Getting the same relaxing feelings without the side effects
Life has gotten busy, and along with that busyness comes stress. We try to fit so much into a day to maximize time and productivity that we are often left feeling exhausted and craving something to help us relax at the end of the day. In most Western cultures, we turn to alcohol. That nice cold beer or glass of wine can taste so good after a busy day. But what if you don’t drink alcohol or want an alcohol alternative?
Kava is emerging as a great replacement for alcohol. It gives the same feelings of relaxation and socialization as alcohol but without the aftereffects. There is a misconception that kava is to the South Pacific what alcohol and coffee are to Western cultures. However, kava works in different ways and doesn’t have any of the negative effects of alcohol and could be a good alcohol alternative.
Kava boosts your mood without the emotional dip
Kava acts in your brain to improve your mood and make you more talkative and sociable while maintaining your cognitive abilities. Unlike alcohol, you can still hold clear conversations and carry on doing daily functions. However, you should still not drive a car due to its extremely relaxing qualities.
Other benefits of kava are that the relaxing, calm, and social feelings you get from it remain steady while you drink it. This means you feel the same sensations and don’t get the emotional dips that sometimes come with using alcohol, including aggression and anger.
There’s no hangover from kava
One of the most infamous effects of alcohol is the hangover. After a night of drinking with friends, we are often left feeling groggy and tired, sometimes with a nasty headache or even nausea and vomiting. Hangovers come from dehydration; alcohol is a natural diuretic, which means it promotes water loss. That’s why you must use the bathroom often on your nights out. And despite being a depressant, making you feel really tired when you drink, alcohol actually negatively affects your sleep, so you don’t sleep as deeply or restfully as you think.
Kava, on the other hand, doesn’t dehydrate you. As an alcohol alternative, it doesn’t cause your body to get rid of water at the same rate. It is even known to help promote sleep, so you feel refreshed and rested after you drink it. Can you imagine a hangover-free morning after a night out? With kava, it’s possible.
Kava isn’t addictive
Although the body effects of alcohol and kava are similar, they work on the body in different ways. While long-term use of alcohol can change your brain structure, needing more alcohol to get the same feelings, known as building a tolerance, kava doesn’t have that effect.
Kava has a “reverse tolerance” effect. It may take several uses for first-time kava drinkers before they start to feel the effects. This is because of how your brain adapts to kava and how it works in your brain. While kava itself is not addictive, its effects can be habit-forming. Users can become attached to the relaxed, calm, and joyful feelings of drinking kava. It’s important to maintain a healthy relationship with kava and drink it responsibly.
Now, we want to be clear… We certainly aren’t demonizing alcohol or those who choose to use it. It has a rich history in many countries and cultures when drunk responsibly. In Western cultures, it is certainly seen as a social tool when out with friends and family. But for those looking for something a little different or an alcohol alternative, kava is proving to be an excellent option.
* 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.
