With rising consumer awareness, and the need to adhere to an active lifestyle, the market for sports nutrition and performance is emerging as one of the most dynamic segments in the Natural Products Industry. Consumers are increasingly choosing naturally derived ingredients over synthetic ones, and adaptogens, particularly Ashwagandha, are in the spotlight.
It may come as a surprise to many that , Ashwagandha, a renowned Adaptogenic herb in Ayurveda, offers an impressive array of benefits such as boosting adrenal function, reducing stress and anxiety, increasing stamina and endurance. Interestingly, the word ashwagandha stems from the Sanskrit word “ashva,” meaning horse, and “gandha,” meaning smell, signifying the horse-like scent of the root. It also translates to “strength of the stallion,” a reference to the virility of horses as the herb is said to support vitality. Ashwagandha root has an ability to supercharge your gym sessions, too, as it known to increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, and increase strength in men and women, testosterone in men.
As an adaptogen, Ashwagandha root increases an individual’s ability to cope with stress – including the physical stress of exercise – which accounts for a large part of the herb’s impact on athletic performance. Due its stress modulating effects, Ashwagandha encourages the body to be more efficient. When stress levels increase, ashwagandha aids in the normalizing body’s physiological processes, allowing for proper response to changes. Ashwagandha also functions as an ergogenic aid, supporting physical performance parameters related to muscle strength, body composition while also increasing testosterone levels. Several studies have shown this herb’s potential benefits to both anaerobic and aerobic exercise, suggesting it can enhance physical performance.
An study published in the Journal of International Society of Sports Nutrition, investigated the effect of KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract as an ergogenic supplement in male athletes. This 8-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enlisted 57 men, who underwent resistance training. At the end of the study, KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract supplementation demonstrated a significant increase in muscle strength, almost 75% in the upper body and 50% in the lower body, when compared to the placebo supplemented participants. KSM-66 ashwagandha root extract supplementation is also associated with significant increase of 17% in arm muscle size.
A second study published in F1000 research, investigated the effect of Ashwagandha in both male and female participants, who underwent resistance training for 8 weeks. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 80 participants. At the end of the study, researchers found that KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in muscle strength, muscle size, immunity and overall quality of life. As an adaptogen Ashwagandha demonstrated a significant increase in the levels of serum total and free testosterone in the male participants, but not in the female participants.
Amongst the adaptogen hemisphere, Ashwagandha provides the most star studded health benefits aligning both psychological and physiological functioning. Ashwagandha bridges the body mind connection and appeals to both athletes and casual exercisers alike. There are a plethora of products on the market for boosting muscle strength which use KSM-66 Ashwagandha.
Here are a few such examples:
Earthnutri Post-Workout Swift Recovery
MPL Nutrition Electro-FX
Ten Performance Recover Pro
Black Market Labs Guerrilla Prime Recovery Nine
Aperegina Recovery Extreme
MDrive Start
Daily Nutra Peak Workout Formula
FitN40+Sport