Simply put, Total War is one beast of a pre-workout drink. Each serving contains a whopping 320 mg of active caffeine and an assortment of minerals and other ingredients.
Much like energy drinks, pre-workouts energize your body for physical activities. And Total War is one of the most recognizable brands in the market.
But what sets Total War apart from the others? Let’s take a look at its ingredients and how they create a powerful pre-workout drink.
Read on to find out more!
Are Pre-workouts and Energy Drinks the same?
No, pre-workout drinks and energy drinks are not the same. In fact, they differ in more ways than you can think of.
Both beverages contain almost the same ingredients like caffeine, vitamins, and minerals, but pre-workouts contain more nutritional content and higher doses of caffeine.
There are also ingredients in pre-workouts like creatine and citrulline that are usually not present in most, if not all, energy drinks.
While you can consume energy drinks before exercising, you should still be mindful of their contents, as sugary energy drinks can make you susceptible to sugar crashes.
The main purpose of ingesting meals and beverages before pressing benches or running on treadmills is to help your body produce more energy and blood sugar to endure more routines and last longer in the gym.
Pre-workout vs Coffee
Pre-workout energy drinks can give you benefits that coffee can’t.
Since exercises require lots of energy and mental fortitude, people will most likely pick coffee over anything else because of its caffeine content and nutritional values. However, some research shows that coffee alone is not enough to be fully energized, though it made individuals more reactive compared to non-drinkers.
Pre-workouts, on the other hand, do more than give you the extra boost. These studies also suggest that it can aid resistance training without any adverse side effects. Other journals show how this kind of beverage allows athletes to reach greater peaks and even repeat their training routine more than usual.
Moreover, pre-workouts are more efficient than a cup of coffee. Its ready-to-drink feature allows individuals to take it anywhere and anytime, especially if they are running late.
But nonetheless, no matter what caffeinated beverage you’re drinking, it’s important that you moderate your consumption to avoid any side effects.
Total War Pre-workout Ingredients
Total War has two versions of pre-workout drinks: the powder and its ready-to-drink counterpart.
Firstly, I listed below Total War’s ingredients and its dosage per scoop or for every 14.7 g of serving:
| INGREDIENTS | DOSAGE |
| L-Citrulline Malate | 6g |
| Beta-Alanine | 3.2g |
| Agmatine Sulfate | 1g |
| Taurine | 1g |
| Caffeine | 250mg |
| Juniper Berry Extract | 150mg |
| Di-Caffeine Malate | 100mg |
| Green Tea Extract | 45mg |
| Naringin | 25mg |
| BioPerine Black Pepper Extract | 10mg |
| Theobroma Cocoa Extract | 5mg |
Meanwhile, this is the list of its ready-to-drink product. It differs from the powder version because you don’t need to add water, it’s ready to drink.
| INGREDIENTS | DOSAGE |
| L-Citrulline Malate | 6g |
| Beta-Alanine | 3.2g |
| Agmatine Sulfate | 1g |
| Taurine | 1g |
| Caffeine | 300mg |
| Di-Caffeine Malate | 100mg |
| Green Tea Extract | 20mg |
| Theobroma Cocoa Extract | 5mg |
As you can see, both versions of the product are almost identical in terms of their main ingredients. However, the latter is missing a couple of fruit extracts and has a slightly higher caffeine content.
You can find these labels on the side of the bottle.
Total War Nutrition Facts
To begin with, Total War’s highest dosage belongs to L-Citrulline Malate. It’s a naturally occurring amino acid used to improve athletic performance and boost nitric oxide production in the body, which also helps arteries work better.
It also contains Beta-Alanine that aids in the production of carnosine, a special compound that enables your muscles to endure high-intensity workouts. Moreover, your nervous system is well-taken care of by the presence of Agmatine Sulfate in every scoop or bottle per serving.
It also boasts reasonable amounts of Taurine and caffeine that helps your body retain and create more energy.
Total War is also filled with various plant extracts that guarantee nutrition and vitamins such as Ascorbic Acid and its B-group cousins.
Here are its other ingredients:
| Ingredients | Nutritional Value |
| Agmatine Sulfate | Improves athletic performance and mood |
| Juniper Berry Extract | Helps blood vessels function |
| Green Tea Extract | Promotes Heart and Brain Health |
| Naringin | Good for Metabolism |
| Theobroma Cacao | Protects the heart |
| BioPerine | Increase supplement effects |
Total War is packed with the essential nutrients and dosages that enable its users to be ready for just about anything. And not only does it stimulate your nerves and relax your muscles, but it also helps your body adjust to the workout you have, regardless of its intensity.
Total War Caffeine Content
Total War’s caffeine content is fairly high. Its 320 mg of caffeine per 1 scoop (approximately 14. g grams) will give you an enormous energy boost.
There are two types of caffeine found in the drink: Caffeine Anhydrous, which makes you alert from the get-go; and i-Caffeine Malate, which affects your body more slowly.
All in all, the caffeine content is still within the FDA’s 400 mg recommended daily caffeine intake limit, but it’s cutting it a little too close.
So while Total War possesses good nutritional values and fair dosages of caffeine, you should still watch what you consume daily, especially if it concerns your fitness and lifestyle.
Is Total War Safe to Take?
Yes, Total War is a safe pre-workout supplement.
They’re also not regulated by the FDA, meaning that they can fill shelves and accompany you to the gym anytime and anywhere—unless the said organization said otherwise. It’s also made of natural elements that are aligned with various official clinical recommendations.
However, consuming Total War must always be in moderation because of its high caffeine content which can potentially make consumers addicted to caffeine.
Moreover, I suggest that you pair Total War with a heavy protein meal to allow your body to make more blood sugar in the process.
How Long Before Total War Pre-workout Works?
Though its creators claim that Total War can take effect in just 10 minutes, customer testimonials revealed that it takes at least an hour before you can benefit from it.
Though there are studies that indicate it’s possible to benefit from pre-workout drinks within the 10-minute mark, the caffeine and other ingredients usually need at least 60 minutes to enter the bloodstream.
Want more info? Here’s a great Youtube video that can explain pre-workout drinks’ effects further!
Is Total War Pre-workout Considered a Stimulant?
Just like most, if not all, pre-workout supplements, Total War is a stimulant.
In my opinion, as long as you read the word caffeine in any part of its label, design, or nutrient facts, then it can stimulate you. Whether mentally, physically, or both attributions, a stimulant is a stimulant.
This study concludes that caffeine enhances the results of physical activity including alertness, thinking, and accuracy of reactions.
It’s also no secret that pre-workout supplements help consumers do more routines and endure long hours. Some components that make it possible, like Beta-Alanine, are present and make up a huge portion.
Are two scoops of Total War too much?
If you have health concerns or have low caffeine tolerance then two or even a single scoop of Total War can be too much. However, Total War Energy Drink is proven safe to consume because it is a non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverage.
For healthy adults, three to four scoops can be considered excessive already. But it still depends on the overall health condition and tolerance of the individual.
Total War Pre-workout Best Flavors
Total War, in general, tastes great! If you are as indecisive as I am, you can refer to this list and taste each flavor to see for yourself:
- Green Apple
- Blue Coconut
- Blue Lemonade
- Blue Raspberry
- Candy Apple
- Grape
- Orange Crush
- Pineapple Juice
- Rainbow Candy
- Sour Gummy Bear
- Strawberry Kiwi
- Strawberry Mango
- Tiger’s Blood
- Vice City
- Watermelon
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Patriot
- Olympia Fireball
- Lemon Lime Blast
- Cali Splash
- Sour Gummy
Total War Pre-workout Alternatives
While pre-workout drinks are designed for a big workout, you can also use energy drinks as an alternative. Although they may not be as effective, EDs contain additional nutrients intended to power the body.
Aside from sugar, EDs contain more caffeine, which is a good power booster. Here are the following energy drinks you can try.
Red bull
Crowd favorite Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine and 27g of sugar. This study shows Red Bull increases pain tolerance, which makes it a good drink for a workout.
Its sugar content contributed to its effectiveness. However, When not limited, It can cause sugar crashes, which induce headaches, difficulty concentrating, and dizziness. It would help if you always remembered not to take more than 30g of sugar a day.
On the other hand, Red Bull also has sugar-free versions available.
AMP Energy
AMP Energy Drink will undoubtedly give you a good push. It has 160mg of caffeine and 26 mg of sugar, double what Red Bull has. It only has a limited flavor selection and contains too much sugar.
Its Guarana is known for its capability to improve focus and lessen fatigue. Knowing that almost all of Guarana’s composition is caffeine isn’t new at all. However, we don’t know precisely how much guarana extract is in every AMP.
Bang
I also recommend Bang energy drink. It has a massive amount of caffeine which is 300mg per can. Its caffeine content has an immense contribution to its reputation.
That being said, always remember not to take any more than 400mg of caffeine per day. This applies to energy drinks use and any other food you will consume for the day.
This study shows that individuals can improve acute metabolic outcomes by taking a caffeine- and protein-rich energy drink. On the other hand, it is sugar-free! It has 40 flavors and eight caffeine-free options.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
REIZE is sugar-free and contains only 11 calories per 4 grams of the sachet. These sachets are very handy because you can carry them anywhere for your daily fix.
I highly recommend this energy drink because it contains Ginseng, B-vitamins, and Taurine that work perfectly to give you the energy boost you need.
Its caffeine is only 50 mg, so no need to worry about pesky sugar crashes or caffeine overdose!
You can achieve all this by having REIZE shipped right to your door for only around $1 per drink.
Give REIZE a try today. You won’t regret it!
Other Notable Mentions
Judgment
In conclusion, I agree that Total War is definitely one good pre-workout drink. You can guarantee an extra energy boost because of its high caffeine content while absorbing nutrients like essential amino acids and minerals.
However, I won’t recommend this drink for people who are caffeine sensitive or individuals who are couch potatoes due to the adverse side effects that you may get if all the energy and nutritional value it can supply is only stored within the body.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re a frequent gym visitor, endurance athlete, or even a busy bee, go ahead and order your own Total War pre-workout supplement from Amazon or in nutritionfaktory and be energized today!