Imagine a stadium full of screaming fans. Zoom in on the contestants. They're sweating from the intensity of the competition. What could it be? Boxing? MMA? Basketball? Tennis? American ninja warrior? Nope. It's electronic sports, also known as eSports, and the "athletes" are headset-wearing, energy-drink-guzzling, smart-drug-popping gamers. And this sport is booming. Top eSports tournaments now draw audiences that rival the biggest traditional sporting events, and live streams online routinely attract more than 100,000 viewers. Companies like Coke, Nissan and Red Bull sponsor tournaments, and last year alone, over 205 million people watched or played eSports. As a matter of fact, today's eSports tournaments rival practically any big sporting event. The League of Legends Championship sold out Staples Center in 2013, then sold out the 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul a year later while drawing an online audience of 27 million -- more than the TV viewership for the final round of the Masters. Videos of these online gaming sports has more YouTube followers than news, movies and education combined. There's money in this too. Check out the graphic below from ESPN:

ESPN.com illustration

But eSports isn't just online fun and money. There are some serious health risks involved with this sport. There's drugs. There's drug testing. There is the potential physiological effects of having your senses constantly bombarded by blue light, blue tooth and Wi-Fi. So, in today's podcast, were going to take a deep dive into the crazy world of eSports. My guest today is Zach Burks, founder of a nootropic and smart drug company called NuSups. Zach started his career serving the USA in the Army, then moved to business with the knowledge he gained, and now specializes in enhancing mental and physical performance in gamers.

In today's episode, you're going to discover: -How the exploding world of eSports works behind the scenes... -The physical fitness demands of playing eSports... -The health and sleep implications of the constant exposure to Wi-Fi, bluelight, Bluetooth and the other electronic assailants eSports athletes face... -The "under-the-radar" kind of smart drugs or supplements these athletes are using... -The difference between supplements used as stimulants and supplements used for calming effects... -How drug testing in eSports works... -The best smart drug and nootropic stacks being used in gaming... -And much more!

Resources from this episode: -Zach's website NuSups (use discount code is "brainyben1" for 10% and free shipping on any order) -The movie "Gamer" -Ben's liver cleansing stack: MPX100 + glutathione + n-acetylcysteine + chlorella + Alphabrain -Blue light blocking glasses -Notes from Zach's recommended stacks (all available from NuSups - use discount code is "brainyben1" for 10% and free shipping on any order) Every stack needs 1 Choline Source, and 1 Synaptic Booster, at minimum! (real hardcore stackers like to include fish oils, and other vitamins as a requirement, but this isn't necessary for a basic stack). Listed below are some common nootropics/smart drugs and their category + effect. Synaptic Boosters: Piracetam - Increased Memory Improved Learning Greater Focus Heightened Sensory Function Reduced Anxiety/Depression Improved Vasodilation Reduced Brain Trauma Aniracetam - Improved Memory Increased Learning Ability Improved Cognitive Processing Heightened Reflexes Heightened Perception Reduced Anxiety Reduced Depression Oxiracetam - Increase in Memory Enhanced Learning Ability Better Sensory Perception Advance Technical Thinking Improved Focus Noopept - Powerful Racetam Boosts Acetylcholine production The best Nootropic for creating and recalling memories, and learning. Increases Neuron Growth Neuroprotective - helps restore damaged parts of the brain Phenlypiracetam - Helps consolidate memory Facilitates learning processes Enhances Alertness & Focus Improves Physical Performance Improves Mood Pramairacetam - Overall Improved Cognition Higher Sensory Perception Improved Working/Long-Term Memory Increased Learning Enhanced Focus Advanced Logical/Technical Thinking Unlocked Areas of Thought Adrafinil - Improved short term memory Improved attention and concentration Enhanced clarity of thought Normalization of sleep patterns Less mental fatigue Higher quality of self-awareness Raised levels of optimism and enthusiasm for day to day life Freedom from depression Alpha GPC - Increased learning Improved memory Heightened sensory perception Increased focus Improved motor skills Pyritinol - Improved memory Faster Reaction time Promotes Dopamine growth Increased learning Improved problem-solving skills Enhanced sensory perception ALCAR - Powerful Anti-Oxidant Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective Cognitive protectants below... Centrophenoxine - Choline Source Fights Brain decline Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective and boost Neuroplasticity One of the safest supplements we sell Citicoline - Powerful Choline Source Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, and Clear Thoughts Neuroprotective/Fights Brain Decline L-Theanine - Natural Nootropic Boosts Alpha Brain waves Boosts Neurotransmitters Alleviates anxiety and stress Neuroprotective/Fights Brain Decline Noopept - Powerful Racetam Boosts Acetylcholine production The best Nootropic for creating and recalling memories, and learning Increases Neuron Growth Neuroprotective - helps restore damaged parts of the brain Piracetam - Increased Memory Improved Learning Greater Focus Heightened Sensory Function Reduced Anxiety/Depression Improved Vasodilation Reduced Brain Trauma Phenibut - Anxiety reduction Relaxation Sleep induction Reduced stress Improved mood Pyritinol - Improved memory Faster Reaction time Promotes Dopamine growth Increased learning Improved problem-solving skills Enhanced sensory perception Choline sources Alpha GPC - Increased learning Improved memory Heightened sensory perception Increased focus Improved motor skills ALCAR - Powerful Anti-Oxidant Boosts Acetylcholine production Increases Learning, Mood, Clarity of Thought Neuroprotective A few example stacks with some average results listed below. Feel free to use this stack is you'd like the results listed. Busy Mode: 20mg x Noopept 200mg x Phenylpiracetam 1gram x ALCAR 250mg x Adrafinil This stack is something you will DEFINITELY feel. I call this the busy mode stack for one reason. The combination of Racetams and Adrafinil allow for complete focus as well as potential time dilation effects. You could tweak the amount of Adrafinil or Phenylpiracetam if this stack is too much for you: just lower the amounts by 50mgs. Capital C(reativity) stack: 500mg x Aniracetam 150mg x Phenylpiracetam 300mg x Pyritinol 20mg x Noopept 150mg x L-Theanine This stack is great for any artist or creative person who needs an extra boost for a project. This stack honestly bothers me sometimes because what happens to me is that I'll have 5 to 7 songs get stuck in my head a day: songs I haven't heard in years! Now obviously, this is highly personal and won't happen to everyone. But it's just a nice little way to explain the creative boost you'll get.

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the exploding world of eSports, or anything else Zach and I discussed in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Zach or I will reply.