Video games uniquely connect players across borders, bringing together friends, families or competitors in an immersive, virtual space. The popularity of video games has risen significantly over the last decade, coinciding with the rapidly evolving digital world. As such, the esports market is booming and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.21% from 2023 to 2027, reaching a staggering US$ 5.43 billion.1 In this fast-paced arena, esports athletes now share the spotlight with traditional sports stars, making it clear that they are true athletes in their own right.
Esports athletes are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of nutrition to get ahead of the competition in the gaming world and stay healthy. In fact, many professional esport teams now use nutritionists and sports performance experts to encourage the adoption of science-backed health strategies and supplements for gaming. So, how can brands in the nutrition space tap into the positive shift towards healthy choices in the esports industry?
It’s important to acknowledge that esports athletes are indeed athletes. They share the same obligation to take care of their bodies as traditional athletes in physical sports. Furthermore, esports athletes typically have minimal downtime, often logging up to 12-hour days for consecutive stretches. Historically, gamers have been associated with unhealthy diets, relying on fast food and sugary beverages to sustain them through these marathon sessions. But now, modern-day gamers are taking steps to avoid this lifestyle and the health problems associated with it.
Today’s consumers are redefining what it means to be healthy, with a focus on supporting both body and mind. Esports athletes are no exception to this trend, seeking more nutritious ways to support their gaming lifestyles while gaining a competitive edge. But what constitutes the ideal nutrition for an esports athlete?
The gaming world is a unique sport that comes with its own set of challenges. While traditional athletes push themselves to their physical limits, esports athletes compete in a ‘brain workout’ – pushing the boundaries of cognitive function. As such, gamers need to consider both the physical and cognitive demands of the sport. While dietary choices remain essential, with a preference for protein-rich foods, fruits and vegetables over carb-laden options, supplements offer an alternative means to bolster performance and promote well-being.
Ready-to-drink (RTD) applications are an easy and convenient way for brands to deliver game-enhancing supplements to athletes during intense gaming sessions. Beverage manufacturers should consider ingredients that support cognitive flexibility, memory, attention, focus, improve decision-making processes and address mental fatigue. High protein beverages enriched with ingredients like B vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, potassium and magnesium hold the potential to provide critical advantages to these digital athletes.2,3,4 Moreover, innovative ingredients in the sports nutrition space, such as prebiotics, can benefit esports athletes by activating the gut-brain axis. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that prebiotic dietary supplements can improve mental well-being and cognitive function. 5,6
We have developed a groundbreaking concept to help brands tap into the esport space with a cutting-edge RTD solution that supports gamers beyond the console. Our on-the-go energy drink application harnesses the power of Excellion® Calcium Caseinate S, a high-quality protein source containing all necessary essential amino acids and calcium while being low in lactose. This concept not only offers a neutral flavour but also presents an appealing milk-like appearance and exceptional heat stability.
To support the performance of gamers, we’ve combined Excellion® Calcium Caseinate S with a unique blend of science-backed, natural ingredients, including guarana, ginseng, green tea extract and taurine.
Are you ready to meet the demands of esports athletes with our innovative RTD solutions? Explore our energy drink application:
For more than a century we’ve been creating quality ingredients delivered with passion. Whether we’re inspiring ideas from drinks to bars, or supporting how to manufacture products in better ways, our customers can count on us to deliver, time and time again.
Subscribe1 Esports – Worldwide | Statista Market Forecast
2 Dighriri IM, Alsubaie AM, Hakami FM, Hamithi DM, Alshekh MM, Khobrani FA, Dalak FE, Hakami AA, Alsueaadi EH, Alsaawi LS, Alshammari SF, Alqahtani AS, Alawi IA, Aljuaid AA, Tawhari MQ. Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Brain Functions: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2022 Oct 9;14(10):e30091. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30091. PMID: 36381743; PMCID: PMC9641984.
3 Jówko E. Green Tea Catechins and Sport Performance. In: Lamprecht M, editor. Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2015. Chapter 8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK299060/
4 Goulart, J.B. et al. (2023) Nutrition, lifestyle, and cognitive performance in Esport Athletes, Frontiers in Nutrition. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1120303/full (Accessed: 08 November 2023).
5 Johnstone et al., Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 15;11(1):8302. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33859330/ *
6 Schaafsma et al., Nutrients. 2021 Jun 27;13(7):2204> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34199006/
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