Also known as Maeng Da Kratom, kratom is a herbal plant found in Southeastern Asia. The locals have been using this substance as a herbal supplement over synthetic painkillers for centuries.
According to a publication by the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine dated November 2021, kratom has received legalization in some states within the USA. However, it remains expressly banned in Alabama, Indiana, and Florida.
That notwithstanding, kratom has been gaining immense popularity within the fitness and wellness industry. In this article, we will look at the reception of the substance within the Sports industry.
How Is Kratom Useful in Sports
The sports industry is essentially competitive. As such, players are expected to maintain some level of fitness and health to have a fair chance of winning in the competitions.
This is why we often see these athletes working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to build stamina and stay healthy ahead of the games.
To achieve this objective, athletes often decide to incorporate healthy supplements into their diet regimen, provided that the supplements are not banned by the relevant sports regulation authorities. One of these natural dietary supplements is kratom.
Reasons Why Athletes Take Kratom
There have been claims that kratom possesses numerous health benefits. However, it is essential to note that the information shared in this article is based on anecdotal evidence.
To put it simply, there is insufficient scientific evidence to substantiate the claims at the time of this writing.
Despite that being the case, most athletes continue to use kratom as part of their workout and diet regimen for several reasons.
Below are some of these reasons:
It Can Help Reduce Anxiety
It's common knowledge that most athletes experience some degree of anxiety before tough competitions. Therefore, many of them look for healthy alternatives to dealing with the issue of anxiety so that they can face their opponents with confidence.
Anxiety can lead to impaired concentration and poor eye-hand coordination, resulting in injuries on the tracks or in the gym. Kratom is claimed to have the ability to treat anxiety.
According to an article, kratom has been proved to help relieve stress, boost mood, and alleviate depression. This happens when one of the active compounds in kratom, mitragynine, binds itself to the brain receptors, hence producing anti-anxiety chemicals.
Alleviation of anxiety in athletes has the ripple effect of boosting focus and concentration, resulting in higher performance. In addition, the consumption of kratom also helps lower cravings for unhealthy food, which is one of the known symptoms of depression.
The result is that the athlete will be able to maintain a healthy weight. With numerous kratom strains and instructions on instant detox, you can try out the best fit for your needs.
Might Serve As an Immune Booster
The immune system plays a vital role in the wellbeing of all living beings. An athlete is more likely to perform better with an active immune system. Unfortunately, high levels of inflammation and exertion can weaken one's immune capacity, often leading to illnesses.
This is, essentially, why it's advisable that athletes consume more immune-boosting foods rich in Vitamins C, A, and E. Kratom is also claimed to be among the immune-boosting natural supplements, which is why athletes are turning to it in significant numbers.
Kratom leaves are shown to have alkaloids that offer healing and therapeutic effects, hence bolstering the athlete's immune capacity. Kratom is also highly potent in antioxidants that are required for a fully active immune system.
Others Take It As a Natural Painkiller
It's a well-known fact that injuries are inevitable in the sports industry. Sportspeople are trained to withstand the pain and push through with the workout or competition, regardless of how jarring the pain might be.
However, that can result in muscular and joint distress, which often causes sleepless nights and low concentration.
The alkaloids present in kratom come in handy in such situations due to their pain-relieving properties. They interact with the relevant brain receptor to help negate the pain.
The alkaloids instruct the brain nerves to produce more enkephalins and endorphins, the two brain chemicals known to regulate pain.
Word has it that two to three grams of kratom will help alleviate muscular pains, joint pains, and headaches, among other pains that athletes experience.
Maintaining Heart Health
Athletes are subjected to rigorous workouts that can cause their hearts to undergo changes, such as developing larger chambers and thicker walls. These changes occur to enable the athlete's heart to pump more blood for every heartbeat.
When that is the case, the sportsman's heartbeat might be irregular during resting hours since it's accustomed to functioning under rigorous activities. The changes that occur in an athlete's heart are somewhat similar to those associated with heart disorders.
It is therefore vital that sportspeople maintain healthy hearts to avoid facing heart complications in the future. Kratom is believed to be beneficial in enhancing cardiovascular health among athletes.
The natural herb is said to protect the heart from diseases such as heart failure and stroke. It's also claimed to lower LDL and cholesterol levels, which is vital for maintaining a healthy heart.
***
Kratom is proving to be a reliable and effective health supplement within the sports industry. Even though there is insufficient scientific data on the topic, we have done our diligence to back the claims with medical studies.
If you are one of the athletes looking to improve their wellbeing, you can give kratom a try.
