Learn How People Are Using Kratom As a Pre-Workout Supplement

10 Reasons to Use Kratom As a Pre-Workout Supplement

Pre-workout supplements are designed to boost energy, increase motivation, and lift your mood. Taking these supplements before a training session can significantly improve your performance, whether you’re doing cardio or weight lifting.

When we look at the properties of kratom, its benefits as a pre-workout supplement are hard to ignore. Kratom can help increase your workout results in many ways. This plant was a part of traditional medicine for hundreds of years before making its way to the rest of the world. Now, kratom is gaining popularity everywhere because of its benefits.

1. No Energy Crash

Users don’t experience substantial energy comedowns when the effect wears out, something common with caffeine-based supplements. Instead, the effects wear off evenly, though this can depend on the strain used.

Suggested Reading: What Does Kratom Feel Like?

2. Kratom is Natural

Since it’s natural, kratom is a better option than any synthesized substance intended to increase performance or reduce soreness. Of course, natural doesn’t always mean “safe” or “better,” but when there’s a plant-based way to improve health, why not take advantage of it? In this case, kratom is well-tolerated; the risks and side effects are minimal if used responsibly.

3. Kratom is Unmonitored

As of 2018, anti-doping control agencies don’t monitor or test for kratom. Standard drug tests don’t detect kratom’s alkaloids. Since kratom is unregulated federally and in many states, there’s little reason to look for it.

4. Kratom Provides Potent Pain Relief

Pain and discomfort are quite common with intense training. Athletes are used to injuries or sore muscles and joints, but these issues can prevent them from reaching their goals.

Kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, act on the opioid receptors, making it a potent pain-killer. It’s so powerful that some studies show that 7-hydroxymitragynine can be as effective as morphine [6, 7, 8].

Kratom can also help with neuropathic pain [17, 18], reduce inflammation,  and increase pain tolerance [20].

Even if you suffer from chronic pain, kratom can help alleviate it. This will enable you to have much more comfortable workout sessions.

Suggested Reading: Is Kratom An Opioid?

5. Kratom Increases Energy & Focus

Asian farmers chewed kratom leaves for many years before heading to a long day of hard work. It’s a natural stimulant that provides an impressive amount of energy, making it ideal for those who need to replace caffeine in their lives.

Little did they know the reason for this stimulation. Kratom’s alkaloids interact with the adrenergic system — the one in charge of “fight or flight” — and can cause an increase in adrenaline [1, 2, 3].

6. Kratom Might Reduce Inflammation

Some of the beneficial alkaloids in kratom have notorious anti-inflammatory properties [2, 5, 12]. Inflammation is common with injuries, but many things can cause it. Though there’s not much information on kratom as an anti-inflammatory, it shows potential.

7. Kratom Can Improve Your Mood

Kratom provides increased motivation and feelings of euphoria and can also help relieve anxiety and depression. Along with the opioid system, kratom also interacts with dopamine and serotonin receptors [13, 14]. It affects the body in the same way many antidepressants do and can help relieve symptoms of depression [15, 16].

8. Kratom Might Relieve Muscle Pain & Tension

Another benefit of kratom? It’s an excellent pain-reliever and is even effective on muscle pain. It might even help relax muscles [4, 10], though more research is needed to determine this. Its ability to reduce anxiety can also release tension that builds up.

9. Kratom Helps Improve Sleep

Nothing beats a great night’s sleep after a hard workout. You deserve it, but it’s also a necessary part of recovery.

Kratom can relieve the pain and stress that prevents proper rest, but it also acts as a sedative. It has an agonistic effect on GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors [9] and stimulates a2-adrenergic receptors [10]. Both of these actions have a calming, sedating effect.

10. Kratom Can Support Weight Loss

Kratom won’t make the weight magically disappear, but it supports good habits already in place [11]. As we mentioned, kratom helps with energy, mood, motivation, and sleep — all things necessary for healthy weight loss. It can also decrease appetite, another bonus.

Again, it won’t do much on its own, but it can help boost areas that need encouragement. Don’t feel like exercising? Kratom. Discouraged and about to give up? Kratom. Too sore from the previous workout? Kratom.

Kratom is an alternative to other supplements, thanks to its naturally occurring alkaloids. Many athletes turn to kratom when looking for natural replacements for their pre-workout supplements.

5 Things to Watch Out for When Using Kratom As a Pre-Workout

There are plenty of reasons kratom makes a great pre-workout — but there are downsides. You need a clear understanding of the downsides before using kratom.

Kratom can be Addictive

Those same reasons that make kratom great for mood and pain also make it addictive, physically and mentally.

This addiction is not usually anywhere near as rough as opioid addiction, but kratom isn’t your typical opioid. Constant use and high doses can cause dependence; you’ll likely be fine if you take breaks.

Kratom Has Side Effects

Of course, kratom has side effects, considering all of the systems it works on. Still, kratom’s side effects are more common in higher doses, aren’t severe, and don’t last long.

Here’s what you might deal with:

• Addiction
• Anxiety
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Tachycardia

More severe but rare problems include:

• Liver damage
• Seizures

Those side effects can be especially debilitating if you plan to work out. Nausea and diarrhea can set you back like none else. You can avoid these by using small amounts of kratom, especially if you’re new. If you need kratom for pain, choose your strain wisely so you can use the smallest dose possible. Red Maeng Da is great for daytime use.

Another thing to note is kratom’s tendency to interact with many medications and substances. If you’re currently taking anything — prescription, herbal, or over-the-counter — make sure you check for the risk of drug interactions and talk to your doctor.

Kratom’s Effects Are Dose-Dependent

It might sound impossible, but you could take kratom for energy and fall asleep before you know what happened.

Kratom as a whole, regardless of strain, can help with energy, sleep, and pain, but each strain has its specialty. Some are far better for pain, while others are better for energy.

However, dose really comes into play with how you’ll feel. Small amounts are better for energy, focus, and mood, while more significant amounts are more sedating and used for pain and anxiety. You need to know how to dial in the dose to get the right effects, but more on that later. Don’t worry; it’s not complicated.

Kratom Isn’t Legal Everywhere

Kratom is legal federally in the US, but some states have banned it, as have a few countries. Make sure kratom is legal before you attempt to buy or use it. Our legal guide gives up-to-date information regarding international kratom laws.

Kratom is Mostly Unregulated

Unless you live in a state where kratom is regulated (check the above legal guide), kratom is unregulated. The lack of legislation means no governing body oversees how the kratom is processed and sold. Anyone can pass something off as kratom and sell it.

This increases the dangers involved with using kratom. Even if you end up with uncontaminated kratom, there’s no guarantee of its potency.

Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Look for third-party testing, customer reviews, and certification from the American Kratom Association (AKA). This way, you’ll know you’re getting quality. We suggest a few of the best kratom vendors below.

Best Kratom Strains for Pre-Workout

Kratom comes in many different strains, and not all of them have the effects you’ll look for in a pre-workout supplement.

Generally speaking, white-veined strains are the most stimulating, and red-veined strains are the most sedating. Green-veined varieties are in the middle, providing a balanced energetic, yet relaxing effect.

You’ll probably want to avoid red-veined strains, as they’ll make you drowsy instead of providing the energy boost required for intense training. Save these strains for a post-workout when you need pain relief and are ready to relax.

These are the kratom strains most recommended for pre-workout:

White Maeng Da

White Maeng Da is known for its quick pain relief effects and long-lasting energy boost, though these are more significant when taken in small doses. It’s full of mitragynine, making it ideal for pre-workout. As a bonus, it also provides analgesic effects.

Green Malay

Green Malay is more potent than other green-veined stains. It provides as much energy as most white strains and, at the same time, has a relaxing effect on the muscles, alleviating soreness. It’s also known for having long-lasting effects.

White Thai

White Thai is a very potent stimulating strain with long-lasting effects. In addition to providing an energy boost, it helps enhance mood and concentration, making it ideal for long workout sessions.

White Sumatra

White Sumatra is another potent strain that provides high energy boosts. Experienced kratom users are very fond of this strain, but make sure to measure the dose, as higher doses of this will have a sedating effect.

Best Way to Take Kratom for Pre-Workout

In addition to choosing the correct strain, measuring the amount of kratom is also necessary. If you ingest a high dose, you’ll likely experience drowsiness instead of the energy boost you’re looking for.

Find the correct dose and avoid high amounts, which usually cause too much relaxation and sleepiness. A low dosage, between 1-4 grams, should be enough to achieve a boost in energy and motivation, avoiding the herb’s sedating effects.

The best way to use kratom in your pre-workout is in powder form. Kratom powder is obtained by grinding the leaves and is the most common form. You can make tea, use capsules, or add the powder to water, juice, or your preferred beverage (a protein shake, maybe?). Try the toss and wash or parachuting method if you’re cramped on time and want it down.

Timing is also essential, as kratom’s effects typically start setting in around half an hour after ingestion, reaching the peak after about two hours. We recommend taking kratom at least 30 minutes before exercising to make the most of your workout.

Suggested Reading: Kratom Dosage Guide

Top Kratom Vendors

Depending on your location, you may find kratom near you at many smoke shops, herb shops, or even gas stations. However, we believe that the best thing you can do is purchase it from reputable online vendors.

Trusted online sellers have a wider assortment of strains, more affordable prices, and better quality, as they receive their kratom directly from the producers.

Further below, you’ll find a list of the best three online kratom sellers, in our opinion. They all comply with the American Kratom Association’s guidelines and guarantee you will receive a high-quality, safe product at an affordable price.

Kona Kratom

Kona Kratom is our top seller. They offer high-quality products at very affordable prices. They’re closely acquainted with many farmers who produce kratom in Southeast Asia, and they’re always looking for the best and most potent strains.

They offer kratom powder and capsules and carry the most popular strains and several exotic ones. They have their third-party lab tests available online and classify their products by freshness, which makes them a trustable and reputable vendor.

Star Kratom

Star Kratom is known for having the fastest shipping times in the market. They offer next-day and even same-day shipping. They may not have a wide variety of strains available, but they offer the most popular ones at very fair prices.

They also have rigorous quality controls and test all their products twice, so even if their catalog is somewhat limited, you’ll still get a high-quality product. Their buyers’ reviews also praise their excellent customer service.

VIP Kratom

VIP Kratom offers nothing but premium quality kratom powder and capsules. They are a bit more expensive than other sellers, but this is due to their extensive testing and higher quality standards. They even return whole shipments when they don’t meet their criteria.

In addition, they offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a 90-day return policy. Since they back up all orders with these policies, you can be sure they’re a trustable vendor and offer the best quality products.

Conclusion: Is Kratom A Good Workout Supplement?

Kratom is an excellent alternative to pre-workout supplements. Not only can it give you the energy boost required for intensive training, but it can also help increase your motivation and maintain focus.

Also, kratom won’t leave you feeling jittery or cause an energy crash, and it’s safe if you use it responsibly.

Still, quality kratom is crucial if you’re looking to reach your training goals. Get your kratom only from trusted sellers to ensure you get 100% pure powder with no additives or artificial alkaloids.

Sellers like Kona Kratom, VIP Kratom, and Star Kratom sell nothing but the best products in the market and will not disappoint you.