Kratom - scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa - is widely praised for its many natural benefits and uses. Depending on a person's individual needs, they may use kratom as a stimulant, as a relaxation aid, or as a tool to fight opiate addiction. One of the most commonly overlooked benefits of kratom is weight loss.
Unlike hundreds of other weight loss drugs that are either ineffective or unsafe, kratom is a natural way to stabilize your appetite and control your cravings without harsh chemicals, dangerous fad diets, or starving yourself.
Some see weight loss from kratom as a side effect, but if you're seeking a weight loss aid, it can be one of the plants most valuable benefits. In this guide, we'll talk about using kratom for weight loss, its safety, and its effectiveness.
Let's dive in.
Contents
How kratom causes weight loss?
Kratom is a valuable weight loss tool for many reasons. It offers more than one effect that causes weight loss, unlike many pills that use dehydration from or appetite suppression alone. It combines several small factors to create an experience that promotes healthier eating and portion control.
Kratom's ability to help users lose weight comes from both direct and indirect factors, which include craving reduction, appetite suppression, improved symptoms of depression, and more. Below, we'll talk about kratom's many effects and how they can make it a valuable tool in a person's journey toward better health.
Craving Reductions
Weight gain is commonly caused by overconsumption of unhealthy, fattening foods with addictive properties. Foods that have sugar and refined carbohydrates can create psychological or physical dependencies in otherwise healthy people. These dependencies develop over time, making overeating and over-indulging in cravings closely correlated with weight gain.
One of the reasons many people use kratom is Its ability to help users manage addictions. In fact, thousands of people use kratom to help them manage opiate dependencies as they recover from there addiction. Food addictions work similarly to drug dependencies, making kratom an effective tool for treating both types.
By using kratom to treat food addictions, users can reduce their cravings for unhealthy foods and as a result, lose weight with consistent dietary changes.
It's interesting how kratom works to reduce cravings - the active compounds in the plant trigger the user's brain and its reward response once consumed. Once the body processes kratom's alkaloids, it can substitute kratom as a reward for unhealthy foods, resulting in fewer cravings.
Appetite Suppression
Kratom also reduces cravings through simple appetite suppression which, on its own, is an effective tool in a person's weight loss journey.
Many kratom users will agree that the plant causes appetite suppressing effects. It's one of the plants most noticeable side effects, depending on the strain and potency.
However, appetite suppression from kratom is unlike that from other diet pills. When a person experiences its appetite suppression from kratom, they won't experience a sour stomach or nausea, too. Instead, they'll feel a natural fullness that minimizes their desire to eat without negatively impacting their digestive health.
Improved Depression Symptoms
Kratom is widely-known for its mood-lifting effects. These effects can be valuable to people with depression, helping improve their symptoms with regular, moderate use.
Overeating and unhealthy cravings are two symptoms of depression. If a person is trying to lose weight while they're living with depression, they may struggle if they use food as an outlet or as a means of comfort.
Kratom can help with this by boosting a user's mood and therefore, reducing their desire to overeat. Depending on the strain, a person may have intense feelings of euphoria, inspiration, or optimism while influenced by kratom. These feelings can be powerful tools against depression and as a result, effective for weight loss.
Potency
One of kratom's indirect causes of weight loss comes from the plant's route of administration. A person's body processes kratom more effectively on an empty stomach and as such, users should consumer kratom before eating a meal to get the most desirable results.
In cases of individuals who take kratom early in the morning, this effect greatly impacts the way they start their day. If a person drinks kratom tea before they eat breakfast, they may eat later in the day, eat smaller portions, and choose healthier options as compared to what they would eat on a day without taking kratom.
Is it safe to use kratom products for losing weight?
As with any naturopathic remedy or herbal medicine, it's important to understand safe practices for using substances before consuming any. Kratom is only recently undergoing widespread pre-clinical and clinical research to confirm its short-term and long-term impact on a person's health.
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) recently published a study reviewing more than five decades of scientific evidence to learn more about kratom's safety and effectiveness. The study – published in the esteemed Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal – discusses kratom's safety, claiming there is no scientific reason to believe it is unsafe for consumption.
As for safety as a weight loss treatment, it depends on the individual and their other weight loss practices. Any weight loss routine can be unhealthy or dangerous, depending on the person. The same applies to kratom – if the user gets adequate sleep, eats a well-rounded, nutritional diet, and exercises properly, they should be able to sustain a kratom routine without issues.
On the other hand, a person shouldn't consider using kratom if they're going to use it for unhealthy weight loss practices. If a person abuses kratom to the point where they are malnourished from their lack of appetite, they may experience health issues as a result.
Simply put, kratom is safe as a short-term weight loss tool for moderate use in otherwise healthy adults, however, a person should eat a healthy, nutritional diet to prevent the negative side effects of appetite suppression.
Kratom’s Usage for Weight Loss
When a person uses kratom for weight loss, there are a few factors they should consider when they choose their product and the way they dose it. Not all kratom is created the same. The plant is available in different strains which offer unique effects. Additionally, the amount of kratom a person takes in one sitting will heavily impact their results.
Kratom vendors sell various strains, each with their own alkaloid profile. Some strains are more effective for relaxation and others provide a strong energy boost. In most cases, strains are divided into three unique categories, but some vendors are introducing their own "designer" strains for marketing purposes. In general, the three categories of kratom are red, white, and green.
Your preferred dosage for kratom will depend on which strain you choose and its effects. Below, we'll look at the differences between kratom strains and explain which are the most effective choices for losing weight.
Recommended Kratom Strains
As mentioned above, shops and online vendors typically sell kratom in red, white, and green varieties. They are characterized by their effects:
White strains are popular for their energizing, euphoric effects. Many kratom users prefer white strains during the morning to start their day because it offers a mood lift similarly to coffee. It doesn't offer as much pain or anxiety relief, but it is exceptional for increased focus, inspiration, and motivation. White strains of kratom more commonly produce appetite suppression then red or green strains, making them the most popular choice for weight loss.
Red strains Are the most popular for nighttime use. They create an all over call NIS and a sense of relaxation that's perfect for fighting insomnia, anxiety, and pain. Using red kratom during the day may cause some people to feel more sluggish or tired than usual, making it the perfect choice for after work or on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. However, it doesn't offer boosted focus and increased motivation as much as white strains and isn't as effective at appetite suppression.
Green strains are a balanced mix of red and white effects. A green kratom strain will not make a user excessively sleepy or excessively motivated, instead offering a well-rounded, anxiety fighting, antidepressant effect. When a person needs kratom for an afternoon boost without feeling tired or sleepy, they may choose green kratom. Some green kratom strains are good for weight loss, but others are less effective.
In most cases, a person who is trying to lose weight with kratom should avoid red strains, like Indo, Borneo, and Bali varieties. These strains are generally more sedating and their white and green counterparts, which may cause increased appetite for some individuals. With consistent use, the temporarily increased appetite typical of some red vein strains will disappear, however, this immediate side effects may do more to harm a person's weight loss journey then help.
Additionally, once the temporarily increased appetite effect goes away, red and green strains are still typically less effective than white for appetite suppression. For many users, it has to do with the increased focus that goes with white strains, which redirects their attention from hunger and food to the activity at hand.
Of the many white vein varieties of kratom, Thai and Maeng Da are among the most popular. In general, Thai strains of kratom are the most effective at appetite suppression. They have the most potent stimulating and energetic effects, which are useful for managing cravings.
Maeng da freedom is effective for weight loss for similar reasons. However, the quality of Maeng da is more variable among vendors than men eat ice trains. Some varieties of Maeng Da are more stimulating than others, while some provide a sedating feeling more commonly associated with red strains. If users find particularly stimulating white strains, they are usually the most effective at aiding weight loss.
How to take Kratom?
Kratom is most commonly sold in capsules, but there are dozens of other ways for users to get the plants benefits without managing its bitter taste.
The way a person takes great am may impact its potency and its effects. As mentioned above, taking kratom on an empty stomach will have a far more pronounced effect then if it's taken after a heavy meal. The same can be said for how it's consumed - for example, capsules may take longer to start in effect, but they may last longer and feel stronger. However, brewing kratom into a tea may increase the bioavailability of some of its alkaloids, making it more potent in a shorter period than capsules, but it may not last as long as consuming the plant matter whole.
Below, we'll look at some of the most common ways people use kratom to get their desired effects and aid weight loss.
Capsules
When users take kratom in the form of capsules, it only takes a few seconds to measure a dose. Taking kratom capsules is as easy as taking other vitamins or medications, however, some individuals should be prepared to take more than one pill depending on the size of their dose.
Kratom capsules are popular because they help users avoid the plants taste better. Kratom is closely related to the coffee plant and as such, has a distinct bitter flavor similar to whole coffee beans. When a person takes kratom in a capsule, it will bypass their taste buds and they can avoid the most unpleasant part of using this plant.
However, taking kratom in capsules has been linked to stronger feelings of nausea and stomach upset then create him when consumed as a tea. Some believe that the capsules themselves aid in the upset stomach, others say the sudden presence of hard to digest plant matter causes discomfort in the abdominal area.
Additionally, kratom that is prepackaged in capsules may cost more than powder on its own. Many companies charge an added fee to cover the cost of the capsules and the packaging process, which means some users may pay more per dose if they purchased these products. However, many users learn to encapsulate their own kratom, saving money on the surcharge. This can take time but can be a valuable payoff for frequent kratom users.
Kratom Tea
Drinking kratom tea is another one of the most popular ways to enjoy the plant's benefits. Like other leaves, flowers, implant matter, kratom may be soaked in hot water to diffuse it's active compounds in 2 a beverage. Unlike with capsules, kratom tea will embrace the plant's powerful taste, which may be off-putting for some users.
Fortunately, with kratom tea, users can easily sweet and the flavor and make it a more pleasurable experience by using honey or sugar. They may still cope with a noticeable after taste, but many users can adjust their tea recipes as necessary to minimize their discomfort.
One of the most prominent drawbacks of kratom tea is the time it takes to prepare. Preparing tea can take time if you're using kratom powder. After a person measures their dose, they need to put the powder into a tea infuser, brew their water, and wait for their tea to finish.
When users have time to enjoy their beverage come up making kratom tea can be an excellent experience. However, it may not be a suitable route of administration for users who are short on time and need to dose quickly.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of drinking kratom tea overtaking capsules or eating powder directly is its minimal side effects as compared to other means. As mentioned above, taking kratom capsules has been associated with higher rates of digestible discomfort among kratom users, largely thought to be a result of kratom's alkaloids themselves.
Some researchers believe that the alkaloids in kratom associated with stomach discomfort or digestive upset are not water soluble, and thus do not diffuse into the tea when brewed. However, these alkaloids are present when a person consumes kratom leaves (or powder) as a whole which can make the experience uncomfortable for users with sensitive stomachs.
Toss and Wash (Toss 'n' Wash)
When kratom users want a simple and effective way to consume the plant, the easiest way is to simply "toss" the powder in their mouth and quickly "wash" it down with water – also known as the "toss 'n' wash method."
The toss and wash method of taking kratom is one of the most popular for two main reasons: simplicity and cost.
When a person takes kratom powder directly and washes it down with water, they don't have to hassle themselves with encapsulating their kratom or making a tea. If they are taking kratom before work or school, there's no faster way than to quickly measure out a dose and swallow it.
Unfortunately, the toss and wash method doesn't offer any solutions for kratom's potent taste. The idea is to swallow the powder so quickly, the taste doesn't become overwhelming. However, users with sensitive stomachs may experience nausea or gagging from the flavor if they eat a large dose of kratom without a capsule or sweetener. It's important not to underestimate the taste of kratom – "tossing and washing" sounds like an easy solution until many users have tasted the plant first-hand.
As with capsules, eating kratom powder directly can lead to more powerful nausea and the feeling of digestive upset then brewing kratom into a tea. Introducing a large amount of plant matter into the stomach so quickly and so suddenly may cause a negative reaction. Some users report vomiting after tossing and washing large doses of kratom, unprepared for the abdominal upset that followed.
This can make kratom highly effective as a weight loss supplement when eaten whole as powder. This may improve its appetite suppressing effects, making this one of the preferred ways to take kratom when a person uses it for weight loss.
Finding the Right Kratom Dosage
Dosing kratom correctly is vital to a person's overall experience. Dose too little and a user may not achieve their desired effects. It may not supply enough appetite suppression to help them lose weight. If a person doses too much, it may cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, anxiety, sweating, and other undesired effects that can impact a person's wellbeing.
Each person's correct kratom dose depends on their goals, their sensitivity to kratom, and their size. Kratom's effectiveness correlates with a person's BMI – in general, overweight individuals need more kratom than users of average weight and underweight individuals need smaller doses.
Additionally, dosing depends on which effects a person wants to achieve. Do they want to feel focused and motivated enough to do work or are they seeking appetite suppression? In general, users need a somewhat larger dose for weight loss than they would for increased focus.
Keeping in mind the factors above, a typical, moderate dose of kratom is generally between two and five grams. Users should track their doses and the resulting effects to find the perfect amount.
A well-sized kratom dose should provide noticeable, desirable effects without powerful side effects. If a person isn't feeling enough from their kratom or their feeling too many unwanted side effects, they should change their dose and see how it impacts their experience.
How users can improve their “Kratom Experience”?
Kratom is a safe and effective way to aid a person's weight loss journey, but there are a few things users should keep in mind before they add it to their supplement routine. With the right information, users can approach kratom for weight loss armed with knowledge, helping them get their desired experience from the plant.
Below, take a look at our top tips for using kratom to better understand the plant and how to use it.
1. Take Kratom Early (or Late!)
It's important for users to time their kratom dosage is appropriate. If a person is using energizing strains of kratom too suppress their appetite and reduce their cravings, it's important to take their dose as early in the day as possible. The stimulating effects will carry into the afternoon and if taken too late into the day can disrupt a person’s sleep.
Alternatively, some kratom strains are more useful in the evening hours. Some individuals may use red or green strains of kratom as a sedative in the evenings to help them fight insomnia. In some cases, using kratom to sleep better can help individuals lose weight by minimizing the amount of food they eat as a coping mechanism for their extended periods of wakefulness.
However, taking red strains of kratom too early in the day can lead to a temporary increase in appetite and cause sluggishness. As such, is very important for users to take the appropriate strains of kratom at the right times of day to maximize their experience and minimize negative side effects.
2. Take Kratom on an Empty Stomach
We touched on this above, but it's important to take create him on an empty stomach. Taking kratom after eating a large meal can greatly inhibit its effects. The body more readily absorbs the active compounds in kratom when food is not present in the system to buffer digestion. The compounds are absorbed directly into the body without the digestive system processing the food first.
Additionally, it's important to take kratom before meals for the purpose of weight loss. Taking kratom before meals will enhance its appetite suppressing effects, helping users manage their portions more easily throughout the day after they take their dose.
3. Take Breaks
Like many other plants and herbal remedies, a person will build a tolerance to kratom if they take it every day. If a person takes kratom every day, they will not achieve their desired effects with the same dose. They will need to increase their dose over time to achieve the same effects, eventually diminishing them to a point where they need so much kratom they'll never feel it the same way they did when they first began.
For this reason, it's important to manage kratom tolerance from the beginning. By taking breaks every couple of days or every other day, kratom users can positively impact their tolerance and get more from their doses.
Final Thoughts
In recent years, kratom has become a popular natural remedy for many physical and mental health conditions. Many people praise the plant for its powerful benefits and relatively minimal side effects, making it a popular choice for those seeking alternatives to prescription medications for weight loss.
Kratom is safe for most people and can be an incredible tool on a person's path toward better health. However, it's important for individuals to speak with their doctors before using kratom to learn more about potential side effects and confirm it as a viable option.
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