Gaming is more popular than ever. What was once a pastime for “nerds” and social outcasts has grown into one of the most inclusive and lucrative markets on the planet. To think that if you were a child who started off playing Super Mario Bros. on the NES in the late 80s and early 90s, and could be raking in millions today playing video games seemed like a pipe dream. Yet, it is a very tangible reality.
Growth in viewership and prize money has skyrocketed, leading to the creation and recruitment of professional players/teams competing in regular professional gaming leagues. For instance, in 2019, the Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2) major tournament had a total prize pool of US $34 million, with the winning side (Team OG) collecting $15 million!
And, while gaming is still considered as something to do “for fun,” for many individuals (especially those that compete at a high level), it can be enormously stressful. In fact, some research indicates that competitive gaming requires similar mental skills as traditional sports. One key factor that has been identified to impact performance in sport is the way athletes cope with stress.
When exposed to a stressor, individuals invoke a coping response to manage it. Depending on the path taken will impact their recovery and subsequent performance. Applied to gaming, excessive stress can adversely impact reaction time, precision, accuracy, memory, communication, and problem-solving.
KSM-66 Ashwagandha is a time-tested adaptogen that has been thoroughly vetted in human clinical trials as a safe, natural, and effective option for improving an individual’s stress response.
Research in the Indian journal of psychological medicine found that supplementation with ashwagandha (300mg/day twice per day for a total of 600mg) led to a 44% decrease in perceived stress and a 27.9% reduction in serum cortisol levels. This can offer tremendous benefit to gamers regularly immersed in high-stress matches.
Another recent study found that much lower doses (250mg) were also effective in reducing stress and cortisol levels. Beyond the deleterious effects to performance, stress and chronic excessive cortisol levels can also wreak havoc on your cardiometabolic health (e.g. hypertension, poor nutrient utilization, hormone dysregulation, etc.).
Ashwagandha supplementation has been noted to restore the stress-induced alterations in plasma cortisol, blood glucose, and triglyceride levels, making it an appealing option for individuals living high-stress lives. The power of KSM-66 Ashwagandha lies in its versatility. Athletes, gamers, professionals or students can all benefit from the stress-relieving properties of this centuries-old herb to perform better and enjoy a greater quality of life!