Meeting Military Nutritional Requirements for Optimal Health and Performance

Mark Pettus MD, FACP, ABOIM 

Medical Director 

Dr. Paul J. Arciero, FACSM, FTOS, FISSN 

Clinical Research Advisor 

Kathie Swift, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, EBQ 

Functional Food Nutrition Advisor 

Why is it critical to reconsider the current state of MREs in combat-ready military personnel?

The mental and physical performance of combat personnel is significantly influenced by their nutritional status. Research in warfare readiness increasingly identifies nutrition as a critical component. An accelerated adaptation to the various stressors of war and an overall improved condition of resiliency are promoted through optimal diet and nutrient supplementation. Field rations or MREs consumed during missions and deployment provide critical, sole source nutritional support. There is a growing body of research around human performance, as well as clinical evidence in nutritional epidemiology, that illustrates large gaps in the support provided by current field rations. 

The primary goal of an MRE has historically been to deliver calories, macronutrient distributions like those consumed by the general population, and a familiar flavor profile. The nutrition/diet recommendations are based on traditional dietary intake recommendations using the Healthy Eating Index from the 2015 to 2020 federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As a result, this provides an opportunity to adjust these recommendations for the military to include updated scientific advancements in performance nutrition. 

Analyses of energy intake provided by MREs vs energy expenditure during training suggest that significant calorie/energy deficits are commonplace. Additionally, anthropometric assessments of various military groups relying extensively on MRES during training exercises reflect a loss of lean body mass (LBM) with field use or reliance on these rations. Such losses in LBM are universally associated with a loss of musculoskeletal (MSK) performance outcomes, such as strength, power, and physical performance measures, as well as declines in psychological performance, such as resilience, reaction time, and mood state. 

The potential impact of current MRE reliance and long-term consumption on other areas of health is further amplified by the increasing rates of micronutrient deficiencies experienced by military personnel prior to field training and battle deployment. While micronutrient deficiencies are increasing in the US Military, the rate of obesity and cardiometabolic syndrome has also increased dramatically. The overfed and malnourished metabolic state caused by food choices in the general population is also present in combat personnel. It is largely explained by relying on lower nutrient density foods that are typically high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. 

The resulting discord in the average warfighters level of metabolic health and the level that would provide combat performance advantages can be ameliorated with optimal nutrition. MREs offering this type of enhanced nutritional support during training exercises and combat could improve immune function and resistance to infection, cognitive function, psychological health, alertness, reaction time, and endurance through multiple !pathways that reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, optimize body composition, and modulate neurotransmitter production among others. Higher levels of micronutrients found in unique, more nutrient-dense, biologically appropriate, functional foods will also provide distinct risk reduction for injury, while also offering exceptional improvements in mental and physical performance. It should be the goal of MREs to offer the greatest possible nutritional support to those that experience the highest degree of mental and physiological stress. At Essential Provisions we anticipate emerging areas of scientific investigation that include the burgeoning field of precision nutrition and its technologic enablers to continue to define this rapidly evolving landscape.

How do Essential Provisions MREs/Sustain supplement products more effectively address these gaps? 

EP MREs and Sustain Field Fuel "shots" are whole-food, nutrient-dense and energy-dense formulations that are fully prepared. They can be eaten out of the packet directly or they can be heated before consumption. Higher protein of both animal and plant-based sources to assure a complete amino acid profile and bioavailability. This is critical to mitigate loss of muscle mass, strength and metabolic health commonly seen with recovery from injury and deconditioning. Our products assure complete bioavailability offering protein quantity and quality unmatched by other medically tailored meals in the market. Other nutritional, health and human performance attributes include:

• Low glycemic plant-based carbs: Evidence is clear that high-glycemic carb from sugar, flour/processed grains are major drivers of obesity and poor cardiometabolic health.
• Our fat content is from natural sources providing a balanced mix of omega-3 to omega-6 fats demonstrated to reduce inflammation
• Higher protein and natural fat sources along with lower glycemic plant-based carbohydrates have demonstrated increased metabolic flexibility i.e., the ability to quickly switch from glucose to fatty acids as a critical fuel source in endurance, ultra-endurance and combat-ready military recruits.
• Greater metabolic flexibility has been shown to reduce the work of breathing (lower RQ or respiratory quotient); increased beta oxidation of fats as a reliable and efficient fuel source; preserved glycogen stores over hours of heavy physical demands with lower "quick carbohydrate" fuel needs; stabilization of peak-trough glucose excursions; improvements in mitochondrial efficiency
• Our products are ALL sourced from regenerative, organic sources. Our testing for PFAS/PFOS chemicals, heavy metals, mold, glyphosate, etc. is far more rigorous than any medically tailored meal on the market.
• High energy to completely meet metabolic needs
• Prolonged shelf-life of 3-5 years based on storage temperature. This is very convenient and of great value compared to other offerings.
• Lower carb, higher fat and protein macronutrient composition has consistent efficacy in the modification of cardiometabolic risk, shown to be increasingly prevalent in active military personnel and in the recruitment-aged American demographic.
• Higher protein intake is essential to mitigate loss of muscle mass and to promote muscle protein synthesis (MPS), particularly when combined with resistance exercise.
• High quality protein sources in the proper amounts, consumed at timed intervals throughout the day are associated with increased postprandial thermogenesis (caloric expenditure), improved glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, enhanced cardiovascular health (lower blood lipids, blood pressure, and vascular resistance), greater gut microbiome diversity, and reduced inflammatory markers
• Support for those currently taking, or recently going off GLP-1 agents
• Many chemicals from herbicides to food coloring, thickeners, and other additives are associated with higher risk of chronic complex disease.
• Minimally processed foods obtained from sustainable and organic sources are proven much healthier than ultra-processed foods
• Our products are ALL sourced from regenerative, organic sources. Our testing for PFAS/PFOS chemicals, heavy metals, mold, glyphosate, etc. is far more rigorous than any other product on the market. These pervasive environmental toxin exposures have been shown to increase inflammation, disrupt the gut microbiome, disrupt detoxification, alter gene expression, reduce mitochondrial efficiency and impede our body's restorative and regenerative processes.

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