Is Kratom Keto-Friendly? How to Incorporate This Herb Into a Low-Carb Diet
What is kratom and its properties?
Kratom is a herbal supplement from the leaves of the Southeast Asian Mitragyna speciosa coffee tree. It’s native to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. The local populations have relied on its medicinal properties for centuries.
Traditionally, people chewed on raw kratom leaves or brewed them into teas. As the plant arrived westward, powder and capsules became preferred consumption methods.
The plant contains mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine alkaloids, which interact with the brain’s opioid receptors. Depending on the dose and strain, kratom can have stimulating or sedating effects.
People generally consume low doses for increased energy, alertness, and sociability. High doses bring about relaxation, discomfort relief, and euphoric sensations.
How does kratom affect a keto diet?
Keto is short for the ketogenic diet, another name for a carb-free eating style. The idea is that by eating no carbohydrates, you kick-start ketosis in the body. In simple terms, your muscles use fat instead of carbs for energy.
Keto eaters prime their bodies to burn fat. Many choose this diet for weight loss, but it could also help manage obesity, heart conditions, diabetes, and liver disease.
The diet typically reduces your daily carb intake to under 50 grams (less than in a single bagel). Popular resources suggest you get 70–80% of your calories from fat, 5–10% from carbs, and 10–20% from protein.
So, kratom’s nutrition facts are the first factor of its keto-friendliness.
A two-gram serving of kratom contains only 7.4 calories. It has 1.5 grams of carbs, 0.2 grams of protein, and under 0.1 grams of fat. These nutrients aren’t highly bioavailable, meaning the body doesn’t absorb them.
Tip: Be careful if cooking with kratom or brewing tea. Only choose keto-friendly ingredients for consumption methods outside the pure powder, leaf, or capsule.
Since it has negligible carb contents, kratom is keto-friendly and easy to include in a ketogenic diet. It won’t kick you out of ketosis, mess with your macro counts, or hinder your body goals.
Some people who follow the keto diet report the following benefits of kratom:
- Fewer keto flu symptoms: People in the initial stages of the diet may experience the keto flu, characterized by headaches, fatigue, irritability, and brain fog. Kratom’s effects might reduce these adverse symptoms.
- Increased energy: The body primarily burns carbs for energy, so the first few weeks of keto might leave you listless and sleepy. Kratom might kick you into gear despite a lack of fuel.
- Mood enhancement: Irritability and mood swings are common in the early keto stages. Kratom’s mood-boosting effects may improve your outlook and reduce negativity.
- Hunger reduction: Keto is a diet where you consume lower volumes of calorie-dense food. You may not feel full after meals, so kratom’s appetite-suppressing properties can help you maintain your new regime.
Kratom might also interact with keto supplements, like caffeine and magnesium. Most of these combinations are harmless, but consult a physician if you’re on any prescription drugs.
Can kratom help with weight loss?
Fat loss is an oft-cited reason people try the keto diet, and kratom might make it an even more effective waist cincher.
Kratom may promote weight loss in healthy individuals. It doesn’t directly influence the fat stores, but it does:
- Suppress the appetite to make you eat less. Shedding weight relies on the difference between calories in and calories out.
- Increase energy levels to encourage healthy, calorie-burning movement. Exercise is vital to weight loss, whether you prefer walks, yoga, or bodybuilding.
- Improve the mood to increase persistence and motivation levels. Unenjoyable meal plans make you falter before you see results, but kratom may help you stay consistent.
You can use these effects to fuel whichever weight loss strategy works best for you.
Are there any side effects of using kratom on a keto diet?
Kratom is generally considered safe, but some people report side effects upon consumption. Common adverse reactions include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Lightheadedness
- Dry mouth
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
Stop using kratom immediately if you experience adverse reactions, and visit a physician if they persist for over 24 hours.
Some side effects can be more severe for keto eaters. Constipation, fatigue, and nausea often trouble folks who don’t ingest carbs and might worsen due to kratom.
Keto might also reduce your kratom tolerance. The diet may alter how the body metabolizes fat-soluble compounds, including alkaloids. As a result, the effects might feel more potent once you cut carbs.
The best way to minimize the risk of side effects is dose control. Consume 0.5–1 gram of kratom and wait half an hour before taking more. Use it with food to make the experience more gradual and manageable.
Pick beginner-friendly strains like Sumatra if you’re worried about intensity. You may also choose the encapsulated form of kratom for effortless dosing.
Final note
Kratom can be a beneficial supplement to the ketogenic diet. It’s low in carbs, high in fat-soluble alkaloids, and could alleviate the side effects of keto. It may offer health benefits beyond its compatibility with carb-free eating, enhancing your overall lifestyle.
Listen to your body, watch your dosing, and stay mindful of side effects if pairing the two. That way, you’ll reap the benefits while avoiding the drawbacks.
Shop with reputable vendors to get pure products free of sweeteners and additives that could hinder ketosis. Visit our shop to explore a wide range of products that tick those boxes.
Our five-step testing process keeps our shoppers safe and well-informed. You get kratom of confirmed origins, free of pesticides, heavy metals, biological contaminants, or carbs.
FAQs
Do you have any additional inquiries about the kratom-keto combination? Here are the three frequent questions and our expert answers.
What is the best way to incorporate kratom into a keto meal plan?
There are several ways to pair kratom and a low-carb diet. You may consume:
- Kratom tea: Brew leaves or steep powder in hot water for 10–15 minutes to make this drink. You can take it hot or cold, alone or mixed with erythritol or stevia for sweetness.
- Kratom capsules: Take your preferred dose with a glass of water like any other supplement.
- Kratom powder: Toss a spoon down your throat and wash it with water or mix it with a chocolate drink for better flavor.
- Kratom smoothies: Blend the powder with keto-friendly ingredients like milk, spinach, avocado, or nuts. Add ice to make it more refreshing.
- Kratom edibles: Add a scoop of powder to your fat bombs, protein bars, or cookies to mask the herbal taste. Heating diminishes kratom powder potency, so stick to no-bake recipes.
Start at a low dose and gradually increase it if needed. Choose quality products to minimize the risk of side effects, and watch your reactions for the best results.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about kratom and keto diets?
The internet is full of information, and not all are valid. For instance, we’ve found these common misconceptions about keto diets and kratom:
- Kratom makes you lose weight on keto: While the herb can boost energy levels and suppress appetite, it’s not a weight loss supplement. You’ll shed pounds by moving more and eating less, with or without it.
- Kratom can enhance keto’s effects: Kratom may have some benefits in conjunction with keto, but only indirectly. You won’t achieve ketosis more quickly after consuming the plant.
- Kratom eliminates the side effects of keto: While it might soothe kratom flu, constipation, and energy loss, kratom won’t fix the body’s lack of macros. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet to support your overall health.
Can kratom be used as a substitute for caffeine on a keto diet?
Coffee and kratom can sharpen focus and heighten energy levels. Their effects make them interchangeable, or you can mix them to intensify the boosting effect.
You can use low doses of kratom to replace coffee on a keto diet. Remember that high amounts make the effects sedative, so pace yourself to avoid unwanted sleepiness.
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