We reviewed the Redcon Total War Pre workout supplement in a previous post and today we will analyze a more profoundly popular supplement of Redcon 1. And that is none other than the meal replacement supplement itself. Just a little fun fact, Brian Shaw(4x world’s strongest man) is a huge fan of this particular supplement. Now most people misunderstand the term meal replacement at first impression. This is NOT something to use as a complete meal substitute, although it varies depending on your goals. We will discuss everything there is regarding this particular supplement. Therefore without further ado let’s hop on the Redcon 1 MRE Review.
Redcon 1 MRE Ingredients Review
As we mentioned earlier although this supplement technically is a meal replacement, does not mean that you replace all your meals with this. If it happens that your schedule is tightly packed, carrying tubs of food to work, gym can be inconvenient. Therefore instead of missing out on meals and skipping them, Redcon 1 MRE can help you pack the essential nutrients that you get from a meal.
But what’s better, having a badly scheduled meal times or somehow trying to keep that calorie clock ticking? my thoughts exactly. So let’s review the ingredients present in Redcon 1 MRE.
Whole food protein blend
Sub Category 1 of the blend.
- Beef protein blend
- Salmon protein
- Chicken protein
- Egg protein
- Brown rice protein
- Pea protein
As we are well aware beef is a high quality source of protein containing all the essential amino acids, hence a complete source of protein. Contains 26g of protein per 100g of serving. Salmon is an excellent source of Vitamin B12, Potassium, Vitamin D, Iron and Omegas. Also very low in saturated fats and a good source of protein at the same time. 20g of protein per 100g to be precise. Next is the most abundantly used source of protein. Good old chicken that contains 27g of protein per 100g.
Egg protein for many people is a go to pre workout. No cooking of any type, just crack them and have them. Mostly known for the rise in HDL(good cholesterol) content in the body and the presence of 6g of protein per egg. 2-3 eggs per day have been tied with cardiovascular benefits. Up next is an ingredient famous among vegan athletes. Containing 2.6g of protein per 100g, brown rice however does not pack a complete essential amino acid profile.
Last but not least comes pea protein. It aids muscle growth, weight loss and cardiovascular health. Pea protein contains all the essential amino acids including BCAAs and hence can be consumed individually without combining with any other plant protein. Only catch is that it is a bit lower in methionine, which makes Whey the better choice. Nonetheless that’s the breakdown of the first category.
Carbohydrate Blend
- Rolled oats
- Yams
- Sweet potato
This is what separates a meal replacement supplement from the protein supplements like Whey. The composition of carbs over protein is “way “ higher in MRE than Whey, no pun intended. Because this supplement is primarily manufactured to replace a meal containing equal amounts of carbs, proteins, fats, minerals etc. Unlike a protein shake which is intended to shove your muscle tissues with extra protein.
All these foods are great sources of rich and healthy carbs, accelerating your rate of muscle mass gain combined with the right workouts.
Medium Chain Triglyceride(MCT)
These are commonly extracted from coconut oil and are dense sources of energy. MCT oils aid in fat loss, ketone production. It also reduces lactate buildup in athletes and uses fat as a source of energy. Apart from these MCT also helps fight heart diseases, manage blood sugar levels and Alzheimer’s disease.
Benefits of Redcon 1 MRE
There are many researches that claim too much animal protein is bad for your health. Therefore it is only the right person that benefits from this. The average male needs about 56g of protein per day. But as we know this isn’t the case of a powerlifter, bodybuilder or a cross fit athlete. Redcon 1 MRE provides 47g of protein per serving and yet one serving isn’t enough for the average person that goes to the gym and still lacks nutrient intake.
Redcon 1 MRE is made out of real, whole foods and hence very high in protein. Which means if it is used right, weight loss could be supported too. However it is still high in terms of carbs, fats and overall calories. Hence planning a caloric deficit might be harder than usual. There are great combinations of flavors. Most people prefer the Dutch-apple pie. And since this is lactose free, most of you who are allergic to whey protein can use this as a hybrid of a protein shake and weight gainer.
How does it help in Weight Loss?
We mentioned that if Redcon 1 MRE is utilized the “right way” it could be an assistant in weight loss. Since most bodybuilders are focused on gaining mass, this part doesn’t concern them. However if you are looking to cut down on some of your body fat, this can help you.
The ingredients also include carbs like oatmeal and yams. Which means this doesn’t cut down your weight through burning calories or increasing metabolic rate. Therefore what should be done is a caloric deficit plan. If you replace your meals with MRE and not eat in between your intakes you are likely to limit your caloric intake to about 1600 per day. And when we say meals, it means a meal that is almost identical to an MRE serving. Continue for 2-4 months and you should start seeing results.
Potential Side Effects
There are some of the typical side effects involved in using supplements with this one too. Some such are Gas, Bloating, Constipation and Diarrhea. Experts say that these could be the results of the amount of carbs and fiber present.
How to use
The official recommendation by Redcon 1 is mix 1 serving with 14-16 ounces of water or any other preferred base. However since this is a high caloric intake, mixing with water would be best if you are looking to cut down on calories. For guys looking for more gains, milk or almond milk would be a better choice.
Redcon 1 MRE Lite
This is nothing but the junior of the original MRE. For those looking for a lower calorie shake, this is the better choice. Because with the MRE Lite, you don’t have to replace your meals entirely with MRE since the calorie count is lower. Each serving is just 134 calories with 24g of protein and just 2g of sugar. The carbohydrate amount has been cut down drastically making this the ideal MRE for weight loss.
Conclusion
Lets conclude the Redcon 1 MRE Review. There’s no doubt that both MRE and MRE Lite are perfect choices for regulating your meal patterns and integrating to your daily lifestyle. The high quality whole foods in both the supplements will give you everything you need to grow your body, lose weight and maintain your physique or meet your strength goals. The flavors available are Dutch Apple Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Cobbler, Fudge Brownie, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Banana Nut Bread.
Make no mistake, the MRE Lite is the better supplement for weight loss given its carb deficiency. However if you are looking to put on size go for the MRE. It is a tad bit expensive, mostly due to the combination of real food. Nonetheless many customers have reviewed positively on this supplement stating that it didn’t disappoint them.
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