Alcohol has become a staple in our society as a way to unwind and relax. That nice cold beer or glass of wine can taste so good after a busy day. But with that comes the negative side of alcohol- the hangover, the mood rollercoaster, and the risk of addiction. Kava and Kava Nectar are proving to be a great alternative.
This root, coming from the Pacific islands, has a long history (over 3000 years!) of having similar effects to alcohol but without side effects. And from kava, we have Kava Nectar, which has all the same benefits but is easier to make.
How does that work, you ask? It all lies in the difference of how kava works in the brain.
Kava Nectar boosts your mood without the emotional dip
Unlike alcohol, Kava Nectar provides similar, calming, social effects without affecting your cognitive abilities. This means you can have discussions and conversations and do your daily activities. However, if you drink too much, kava can make you tired, so it’s important to know how you’re feeling before getting behind the wheel of a car.
Another difference between Kava Nectar and alcohol is that the feelings you get from kava stay the same while you drink it. You continue to feel calm, social, and clear rather than experiencing emotional changes like anger and aggression that often come with alcohol. Plus, the depressive effects of alcohol can hit the next morning, making people want to start drinking again, repeating the cycle.
The emotional benefits are one of the main reasons people like to drink kava. It works in ways to help reduce anxiety, both social and general anxiety, and has also been shown to help those who have depression paired with their anxiety. So if you struggle with some of these emotional things, kava may actually help you.
It isn’t addictive
While kava and alcohol can give you similar relaxing and sociable feelings, the way they work on the body is different. Long-term alcohol use can change the structure of the brain, needing more alcohol to get the same feelings, known as building a tolerance. In turn, this makes your brain dependent on functioning with alcohol, which is why recovery from alcoholism can be so difficult; the brain is actually relearning how to do things without alcohol.
Kava, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. It has a “reverse tolerance,” meaning that you need less kava to get the same effects as when you use it. It’s not unusual for first-time kava drinkers to need to try it several times before they feel its effects. This difference is all in how your brain adapts to kava and how it works in your brain.
While kava itself isn’t addictive in the same way alcohol is, its effects can be habit-forming. People who use kava regularly can become attached to the relaxed, calm, and clear feelings kava has.
It benefits your sleep
Kava is also known for helping with insomnia or difficulty sleeping. Because it can make you tired, research has started investigating how it can help people fall and stay asleep. Kava is made up of an active ingredient called kavalactones, each with a slightly different effect. The kavalactone, kavain, has been shown to significantly improve sleep in a model of insomnia. This benefit might also be related to helping to calm the anxious mind, which is often accompanied by insomnia.
Alcohol on the other hand, makes you feel tired but actually disrupts your sleep throughout the night. While initially, your brain is put into a sleepy state, as the alcohol leaves your bloodstream so does its effects, making your brain actually wake up. This leads to the tossing and turning we have all felt after a festive night out.
Sleep is critical to maintaining both mental and physical health. If we don’t get enough sleep or don’t sleep well, it can significantly affect our cognitive abilities, such as learning and memory and executive functions, which over time can seriously affect our lives.
There’s no hangover from Kava Nectar
One of the most infamous effects of alcohol is the hangover. The headache, nausea, grogginess so something well all regrets after a night of drinking. Hangovers are caused by dehydration; alcohol is a natural diuretic, which means it naturally promotes water loss. That’s why you have to use the bathroom more often on your nights out. Kava, on the other hand, doesn’t dehydrate you. The drink is water-based and doesn’t act as a diuretic like alcohol does.
Another key difference is the culture between the two. Alcohol is often overly consumed, where getting drunk is the focus. It’s a form of escapism and socializing almost from a distance.
Kava isn’t drunk to get intoxicated. It’s focused on community, connection and spending quality time with the people you’re with. And while you can get very tired and have intoxicated-like effects, it’s very rare, and you have to drink a lot of kava to get there.
What this all means
While we aren’t trying to demonize alcohol and those who like to use it, the fact is that there are some significant differences between the two that should be considered. If you’re seeking an alternative to alcohol, kava might be worth considering, especially if you’re weary of dealing with hangovers, have a family history of addiction, or are prioritizing your mental health.
* Please note that the majority of kava research pertains to kava extracts, which often undergo significant processing and may contain additional ingredients and fillers that can influence their efficacy. It is crucial to consider this distinction when reading about kava studies. To draw an analogy, enjoying natural kava as a beverage can be likened to experiencing a freshly brewed cappuccino, whereas kava extracts are akin in functionality to a caffeine pill. Both forms have their unique benefits and can cater to different preferences and needs. While it’s helpful to understand research on kava extracts, please view it critically and remember that natural kava offers a uniquely holistic experience.
