Many users don’t need to be told that kratom can lead to dehydration. Especially if you’re not the type who drinks a lot of water, you’ve probably experienced how kratom’s diuretic effects can leave you feeling thirsty and even dehydrated.
Here’s a thirst-quenching look at how you can prevent dehydration from affecting your kratom experience.
Don’t Wait for Signs of Dehydration
Be proactive. It’s possible to be slightly dehydrated without noticing or craving fluids. In fact, if you wait till you feel thirsty to start drinking water, you’re already dehydrated. If you know you’re going to take some kratom, go ahead and down a glass of water beforehand. If your urine is a deep yellow or gold color, that’s another sign to drink more hydrating fluids in general.
Signs of more severe dehydration may include:
- Dry mouth
- Dry skin
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Sunken, listless eyes
- Muscle cramps
- Rapid breathing or heart rate
KNOW YOUR KRATOM HABITS
Do you take kratom as a preworkout supplement? You’re going to want to be extra generous with your water intake, but without overdoing it. Especially during hot summer months, overhydration is more dangerous than dehydration.
Conversely, if you like to take kratom before heading to the office, studio, or personal workspace, kratom’s sustained focus combined with being sedentary makes it all too easy to forget to keep drinking fluids.
Healthy, Hydration Tips for Kratom Users
Here are some tips for enjoying kratom while avoiding dehydration.
Avoid Other Diuretics
Some products that we consume on a daily basis are natural diuretics. Things like caffeinated beverages, alcohol, and even foods like celery and ginger can cause us to urinate more. Excessive urination will cause dehydration unless we consume more water to keep up. When setting time aside for a kratom tea, kratom-infused smoothie, or kratom capsules, avoid consuming anything that is a natural diuretic.
Have a Daily Water Goal
We’ve all heard a hundred times that we should drink at least eight glasses of water daily. If we don’t, we risk dehydration. Suppose kratom is part of your regular weekly routine. In that case, it’s essential to make sure we’re drinking enough water, especially around the times that we usually add kratom to our day or evening. If you take kratom as a pre-workout energy booster, remember that you will need to drink even more water than usual.
Take Regular Water Breaks
With busy work schedules being the norm for many of us, it can become far too easy to forget to drink water. Carrying around a water bottle everywhere you go is a good way to remind yourself of its importance, but even then, we may need to remember to drink it. A great way to start your day is with a nice, big glass of fresh water. Set aside a water drinking goal each day, even if you have to set alarms on your phone when it’s time to drink some H20.
Make Your Water More Interesting
Not all of us are huge fans of water consumption. If you’re one of them and enjoy the kratom experience, try making your water more exciting and enjoyable. There are several ways to do so. Many create their own personal fruit-infused water by adding slices of their favorite fruits. Good choices are slices of oranges, lemons, or strawberries. Some even add sliced cucumbers. Whatever floats your boat and gets you to consume more water, you are less likely to become dehydrated.
Eat Foods High in Water
Along with drinking more water straight from the bottle, you can eat more foods with a naturally high water count. These fruits and vegetables are an excellent alternative for those who aren’t drinking water fans. Adding the following foods to your meals or as a healthy snack can help to keep your body naturally hydrated:
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Pineapple
- Tomatoes
- Iceberg lettuce
- Bell peppers
Check Your Kratom Serving Size
The right serving size of kratom can differ significantly depending on the person. If you’re experiencing issues with extreme thirst, you could benefit from adjusting how much kratom is right for you. Listening to your body is extremely important. If you’re new to kratom, it’s best to stick to a modest serving size and dial in the right amount from there.
WHY DOES KRATOM MAKE YOU DEHYDRATED?
Kratom’s diuretic properties are well-documented. To the best of our knowledge, however, the scientific community doesn’t know exactly why kratom increases urination. Some other natural diuretics include coffee, tea, watermelon, celery, coconut water, parsley, and cranberry juice.
MORE HEALTH TIPS FOR KRATOM USERS
- If you do tend to get constipated, it may be time to start taking your gastrointestinal health more seriously. Check out our guide to improving your gut health.
- One easy to counteract kratom diuretic effects is to eliminate what might arguably be a bigger diuretic: See our tips for replacing your coffee habit with kratom.
- Looking to kratom for its relaxation and comforting effects including mental clarity? Take things to the next level by starting a mindfulness meditation practice.
- Drinking water and exercise can be a powerful combination for your metabolic health and mitochondrial fitness.
KRATOM AND HYDRATION: THE BOTTOM LINE
Staying hydrated is vital for our overall health. Water is a requirement for our bodies to do their jobs properly. When kratom is added to the equation, hydration can be the difference-maker that keeps you on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Fortunately, with just a little bit of mindfulness, it can be easy to stay hydrated while enjoying kratom.
For Further Reading
- Singh D, et al. Evaluating the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) users in Malaysia. J Ethnopharmacol. NIH PubMed. Published March 2018.
- Kahn, April. What to Know About Dehydration. Healthline. Updated September 2019.
- Camacho, Natalie Arroyo. Is Overhydration More Dangerous than Dehydration? Outside Magazine. Published August 2023.
