Herbal remedies have become the go-to solution for professional athletes and fitness buffs seeking to enhance their athletic performance.
An earlier study by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) found that 17% of collegiate female athletes prioritized herbal supplements for boosting their athletic prowess. This number has likely surged over the years, as more sporting federations impose stringent measures against synthetic performance-enhancing drugs.
Kratom is one of the herbs driving the trend towards natural sports-enhancing solutions. In this post, we examine the role of kratom in post-workout recovery and how to find high-quality supplements.
Kratom Benefits for Sports Recovery
1. Alleviating Muscle Pain
Enduring grueling hours in the gym or on the tracks can leave you nursing excruciating body aches. While post-workout pain will eventually subside, it can cause severe downtime for professional athletes.
Kratom has historically been administered for pain relief. The herb is loaded with alkaloids that bind to various opioid receptors in the brain, numbing muscle pain.
All you need is to find high-quality kratom near me, and then carefully integrate the supplements into your workout routine.
2. Easing Joint Inflammation
Inflammation is another significant consequence of rigorous workouts that you can resolve by taking kratom.
Most experiments investigating kratom’s therapeutic properties focus on its two dominant compounds – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. However, the plant abounds in at least a dozen alkaloids, including rhynchophyllines and epicatechins.
One study found that administering rhynchophylline may ease inflammation by relaxing tensed muscles and stiff joints.
Kratom’s analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties make it a welcome remedy for severe post-workout conditions, such as delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS).
3. Relieving Performance Anxiety
Performance anxiety can severely impact sporting performance, especially in high-stakes encounters. Cases abound of athletes who freaked out during crucial matches, granting their opponents easy victories.
Anxiety can also diminish your mental concentration. Intense nervousness could reduce your response time and full-body coordination, impacting your workouts or athletic performance.
Research has shown that kratom is a stimulant at smaller doses but a relaxant at higher doses.
In one study, participants who self-medicated with kratom presented minimal symptoms of anxiety and depression. The herb relieves nervousness by activating the body’s sensitivity to certain feel-good chemicals, notably serotonin and dopamine.
4. Promoting Better Sleep
Adequate sleep is critical for muscle recovery. It’s during deep sleep that the body releases hormones associated with growth and muscle repair.
Besides, sleep helps build muscle mass by promoting protein synthesis.
Since kratom is a powerful relaxant, athletes can administer it at bedtime to enjoy restful sleep. The herb lowers sleep onset latency while also promoting deep sleep.
How to Find High-quality Kratom
1. Prioritize Highly-reputed Brands
While kratom has been around for a few years, the industry is still largely unregulated. The absence of robust regulations presents loopholes for unscrupulous traders to offer substandard products.
One way to get your hands on high-quality kratom supplements is by researching a vendor’s reputation.
Read online reviews to understand what other wellness enthusiasts are saying about a kratom company before ordering products from them.
2. Go for Laboratory Tested Products
One good manufacturing practice (GMP) in the kratom industry is that products must be subjected to rigorous laboratory testing before they’re offered for sale.
Lab testing helps screen for the presence of contaminants in kratom supplements, including heavy metals and pesticide residues. It also highlights the potency of the active alkaloids in the tested batch.
Whether you’re shopping for kratom online or from a brick-and-mortar outlet, ensure the product is accompanied by a certificate of analysis (CoA) as proof of laboratory testing. More importantly, establish that the screening was conducted by an independent laboratory rather than one affiliated with the brand.
3. Research the Strains
Kratom exists in diverse strains. The three dominant ones are White Vein, Red Vein, and Green Vein.
Red vein kratom strains are renowned for their soothing properties. They’re commonly recommended for pain, inflammation, and anxiety, making them excellent for accelerating post-workout recovery.
White veins are mostly invigorating. Due to their energizing properties, such strains are best administered before workouts.
Green veins offer the best of both worlds. They’re mildly stimulating and mildly relaxing, making them great for both pre- and post-workout.
You’ll also encounter kratom varieties named after specific regions in Southeast Asia, such as red Malay from Malaysia and green Bali from Bali Island. The color references in each strain will clue you in on its signature effects.
4. Insist On Organic Kratom
Much of the kratom sold in the West comes from Southeast Asia, the herb’s native range. That’s exciting to know, since kratom’s alkaloid content depends on its growing environment.
However, the surging demand for kratom may have some farmers implement unsafe cultivation methods. This could render the final products laced with toxic residues from inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.
To avoid exposure to such toxins, insist on kratom obtained from single-family growers with a history of using organic cultivation methods.
Optimizing Athletic Performance with High-quality Kratom
Kratom may not be the magic pill for exercise-induced issues like DOMS. However, research suggests the herb might accelerate sports recovery by alleviating workout pain and inflammation.
Kratom is also a powerful adaptogen. Consuming the herb might help manage performance anxiety while promoting restful sleep after grueling workout sessions.
Since the kratom industry is largely unregulated, proper research is critical while shopping for high-quality products.
Insist on kratom supplements from reputable brands. More importantly, validate that the products have undergone laboratory testing and are certified as safe for human consumption.
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