Science Based Fitness

Body & Mind Balance

Healthy Daily Life

Meditation Practice

Monthly Yoga Challenges

What is Science Based Fitness?

Your free- source of information, news, and deep dive into the latest science in the world or fitness and health. We dive deep into the literature and debunk a lot of fake claims. Also, providing helpful tips and workouts to improve your health and quality of life. 

Kava

Anti-Anxiety Aid

What is Kava?

Anti- stress

Kava is also known as Kava-kava, (Piper Methysticum) and it’s a South Pacific psychotropic plant medicine to reduce anxiety. Recent studies show the benefits of Kava to reduce anxiety or situational anxiety. However, there’s some concern regarding health safety and usage. It would best to drink Kava tea than consuming extracts, which may be too potent and not accurately labeled. 

Studies show that a night time cup of Kava reduces anxiety and stress, and promotes peaceful sleep. Kava has been studied to increase gamma-aminobutyric acid, (GABA) which plays a role in reducing the central nervous system. It’s advised to drink kava at night or before boarding a plane if you often get nervous in those conditions due to it’s affect on slowing down the central nervous system. Kava shouldn’t be combined with alcohol as it similarly affects the central nervous system without the damaging affects of alcohol. 

General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health disorder that is common affecting about 20% of Americans. Studies show that Kava is beneficial for those with generalized anxiety disorder to reduce stress and muscle tension. Kava is also a popular dietary supplement as a recreational drink to replace alcohol as well as it’s anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. 

Ease Tension

Vestibulum ante ipsum primis sit amet justo elit faucibus orci luctus ultrices posuere cubilia Curae.

Relax

Vestibulum ante ipsum primis sit amet justo elit faucibus orci luctus ultrices posuere cubilia Curae.

Sleep Better

Vestibulum ante ipsum primis sit amet justo elit faucibus orci luctus ultrices posuere cubilia Curae.

Where to get it?

There are extracts for Kava, but it’s not recommended to consume in extract from since potency may not be accurate. The studies suggest consuming about 50-70mg, and not to combine with alcohol or other night time medicines.  We recommend consuming a trust form of tea so you may see how you feel in lower dosages, and then increase as necessary. 

Top Recommended Products

professional certified experience

Check out other topics

achieve your goals faster

Beta-alanine

Increase performance and recovery

Cocoa and Muscle

Increase strength and fatigue 

Truth About Cholesterol

The truth about LDL cholesterol and how to lower it

NMN

Anti-aging and diabetes prevention

Taurine

Increase energy, performance, and increase fat loss. 

Fat burning
training

How do we lose fat and what’s the best way! 

References
  • Sarris J, LaPorte E, Schweitzer I. Kava: a comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and psychopharmacology. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;45(1):27-35. doi: 10.3109/00048674.2010.522554. Epub 2010 Nov 15. PMID: 21073405.
  • Piper methysticum (kava kava). Altern Med Rev. 1998 Dec;3(6):458-60. PMID: 9855570.
  • Müller B, Komorek R. Mit Kava behandeln–die Wurzel gegen den Stress [Treatment with Kava–the root to ocombat stress]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):197-201. German. PMID: 10483680.
  • Savage K, Sarris J, Hughes M, Bousman CA, Rossell S, Scholey A, Stough C, Suo C. Neuroimaging Insights: Kava’s (Piper methysticum) Effect on Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex GABA in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Nutrients. 2023 Oct 28;15(21):4586. doi: 10.3390/nu15214586. PMID: 37960239; PMCID: PMC10649338.
  • Khan A, Akram M, Thiruvengadam M, Daniyal M, Zakki SA, Munir N, Zainab R, Heydari M, Mosavat SH, Rebezov M, Shariati MA. Anti-anxiety Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2022;23(8):1041-1060. doi: 10.2174/1389201022666210122125131. PMID: 33480339.
  • Cribb L, Sarris J, Savage KM, Byrne GJ, Metri NJ, Scholey A, Stough C, Bousman CA. Effect of kava (Piper methysticum) on peripheral gene expression among individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: A post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2023 Dec;37(12):5897-5903. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7999. Epub 2023 Sep 28. PMID: 37767766.
  • Bian T, Corral P, Wang Y, Botello J, Kingston R, Daniels T, Salloum RG, Johnston E, Huo Z, Lu J, Liu AC, Xing C. Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges. Nutrients. 2020 Oct 5;12(10):3044. doi: 10.3390/nu12103044. PMID: 33027883; PMCID: PMC7600512.
  • Sarris J, Byrne GJ, Bousman CA, Cribb L, Savage KM, Holmes O, Murphy J, Macdonald P, Short A, Nazareth S, Jennings E, Thomas SR, Ogden E, Chamoli S, Scholey A, Stough C. Kava for generalised anxiety disorder: A 16-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2020 Mar;54(3):288-297. doi: 10.1177/0004867419891246. Epub 2019 Dec 8. PMID: 31813230.
  • Sarris J, Stough C, Bousman CA, Wahid ZT, Murray G, Teschke R, Savage KM, Dowell A, Ng C, Schweitzer I. Kava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2013 Oct;33(5):643-8. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e318291be67. PMID: 23635869.
  • Tzeng YM, Lee MJ. Neuroprotective properties of kavalactones. Neural Regen Res. 2015 Jun;10(6):875-7. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.158335. PMID: 26199594; PMCID: PMC4498339.