Honestly, booze is so out! Wellness is in. For many people, there are just too many pitfalls associated with alcohol use that can negatively affect the body, the mind, and the people around you. 

Kava powder doesn’t come with this dark side and provides more health benefits and fewer risks than alcohol ever could. 

Drinking is a major part of most social cultures around the world. But even the cheeriest of celebrations can come crashing down the next day in the form of hangovers and anxiety.

Foregoing alcohol, or at least, decreasing it, has become a popular wellness trend that’s backed by science. 

The negative effects of regularly drinking alcoholic beverages range from liver disease to decreased cognitive function and even a more aged, haggard appearance. This is why any day of the week you can find social media posts of people showing off improved skin from cutting out booze for challenges like “Dry January.”

For those who are trying to make better wellness choices, replacing alcohol with an all-natural, feel-good nootropic like kava powder is a small decision that could potentially make a larger positive impact. 

Here’s why the coolest wellness influencers you know are swapping out booze for kava root in the new year. 

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What is Kava Powder?

Kava powder comes from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, a medicinal shrub used for centuries in the South Pacific Islands to induce tranquility. Traditional kava was often offered to dignitaries visiting the Pacific Islands.

Kava root is dried, peeled, and ground into a fine powder (kave extracts), which is then used to make kava teas and kava capsules.

As to why kava products induce such a calming, therapeutic effect, scientists have discovered that naturally occurring phytochemicals called kavalactones are responsible. 

Kavalactones interact with GABA receptors in the brain much like cannabinoids bind with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. GABA receptors, specifically, help regulate mood and sleep health. 

It’s precisely these palpably soothing effects that have seen kava take off in popularity with wellness junkies around the world. 

Like cannabis, kava affects both body and mind, offering a relaxed experience that’s perfect for chilling at home, relaxing before bed, or even socializing at a celebration. 

Kava drinking is easy: simply stir the powder into water, juice, or a smoothie, and enjoy. Some brands have created kava extracts in various flavors so you can enjoy it mixed with any beverage, effortlessly.

Zero-Calorie Kava Powder Packs in Five Righteous Flavors

 

7 Reasons Kava Powder Vibes Higher Than Booze

Thinking about trading in your beer for a healthier vibe? Here are the biggest reasons kava extracts are a more elevated experience compared to boozing. 

1. Avoid Inebriation

Kava root can indeed make you feel drunk at very high concentrations, but even that level of intoxication pales in comparison to alcohol intoxication. 

Unlike alcohol, traditional kava hasn’t been found to impair judgment, even though both substances interact with GABA receptors. Kava use offers a feeling of relaxation and even sociability that rivals alcohol, but without the cognitive gaps of impairment that come with being tipsy or drunk. 

2. No Hangovers 

Hangovers from excessive cocktail consumption only get worse with age. For some, it gets so bad that even one drink can trigger a migraine the next day. 

The reason for hangovers is essentially that your body and brain are responding to the sudden withdrawal of alcohol from your system. This causes common symptoms like headaches and nausea, but for many people, the mental or ‘moral’ hangover is far worse. 

As the brain recovers from too much liquor, this often leads to feelings of panic or anxiousness, especially in people who are already prone to anxiety disorders. With kava root, you’re free from all that. 

You can still enjoy yourself in the moment without feeling unwell the day after. In randomized clinical trials, taking kava has not been shown to cause physical or psychological hangovers when used responsibly. 

3. Stay Social

One of the reasons many health-minded people return to booze, despite their wellness goals, is the social aspects. After all, it’s not a crime to want to loosen up a little when you know you’ll inevitably have to mingle. 

With kava root powder, you don’t have to choose between your health and staying social for a celebration. Like alcohol, kava drinks provide a relaxing feeling. 

And unlike an indica strain of cannabis, kava root has a light, almost chatty feeling that’s sure to delight anyone who has a bit of social anxiety before a party. 

4. Less Anxiety Overall

On top of less anxiety due to a lack of hangovers, kava root powder in general has been well-studied as a natural remedy for anxiety. 

A meta-analysis published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry concluded that Piper methysticum may be just as effective as prescription medications in treating anxiety disorders, with far fewer side effects. 

Anyone who’s been around the block as a drinker knows that booze alleviates anxiety in the short term but increases it in the long term, in the form of hangovers and chemical imbalances in the brain from regular drinking that can trigger anxiety symptoms. 

Traditional kava is considered a veritable medicine for anxiety and has been for thousands of years by the indigenous peoples where its roots naturally grow. With less booze and more kava root in your life, you can look forward to a more chill state of being. 

5. Pain Relief Without Pills

Unlike alcohol which can cause headaches, the kavalactones in kava root powder are natural anti-inflammatories. Although there’s been significantly more scientific research into kava root’s benefits for anxiety, what we know about kava’s ability to relieve pain is promising. 

For example, a recent study found that kavalactones trigger analgesic (numbing), effects similar to pharmaceutical pain relievers. The same systematic review also found kavalactones do not appear to interact with opioid receptors whatsoever, which is good news for anyone who wants to avoid anything to do with opioids, even the neurological pathways they fire.

6. Workout Recovery

A celebratory beer isn’t uncommon after a rigorous workout, especially if you’re doing it with friends. Alcohol can temporarily lift the spirits, but frankly, it’s detrimental to recovery. 

Recovery demands hydration, relaxation, and anti-inflammatory support, of which liquor provides just one. Kava root helps to relax muscles and joints naturally without the dehydrating effects of post-workout beers. 

More and more athletes and active people are taking kava root in the form of hydrating beverages specifically to support workout recovery. Just look at the hashtag “kava” on social media posts to see its rising popularity in the fitness community for yourself. 

7. Restful Sleep

Any experienced drinker knows that even eight hours of sleep after a booze fest isn’t restful the way normal sleep is. While alcohol can help you fall asleep, it also causes sleep disturbances and contributes to sleep disorders such as insomnia. 

Contrastingly, kava extracts have been proven in a double-blind, placebo-based clinical trial to be a viable treatment for sleep disturbances. 

The prevailing wisdom is that the relaxation of body and mind via GABA receptors by which kavalactones act on the system is what’s responsible for kava root’s prowess as a natural sleep aid. 

 

What to Know Before You Buy Kava Powder

While kava root is generally safe for most people, excessive consumption can lead to side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination.  

According to the World Health Organization, daily kava root use of around 100 to 210 mg has been associated with few adverse effects. 

Long-term use of kava root in high doses, however, has been associated with skin changes like yellow discoloration that can also affect the hair and nails. 

As always, consult your physician before beginning kava root use or any new health regimen. 

Should You Replace Your Wine With Kava Root?

If you’re considering cutting out the booze, try replacing it with a drink made with kava root powder and see how you feel. This small lifestyle change could potentially make a big difference in how you feel. So what’s it gonna be, another hangover or a happy day?

Want the easiest, healthiest way to drink kava on the go? Learn more