It might be the most prolific pre workout of all time and our experts took a minute to give it a whirl and talk about what they think. Here is what they said,
Total War Pre Workout is a supplement produced by Redcon1 that is designed to enhance performance and energy during workouts. It is formulated with a combination of ingredients that aim to boost energy, focus, endurance, and muscle pumps.
Ingredients:
Total War Pre Workout contains some of the best ingredients on the market, like Beta Alanine, Citrulline Malate, and Caffeine Anhydrous, but we do have some questions like why add another form caffeine when you already have a high dose and we're disappointed with the sweetener sucralose.
The good: Citrulline Malate might possibly be the best pre workout ingredient in the last 30 years. It is known for its ability to increase blood flow to the muscles and enhance muscle pumps with a heafty increase in nitric oxide production, leading to increased blood flow and nutrient delivery to the muscles. And while we we always question putting Beta Alanine inside the pre workout, it has been shown to be a pretty effective ingredient in the long run.
The bad: While some of these ingredients have been shown to improve performance, others lack scientific evidence to support their efficacy. The biggest thing here is the super high dose of caffeine, with 250mgs of Caffeine anhydrous and 100mgs of Di-Caffeine Malate. And if you add to that Total War also adds the caffeine booster Juniper Berry, you are getting one of the highest doses on the market and really pushing your adrenal system to the max, putting this in the category of only really effective for 18 year olds.
Lastly, we can't say it enough, but our experience has been that sucralose as a sweetener is one of the most questionable ingredients on the market. Its release by the FDA was iffy when it came out and there have been multiple studies recently to show that it has the potential to have some serious side effects. We would recommend natural stevia as the sweetener.
Effectiveness:
The good: Total War has received a lot of positive reviews from users, and for good reason. The product has been around for a long time with lots of experience. Total War users say they have improved energy, endurance, and muscle pumps during their workouts. Some users also reported that they felt more focused and alert during their workouts. The blend of ingredients in Total War has been shown to be effective in enhancing performance during intense physical activity.
The bad: Despite the company's claims and user experience, the effectiveness of Total War still has rooms to grow. When we tried the the pre workout, we noticed an immediate surge of caffeine, and while some gym-goers might appreciate that surge, we don't feel that the average athlete needs or wants that. Instead, we recommend a more moderate energy boost. Furthermore, each of us who tried Total War felt a bit of an upset stomach, which we attributed to the sucralose, though we are unsure if that was the exact cause. In fact, some of our testers had a pretty severe negative reaction almost immediately after.
Taste:
The Good: Total War is available in several flavors, including Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Watermelon and Strawberry Kiwi. Our testers tried the Strawberry Kiwi and had a pretty good experience. The taste of the supplement has received positive reviews from users who have described it as delicious and refreshing, and our experience was pretty much the same.
The bad: While taste is subjective, some users have reported that Total War has an artificial and overpowering flavor. We would attribute most of this to the general difficulty of pre workout ingredient flavors. L-Citrulline particularly is very sour as other ingredients may even be bitter. This may make it difficult for some individuals to consume the recommended dose, and may also lead to a negative experience when using the supplement. Our experience was that Total war did a pretty good job with the flavor.
Side Effects:
The good: When it comes to pre workouts, you want great vasodilation and increased focus and energy. As far as vasodilation goes, with 6000mgs of L-Citrulline, this pre workout hits it out of the park. Our users felt a great pump and increased energy for sure.
The bad: The problem is that Total War contains entirely too much caffeine, which can cause side effects such as jitters, anxiety, and increased heart rate. It is also important to note that the caffeine content is so high that it may cause an increase risk of adverse effects for not only those sensitive individuals but perhaps for many more. Additionally, the other ingredients in Total War may interact with certain medications and may cause side effects in some individuals.
In conclusion:
Total War is a high-quality supplement that aims to enhance performance and energy during workouts. The blend of ingredients in Total War has been shown to be effective in boosting energy, focus, endurance, and muscle pumps. Additionally, the supplement has received positive reviews from users who have experienced improved performance during their workouts. Our users had a relatively good experience initially that was then tempered by feeling quite poor afterwards.
As a shameless plug for our own brand, if you would like to see our best shot at a properly dosed and effective pre workout go here to check our 4 Gauge's Pre Workout