulline.

https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1

You can read more about Citrulline and its benefits for exercise, here.

Beta-alanine

Supplementation of this non essential amino acid aids the production of carnosine.

That’s a compound that plays a role in muscle endurance in high-intensity exercise.

That said, studies have not exactly been positive nor entirely conclusive.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222&activeingredientname=beta-alanine

Taurine

It has been touted that Taurine can help mental performance.

Early clinical research suggested that taurine, in combination with caffeine, glucuronolactone, and B vitamins, can improve attention and reasoning in adolescents, but does not improve memory.

However, there is insufficient evidence to prove this is always the case.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1024-taurine.aspx?activeingredientid=1024

Caffeine

It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure to give you an extra boost and hit that PB.

Caffeine Anhydrous is the purest form of caffeine so always look out for it.

This is found in 4 Gauge which is the best pre-workout.

It is also found in Instant Knockout which is the best fat burner available at present.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979

Black Pepper / Piper Nigrum (BioPerine)

The extract of piperine, called BioPerine®  in the patented form, has been clinically tested in the United States.

BioPerine®  significantly enhances the bioavailability of various supplement nutrients through increased absorption.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9619120

Juniperus Communis (Juniper)

Taking juniper by mouth long-term or in a high dose is LIKELY UNSAFE as it can cause kidney problems, seizures, and other serious side effects.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-724-juniper.aspx?activeingredientid=724&activeingredientname=juniper

Naringin

This displays strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Known as a citrus flavonoid and found in grapefruit.

It is also good for reducing cholesterol, high blood pressure, overall obesity as well as improving cardiovascular health.

http://advances.nutrition.org/content/5/4/404.full

Dicaffeine Malate

Caffeine and Malic Acid bonded.

Malic acid is found in apples and the two combined help prevent the crash once the caffeine has worn off.

This is found in Mr. Hyde Cutz but very little in terms of scientific studies to be found.

In fact, there’s nothing more than user reports and anecdote rather than hard reported evidence of its effects.

Cocoteanol

I cannot find any reliable or unbiased sources to prove that this is effective.

So let us look at the individual ingredients that make up Cocoteanol:

Cocoa Bean Extract (Theobroma)

Studies show that in conjunction with a controlled diet, cocoa bean extract may play a role in body weight management.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113527/

Black Tea (Camellia sinensis)

Drinking black tea and other caffeinated beverages throughout the day helps to keep people alert, even after extended periods without sleep.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-997-black%20tea.aspx?activeingredientid=997&activeingredientname=black%20tea

How To Take Total War

We are instructed to take one scoop which is 11785mg. That’s 11.7g.

That compares fairly well to many of the best pre workout supplements which will offer over 15g.

Price

$39.99

Pros

This offers a decent sized dose, but more importantly there is no proprietary blend in sight.

Then there are ten ingredients included which is promising.

The price is also competitive.

But what about the ingredients?

Well, there’s Citrulline included which is proven to help with circulation and reduce fatigue.

Caffeine is a proven stimulatory ingredient. This can increase energy and alertness. It also helps burn fat.

Naringin is able to help improve cardiovascular health.

The components of Cocoteanol help with alertness and fat burn.

There’s also Black Pepper extract which helps your body absorb the nutrients.

These are all good points.

Cons

There are four ingredients that do not offer any proven benefit and one is likely to be considered unsafe to use.

This also omits a number of proven and effective ingredients that should be included.

Considering this is a pre workout there are few ingredients available to increase focus, power or energy.

In fact, there are more ingredients that would benefit being in a fat burner supplement.

What improvements could be made?

We would like more ingredients that would benefit us and our exercise regime.

Therefore, in essence, in terms of a pre workout supplement to increase physical performance it would have been beneficial if it included the ingredients below for more impact:

• Beet
• Coconut Water
• Carnitine
• B vitamins
• Creatine
• Sodium
• Tyrosine
• Theanine
• Rhodiola
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin C

My REDCON1 Total War Pre Workout Review Conclusion

This is not quite the powerful nor majorly effective pre workout supplement I was hoping for.

It misses out on lots of proven and beneficial ingredients that can increase energy, focus and power.

When we hit the gym we want to get in the ‘zone’ to get the most from our workout.

For most, 60 minutes a few times per week is the most amount of gym time we can get.

Yet this seems to only offer two ingredients that can increase energy.

There is another product that will get you fired up and cause hell in your chosen sport.