Kratom, an herb originating from Southeast Asia, is the latest sensation in the US’s wellness circles. The herb’s popularity propelled its consumers to form the American Kratom Association (AKA), a body that protects their right to consume kratom.
Although kratom is available in multiple consumable forms like teas, capsules, and powder, the latest trend is mixing the herb with energy drinks. Moreover, energy drink consumers are looking up for low cost red vein kratom because the herb supposedly improves energy drinks’ effectiveness.
But do kratom and energy drinks complement each other? Keep reading to find more about the pair and make informed choices.
Kratom is a plant in the coffee family and native to Southeast Asia, where the native communities have used it for millennia, harnessing its purported therapeutic effects. The herb is a popular elixir used to treat everything from stomach issues to fatigue.
There are various kratom strains, including white kratom strains, green kratom strains, and red kratom strains. The strains are named according to their leaf venation, although some are named after regions of origin, like Maeng Da kratom, Malay kratom, and Bali kratom.
Kratom is an atypical opioid and interacts with the endogenous opioid system. The endogenous opioid system is an elaborate body system with receptors located along with the peripheral and central nervous systems. The system receptors are located along various pathways, including those regulating pain responses, motivation and reward, and stress and emotional responses.
Kratom contains alkaloids, predominantly mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine, that interact with the μ-subtype opioid receptor found primarily in the CNS to deliver its therapeutic effects. Hailing from the coffee family, kratom is a natural stimulant, although it does not trigger jitteriness and subsequent caffeine-related crash.
Because of these effects, most US kratom consumers use kratom primarily for stress, anxiety and mood elevation, pain relief, energy boost, and sleep improvement. However, research on these benefits is at the preliminary stages.
Energy drink marketers package the drinks primarily as remedies to enhance productivity by boosting alertness and increasing energy levels.
Typical energy drinks contain 80mg-200mg of caffeine (a cup of coffee contains 80mg of caffeine). They also contain energy-boosting plant extracts like guarana (three times the amount of caffeine in coffee) and ginseng (a natural caffeine-free stimulant).
Another popular ingredient in energy drinks is B vitamins, necessary for metabolism and energy production. They also contain plenty of sugar (41mg) to facilitate energy production.
Energy drinks increase cell activity in the brain and central nervous system and facilitate cortisol and adrenaline transportation; the two hormones enhance wakefulness. The physical effects include an elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, mental alertness, and a physical energy boost.
The effects kick in within 10 minutes, peak at approximately one hour, and wear off within two to three hours. However, the half-life for the ingredients is six hours.
Kratom consumers may mix it with energy drinks for the following reasons.
Note that factors like kratom strain, dosage, consumption method, and individual biology dictate how long the supplement lasts in your system. Regardless, mixing kratom and energy drinks means more benefits.
Although research on kratom’s pharmacology and action mechanisms exist, no research exists on its effects when used with energy drinks.
But it’s important to be aware of the obscene amounts of caffeine and sugar in energy drinks. Excess caffeine could potentially disrupt your sleep patterns, while too much sugar increases your risk of cardiovascular issues and type II diabetes. So, reduce the frequency of consumption to minimize the effects.
White kratom strains have a potent energy-boosting capacity coupled with euphoria. Given energy elevation as their dominant effect, mixing them with another powerful energy booster may cause overstimulation, so avoid it, or try with low kratom doses.
Green kratom strains are popular for their balanced effect, inducing physical and mental stimulation alongside a calming effect. Therefore, such strains may be ideal for mixing with energy drinks to boost the stimulant effect without causing overstimulation.
Red kratom strains are potent analgesics that also induce calmness and sedation. Therefore, they are the perfect complement for energy drinks, providing the perfect balance of physical energy, mental alertness, and calm.
Mixing kratom and energy drinks may be beneficial in providing a sense of balance and lingering effects, although there is no empirical research on the same. So, start low and go slow should you consider mixing the two.
This is a paid guest post.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
