Power Play for the Aging Brain:

How Pickleball + Ashwagandha Can Boost Performance and Protect Your Mind

As you know, pickleball is more than just a fun game—it’s a full-body workout that sharpens your reflexes, strengthens your heart, preserves your mobility, and keeps your mind engaged. But what if you could level up those benefits even more?

Enter Ashwagandha—an ancient herbal supplement that modern science is now showing promise for both performance and brain health.

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a powerful adaptogen—a natural herb that helps your body manage stress, recover faster, and function better. It’s been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine and is now gaining traction among athletes and aging adults alike.

Benefits for Pickleball Performance

Recent studies^{1, 3} show Ashwagandha can:

• Boost strength and power

• Improve VO2 max (increases your cardio capacity and potentially the length of your life)

• Enhance recovery and reduce fatigue

• Support hormone balance and reduce stress

• Contribute Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant benefits

In fact, in a 2021 meta-analysis by Cheah KL et al, researchers found that Ashwagandha significantly outperformed placebo in improving strength, endurance, and recovery—especially in active men and women supplementing with around 600 mg/day for 8+ weeks! ²

Brain Boosting & Aging Protection ^2,4,5

Ashwagandha is also being explored for its role in protecting the brain as we age. 

It may:

• Improve sleep and mental alertness

• Calm anxiety and boost mood

• Support memory and cognitive function

• Fight age-related neurodegeneration (like Alzheimer’s)

Thanks to powerful natural compounds called Withanolides, Ashwagandha helps reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain³—two key drivers of cognitive decline.

The Winning Combo: Pickleball + Ashwagandha

When you combine regular pickleball with daily Ashwagandha supplementation, you potentially create a powerful recipe for longevity and vitality:

• Movement sharpens your mind

• Ashwagandha protects your brain and boosts performance

• Together, they help you play stronger, feel better, and age gracefully

Final ThinkaDink™

If you’re serious about feeling great, playing longer, and keeping your mind sharp—this winning combo is worth consideration. Think of Ashwagandha as your off-court secret weapon to recover faster, stress less, and stay on top of your game… for years to come.

**Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and summarizes current findings in recent systematic reviews in credible medical journals.  It is ALWAYS important to consult your Physician or your nutritionist when implementing supplements into your diet, but it is also critical that he/she has knowledge regarding the current research surrounding any supplement. 

References

1.) Bonilla DA, Moreno Y, Gho C, Petro JL, Odriozola-Martínez A, Kreider RB. Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Feb 11;6(1):20. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6010020. PMID: 33670194; PMCID: PMC8006238.

2.) Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R. Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 24;16(9):e0257843. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257843. PMID: 34559859; PMCID: PMC8462692.

3.) Gómez Afonso A, Fernandez-Lazaro D, Adams DP, Monserdà-Vilaró A, Fernandez-Lazaro CI. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Hematological and Biochemical Markers, Hormonal Behavior, and Oxidant Response in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. Curr Nutr Rep. 2023 Sep;12(3):465-477. doi: 10.1007/s13668-023-00481-0. Epub 2023 Jul 10. PMID: 37428341; PMCID: PMC10444651.

4.) Lerose V, Ponticelli M, Benedetto N, Carlucci V, Lela L, Tzvetkov NT, Milella L. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, a Potential Source of Phytochemicals for Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review. Plants (Basel). 2024 Mar 8;13(6):771. doi: 10.3390/plants13060771. PMID: 38592845; PMCID: PMC10976061.

5.) Kushwah S, Maurya NS, Kushwaha S, Scotti L, Chawade A, Mani A. Herbal Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease: Ancient Indian Medicine System from the Modern Viewpoint. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023;21(4):764-776. doi: 10.2174/1570159X21666230216094353. PMID: 36797613; PMCID: PMC10227917.