If you’re looking for kratom nutrition facts, you’ve probably noticed that the herb isn’t very high in nutritional value. The powder-like substance passes through your body without adding much to your diet. Kratom is made up of alkaloids, naturally occurring chemical compounds responsible for many of its effects. Two of the most commonly found alkaloids are mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. These two alkaloids interact with the opioid receptors in your brain, where Kratom’s effects come from.
The chemical composition of Kratom is quite complex and unclear. Despite being a natural herb, the substance is a controversial natural product, which means that little information has been published on its chemical composition. In this article, we will review some of the available information to understand the nutritional value of Kratom. While it isn’t an ideal way to determine the benefits of Kratom, you can rest assured that it is safe to consume.
Kratom Nutrition Facts
What is Kratom?
The coffee family includes the tropical evergreen tree kratom (Mitragyna speciosa). It is indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and other South Asian nations. A stimulant and a sedative have been derived from the leaves or leaf extracts. It has also reportedly been used to treat digestive problems, chronic pain, and opium dependence withdrawal. There hasn’t been enough clinical research to understand better how Kratom affects the body. Additionally, it lacks medical use authorization.
In the U.S., Kratom is permitted; however, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, and several other nations in the European Union do not allow it. Kratom is sold as alternative medicine in the United States and is available in shops selling dietary supplements and complementary medicines.
Why and How do People Use it?
Kratom has been observed to function similarly to a stimulant at low doses. Low-dose users frequently feel more energized, alert, and friendly after using the drug. Kratom has been described as a sedative, having euphoric effects and dulling emotions and sensations at larger doses.
The alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine are the primary active components of Kratom. According to the available research, these alkaloids may have analgesic (pain-relieving), anti-inflammatory, or muscle-relaxing properties. Because of this, Kratom is frequently used to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms.
The plant’s dark green leaves are typically dried and powdered or crushed. Powders of reinforced Kratom are available; they are typically green or light brown. Other plant extracts are also present in these powders.
Additionally, paste, pill, and tablet forms of Kratom are offered. For the self-management of pain and opioid withdrawal, Kratom is primarily prepared as a tea in the United States.
Stimulant Effects
A modest amount that has stimulant effects is just a few grams, according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The effects typically take action 10 minutes after consumption and can last up to 1 1/2 hours. These outcomes include:
- Alertness
- Sociability
- Giddiness
- Reduced motor coordination
Sedative Effects
A larger dose of between 10 and 25 grams of dried leaves can have a sedative effect, with feelings of calmness and euphoria. This could last for up to six hours.
The Extent of Kratom Use
Kratom is sold online in several different forms, including as a concentrated extract, dried in capsules, pressed into tablets, and as a raw leaf. It indicates that its use is growing in the U.S. and Europe, and recent findings point to rising use among people in their undergraduate years.
The exact demographic extent of kratom use, abuse, addiction, or toxicity is unknown, according to the DEA, because drug abuse studies have not tracked its use or abuse in the U.S. However, the DEA reported in 2016 that from 2010 to 2015, 660 calls to American poison control centers were connected to kratom exposure.
The FDA issued warnings to numerous manufacturers in 2019 for making untrue claims about the ability of their kratom-containing products to treat or cure opioid addiction. The businesses also made unsupported claims regarding cancer treatment, pain, despair, and anxiety.
Why is it Controversial?
Since Kratom hasn’t been thoroughly investigated, it hasn’t been formally advised for medical usage.
For the creation of novel medications, clinical investigations are crucial. Studies aid in identifying persistently negative effects and medication interactions, and these studies also aid in identifying efficient and safe dosages.
Kratom may significantly impact the body as many alkaloids are present in Kratom and opium, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Humans are strongly physically affected by alkaloids. Although some of these impacts might be good, others might cause alarm. This serves to highlight the need for greater research on this medication. Safety hasn’t been demonstrated, and negative effects have considerable risks.
The main psychoactive alkaloid in Kratom, mitragynine, may have addictive qualities, according to findings from one animal study. Hallucinations, sweating, trembling, nausea, and inability to fall asleep are all common adverse effects of dependence.
Additionally, there is no regulation of kratom production. The purity and safety of herbs are not under FDA scrutiny, and there are no guidelines for safely making this medication.
Reported Side Effects
Reported side effects of long-term use of Kratom include:
- Constipation
- Lack or loss of appetite
- Severe weight loss
- Insomnia
- Discoloration of the cheeks
Numerous calls into the CDC poison centers for kratom overdose every year.
What are the Health Benefits of Kratom?
Here are the health benefits of Kratom:
Libido Enhancement
As a potential supplement for sexual enhancement, Kratom has been examined. Researchers looked at several clinical trials and published data on the aphrodisiac properties of Kratom. They concluded that Kratom works well as a plant-based sexual enhancer.
Pain Relief
There are three main strains of Kratom, all-powerful chronic pain relievers. By binding to opioid receptors, the white vein, green vein, and red vein types reduce pain. 7-hydroxy mitragynine, a substance in Kratom, has a potency 13 times greater than morphine. Kratom is considered an atypical opioid even though it targets opioid receptors similar to morphine and codeine. Kratom selectively inhibits particular signals, which may explain why its side effects are more acceptable than conventional opioids.
Mood-Boosting
Kratom has a variety of mood-lifting properties. According to reports, Kratom is a successful treatment for opioid addiction and has been shown to aid in easing morphine and ethanol withdrawal symptoms.
According to other studies, Kratom may be useful as an appetite suppressant and an antidepressant. According to a study on animals, Kratom decreases corticosterone levels in mice. Depression is linked to high corticosterone levels.
In a different rat study, kratom supplementation reduced appetite by blocking the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that controls hunger and cravings. More research is required to determine whether Kratom has comparable effects on people.
Does Kratom have any Side Effects?
Yes. Don’t be fooled into believing that Kratom is safe since it is “natural.” In reality, the risk of serious adverse effects from Kratom outweighs any potential advantages, and in some extreme situations, Kratom has even resulted in death.
The most common side effects of Kratom are:
Other serious kratom side effects include:
- Cardiac issues include heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and high blood pressure.
- Encephalopathy (brain disease).
- Hallucination.
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
- Insomnia.
- Liver damage and liver failure.
- Rhabdomyolysis (A condition that leads to kidney damage when muscles disintegrate and release a protein into the blood).
- Respiratory depression (difficulty breathing).
- Seizure.
Long-term kratom users may also experience:
- Increased cheek pigmentation.
- Loss of appetite.
- Tremor.
- Psychosis.
- Weight loss.
Is Kratom Addictive
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers about using Kratom. And as of mid-2021, Kratom is illegal in six states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
Kratom is permitted by state law in some states, including California, Colorado, Florida, and Mississippi, although it is prohibited or regulated in some cities, towns, and counties. Different kratom laws are still pending in other states.
Kratom is prohibited or banned in more than a dozen nations worldwide, including parts of Europe, Japan, and Russia.
What’s Ahead for Kratom?
While some medical professionals favor banning Kratom, others believe regulating would be better.
A ban on Kratom, according to Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician and instructor at Harvard Medical School, would deprive many chronic pain sufferers of a possible alternative they may be relying on if they want to avoid taking prescription opioids or are unable to get them from their doctor.
Nevertheless, due to a lack of regulation, Grinspoon advises his patients to stay away from Kratom.
“You don’t know what you’re getting if you buy kratom,” he remarked. Are you truly getting a gram of Kratom, or are you just getting a gram of whatever is in the capsules and the powder they’re calling Kratom? The development, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and sales of Kratom are all unregulated.
Conclusion
One common approach to absorbing this plant substance is through drinking Kratom. Kratom is often consumed three times per day by traditional users. The Mitragynine species tree’s leaves are taken out and soaked in water for a few hours. The tea is then made ready for drinking. Three glasses, spaced throughout the day, make up the standard dosage. Kratom drinkers vouch for its positive effects on their health.
Although this herb has some genuinely beneficial health effects, few people are familiar with its
Pharmacological profile. It’s a natural product that has been used for several ailments, such as chronic pain and depression, for millennia in Asia. It’s understandable why it has grown to be a well-liked substitute for opiate addiction now that so many people know its advantages. Kratom has remained popular due to its extensive list of advantages, even though some users could be cautious.
