Although they may not yet have the same following as physical competitions like baseball or soccer, sports based around competitive video games – called e-sports – have been growing in popularity for some time now. As new games are developed and improved upon, leagues are formed around them, and the best players in the world earn the opportunity to show their skills in front of entire stadiums of people. However, in an environment as competitive as this one, it takes more than skill to be victorious; you need unrivaled focus and concentration, too. That’s where supplements come in. These products are touted for their ability to improve the body’s performance while gaming, but some are more effective than others. So, what are the best types of supplements for gaming and e-sports? To find out, keep reading as the experts at aminoVITAL®, makers of amino acid supplements, discuss the most popular products.
Best Supplements for Gamers and E-Sport Competitors
Even the most cursory search of the Internet will reveal a ton of different supplements aimed at gamers, making it difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff. However, a closer inspection of the results will show that many of the most popular supplements for gamers and those who play e-sports fall into one of several categories. Below, we’ll look at some of the best supplements for gamers and discuss how they can affect your performance.
Caffeine
Let’s start with the most widespread gaming supplement. Caffeine is found in all sorts of products that gamers use to give themselves an edge, including energy drinks, coffee, and various pills and powders. There’s a reason for this: the caffeine in these products can make people more alert (at the proper dose), and it has the added benefit of helping gamers stay awake for late-night dungeon runs and virtual firefights.
Unfortunately, the benefits of this popular stimulant must be weight against its drawbacks, including side effects that can ultimately hinder performance when it matters most. When taken in excessive amounts, caffeine can cause a person to feel nervous, jittery, and distracted, all of which can easily throw off your focus during an e-sport competition.
Amino Acids
As a type of supplement that’s started gaining popularity in recent years, amino acids have been earning the recognition of athletes of all stripes, including those in e-sports. That’s because amino acid supplements offer benefits to both physical and mental performance, thanks to their ability to fight fatigue and provide energy to the body. While the boost in energy caused by amino acids may not be as sharp as what you’d get from caffeine, it’s also not disruptive; take an amino acid supplement before your next match, and you can avoid the jitters and eventual crash while still getting a boost in focus and concentration.
Ginseng
An herb that has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, but more recently, it’s been gaining attention for its ability to boost cognitive performance. A study1 that tested participants on their response to mentally demanding tasks found that ingesting ginseng led to greater cognitive performance and reduced mental fatigue; while this study only looked at about 30 people, the results seem promising, which is why some in the gaming community have begun using ginseng-based products over those filled with caffeine.
Arctic Rose
Although known by a variety of names – including arctic root, rose root, king’s crown, and its scientific name, rhodiola rosea – arctic rose has been the subject of study for a number of years, thanks to its widespread use as a medicinal herb in cold, rocky areas like Russia and Scandinavia. The claims about arctic rose are myriad; studies suggest that arctic rose may help to mitigate stress, improve physical and mental performance, and even help with illnesses like anxiety and depression, though the evidence is not entirely conclusive regarding these claims.
Ginkgo Biloba
Another staple of traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo biloba is a plant long considered to help with attention and cognitive functions. Some small studies have indicated that this herb may help increase mental performance, but the evidence supporting these claims is largely anecdotal. That said, it’s possible that ginkgo biloba may help your performance during your next e-sports tournament, though it’s not exactly a sure thing.
Fish Oil
Many of the benefits of fish oil are well-documented, as the omega-3 fatty acids it contains have been shown to improve heart health, aid weight loss, reduce inflammation, and help the body in a variety of other ways besides. One supposed benefit of fish oil is an ability to improve cognitive performance, a claim that comes from a study published in 2012. However, this study was conducted using rodents, and it’s unclear whether those same effects would occur in people. Still, given all its other benefits, it might be worth adding fish oil to your diet either way.
Try an Amino Acid Supplement for Improving Performance at the Gym or Online
There are many different supplements out there, and they all claim to be the best. However, few of these have the same scientific backing as amino acids, which serve as the foundation for the body’s proteins, including the neurotransmitters that keep our minds right. To learn more about the benefits of amino acid supplements for gaming and e-sports, visit aminoVITAL® online or give us a call at (888) 264-6673 today.
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