Ashwagandha Performance is new initiative that aims to bring fresh in-depth content designed to help brand owners, formulators, and consumers to make intelligent, well-informed decisions in the rapidly growing Ashwagandha and the lucrative Sports Nutrition category. This initiative is an outcome of a partnership between two extremely credible entities, Stack3d and KSM-66 Ashwagandha, who have come together with a shared mission of empowering brand formulators and consumers with accurate and timely knowledge on the nuances of Ashwagandha applications and sourcing.
According to market data from Grand View Research (“Sports Nutrition Market Size & Growth Report 2020-2027”), the global sports nutrition market size was valued at $15.6 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2020 to 2027. Sports nutrition, a category once geared towards weightlifters and professional athletes has now expanded to everyday consumers seeking a more active lifestyle. This transition is expanding products beyond muscle building and performance enhancement. With sports nutrition becoming one of the most dynamic segments of the Natural Product Industry, brand formulators and consumers are constantly on the lookout for exciting, reliable ingredients that will not only get the job done, but also those that prioritize clean label and plant-based ingredients. Adaptogens, particularly Ashwagandha, are in the spotlight.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal) is one of the world’s best known and relied-upon adaptogens, used for centuries to help support the body’s natural balance for robust well-being and health. One possible translation of the Sanskrit name of ashwagandha – “horse essence” – hints at its potential application for sports performance and related categories. Ashwagandha root is known to increase energy production in muscles through its beneficial effects on mitochondria, the structure that serves as the power plant of each cell, producing energy through the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), also known as the energy currency. Ashwagandha root’s benefits for athletes are not only limited to performance and strength but also for all the factors that affect the performance.
This series will showcase content pieces that aim to give an advanced understanding of ashwagandha and how it is adding value and reshaping the sports nutrition industry. It will highlight clinical studies, novel applications, market successes and provide a nuanced appreciation of factors that distinguish the various providers of ashwagandha.
Kartikeya Baldwa, the CEO behind KSM-66 Ashwagandha says, “KSM-66 served as the beachhead to make ashwagandha become the large category product that it is now. KSM-66 is used in the leading sports nutrition brands globally like GAT Sport, M-Drive, My Protein, Optimum Nutrition, Performix, MuscleTech, Weider, Cellucor, Beast etc. Being a key driver of growth in this space, we feel it our responsibility to ensure that there is dissemination of accurate knowledge about ashwagandha that will help brand owners, formulators and consumers choose ashwagandha applications and suppliers wisely without leading to disappointment and regret. This is needed especially now when there is a spurt of suppliers without substantial history or expertise in ashwagandha entering this market to capitalize on the growing demand. We are privileged to partner with Stack3d in the Ashwagandha Performance initiative.”