Kava vs Sugar: A Healthier Way to Unwind?

"While many people express concern over kava's potential for addiction, comparatively little attention is given to the well-documented addictive nature of substances like sugar. Sugar is in our coffee drinks, snacks, and just about every processed food on the shelf. While sugar has become widely accepted, normalized, and even celebrated in many situations, a growing body of evidence suggests it may be far more harmful and habit-forming than most people realize."

"If you've ever visited a wellness bar in popular cities, you may have come across something new on the menu: kava. Once largely unknown outside the South Pacific, kava has recently grown in popularity as a way to relax. Kava is derived from the shrub Piper methysticum, which is found in Micronesia and Polynesia. Wellness bars market kava as a natural, non- alcoholic way to promote relaxation."

Kava is a South Pacific plant whose root has been used for centuries to produce a calming beverage. Wellness bars market kava as a non-alcoholic way to relax. Kava is generally considered safe and carries low addictive potential for most individuals, though some researchers report possible addictive characteristics and further study is required to establish definitive risk. Sugar is ubiquitous in processed foods, coffee drinks, and snacks and reliably activates brain reward circuits, triggering dopamine release. Widespread sugar consumption is normalized, yet evidence indicates it can be habit-forming and potentially more harmful over the long term. Kava and sugar both affect mood and stress via dopamine but have different long-term impacts.

Read at Psychology Today