Most kratom users consume this herb to relieve pain, but kratom is also praised for its energizing properties. That’s why many people wonder if they can use kratom for working out. Is it safe to take kratom during working out? What are the benefits? But also, what are its cons? In this post, we will explore the use of kratom for working out.
How Does Kratom Work?
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree that grows in Southeast Asia. You can find kratom trees growing in the humid jungles of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and more regions. Quite recently, Mitragyna speciosa has also become popular in the Western world thanks to its effects. Kratom has analgesic, relaxing, energizing, euphoric, and sedative effects. That’s why people use kratom to:
- Relieve pain
- Get an energy boost
- Cope with anxiety and depression
- Alleviate stress and relax
- Fight insomnia
Furthermore, many people coping with an addiction have found out that kratom can help them with the cravings.
But how does kratom work? And why are its effects so different? Kratom’s effects come from its alkaloids. Mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and other alkaloids act on the so-called opioid receptors in your nervous system. These receptors are responsible for managing pain, mood, energy, and relaxation, among other things. And, despite their, name, opioids or opiates are not the only substances that activate them.
At small amounts, kratom’s effects are more energizing, whereas they are more relaxing at large amounts. In fact, high doses of kratom can have sedative effects. Therefore, you must be careful when consuming kratom and always measure your kratom dose.
Kratom Side Effects
Kratom also has side effects. In most cases, these side effects are the result of prolonged use or high doses. So, again, being cautious with your kratom dosage is crucial to consume kratom safely.
But what are kratom’s side effects?
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach upset
- Constipation
- Eye wobbles
- Dehydration
Also, when you’ve been consuming kratom for a while, chances are that you start experiencing kratom tolerance. Kratom tolerance is the natural result of regular kratom use. It implies that your body needs larger amounts of kratom in order to feel its effects. Avoiding using kratom daily and large doses can help you prevent or delay tolerance.
Using Kratom for Working Out
Using kratom for working out is not so common as using it for other things (such as for pain, depression or coping with opiate withdrawal). However, its popularity in the fitness world is growing very quickly.
But does kratom help you work out? People who use kratom when working out claim that this natural product boosts their energy levels and helps them endure their workout routine much better. They also feel more motivated to perform physical activity and also feel much better when exercising. Therefore, they perform more and better. Moreover, since kratom is a natural appetite suppressant, many of them have found that kratom also helps them lose weight.
Furthermore, people who use kratom for fitness and bodybuilding usually report that their mood improves, and they feel happier when taking kratom. The cause of this effect is quite likely that kratom has strong euphoric effects. But exercising also helps you produce more serotonin, which makes enhances your mood and makes you feel better. Also, some kratom users report that kratom lowers their testosterone levels. However, there are no studies that can support this data.
How Can I Use Kratom for Exercising?
The effects of kratom for exercising are not studied. In fact, so far, we only have anecdotal evidence. Furthermore, using kratom for enduring and performing physical exercise is a very secondary use. Hence, establishing fixed rules on how to use kratom for this purpose is quite difficult. Having said that, if we consider anecdotal evidence about this topic, there are some tips that you could follow if you decide to use kratom for your workout routines.
- Use small doses of kratom. That is, between 2 and 4 grams
- Take your kratom roughly one hour before working out
- White kratom strains are the best choice if you want to boost your energy levels
- Drink a lot of water. Kratom causes dehydration. Therefore, it is key that you drink more water than when workout without kratom. Drink liquids before, during, and after your workout routine
- Don’t take kratom every day. Ideally, you should limit your use of kratom to two or three times a week, and never in consecutive days. Otherwise, kratom tolerance will eventually show up
Finally, if you start experiencing any side effects, you should consider quitting kratom. At least, you could take a break for a while.
