Those drinking kava for 5 to 10+ years, a question.
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DharmaCoder
Infinite Sea Lion
Kava drinker for about 8 years. I would say that generally I have noticed a decrease in appetite, overall. In my mid teenage years I started developing a nocturnal eating pattern, where no matter what I did, I would wake up around 12 - 1am feeling famished, and would sometimes almost sleepwalk to the fridge to eat whatever sounded good to my hungry subconscious. I would later be diagnosed with nocturnal eating syndrome by a professional doctor (which was linked to my anxiety disorder). However, I never do this with kava, never. When I stop drinking kava for a few days or weeks, sure enough, this pattern emerges again.
Other than that interesting anecdote, I would say I eat a whole lot less when I'm drinking kava regularly, and when I do eat it's something that is satisfying and tides me over, rather than snacking and being hungry all day.
Other than that interesting anecdote, I would say I eat a whole lot less when I'm drinking kava regularly, and when I do eat it's something that is satisfying and tides me over, rather than snacking and being hungry all day.
Hasn't really changed for me over the years, kava just suppresses my appetite when I drink it.(at night) I still eat pretty normally for breakfast and lunch...though the excess kava induced gas/bloating can carry over into the next day and trick my stomach into feeling full.
Jerome
Kava Lover
I've been drinking since '97. I don't think anything has changed since then with regard to appetite and food. I think I eat healthier now and less than I did as a voracious 17 year old male, but I don't think the kava does that.
I can still put a hurting on a good buffet, even after quite a bit of kava.
I can still put a hurting on a good buffet, even after quite a bit of kava.
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Deleted User01
I used to have a few drinks every day after work. Of course, alcohol stimulates the appetite and I ate more. But I was also running mileage back then so it was a wash. After doing Kava, I have a normal appetite that is satisfied with a normal portion. So Kava is great for normalizing your appetite and especially if you used to drink alcohol. Hey @Jerome, if you pay good money for a good buffet, you better give it a hurtin'. I try to stay away from that because I always try to make good on my investment.
Jerome
Kava Lover
Amen. I'm very careful to calculate how much I need to eat in order to be in the black. There's more calculation involved if my wife is joining me. Then I have to eat enough for the two of us to come out ahead. We recently hit a beach front buffet that cost over a hundred for the two of us. THAT was a challenge, fortunately it included all you can drink champagne...
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Deleted User01
Hmm, SeaFood buffet. You get to eat all the food you see. 
Alia
'Awa Grower/Collector
Historically kava, 'awa in Hawai'i, has been used for weight loss but under specific doses and circumstances. Speaking for myself I drink cool, fresh beverage
and don't let the 'awa flavor linger so feel no suppression but never actually a great appetite in any case. If I drink beverage from dry powder, there is more chance that I might not eat a sufficient amount of food.
Zac Imiola (Herbalist)
Kava Connoisseur
Too much kava mixed with not eating is the culprit of suppression for sure. I haven't been drinking it that long but this is absolutely certain for me.
If ignore the desire to get full out krunk, and just eat a little food with my kava or before it or right after.. just anything... like rye bread with butter .. or peanut butter or something ... something with fat is preferable for that kava boost..
But just this will really keep me wanting and liking food as I drink my kava ... if I have to much kava however nausea and appetite suppression are gonna come ... but if I keep snacking it really does prevent that for me and is a much better more balanced experience for me..
Very similar to coffee..
If ignore the desire to get full out krunk, and just eat a little food with my kava or before it or right after.. just anything... like rye bread with butter .. or peanut butter or something ... something with fat is preferable for that kava boost..
But just this will really keep me wanting and liking food as I drink my kava ... if I have to much kava however nausea and appetite suppression are gonna come ... but if I keep snacking it really does prevent that for me and is a much better more balanced experience for me..
Very similar to coffee..
VictoryRider
Kava Enthusiast
Been at it for the most part since 2001. The only time it affects appetite for me is while I'm drinking it and while
I'm under its influence. Other than that, no diff.
I'm under its influence. Other than that, no diff.
Thanks for the replies, everyone. Over my time span of kava drinking I've found it a bit more difficult to work up a healthy appetite than I did before, but it could be just because I'm getting older.
Specifically I wanted to see if it's effected anyone in that way (reduction in appetite) due to the dopaminergic suppressant activity of kava. I was looking for correlations between impulse inhibition and appetite suppression.
Specifically I wanted to see if it's effected anyone in that way (reduction in appetite) due to the dopaminergic suppressant activity of kava. I was looking for correlations between impulse inhibition and appetite suppression.
SelfBiasResistor
Persist for Resistance!
I've noticed a decrease in appetite the next day when I use large amounts of heavier kava. The lighter types seem to trigger more of a rebound hunger when I wake up the next morning.
sentiententity
Kava Enthusiast
If only it did reduce my appetite!
I can't speak from vast experience but as @nabanga says I can't eat anything after kava. I used to try and struggle but when I read about it and found other people not bothering either I just went to the big breakfast and lunch, no dinner routine. I would be losing weight if I could just lay off the crisps (chips), sweets (candy) and, er, chips... (fries) lol
KavaCat
Meow.
Although I'm only three years in, I do notice a reduction in appetite after having it, and usually the next day. But this is only when I use it, and the day right after, and don't use it every single day like many here do. Probably won't ever. Still... it might be related. But as for age, that also affects things, of course... maybe it's a little column a, a little column b?
Rick.Sanchez
Kava Enthusiast
I think this question would be really difficult to answer without a placebo controlled study. Over that time frame, there are going to be many many inherent and environmental factors contributing to metabolic changes.
I use kava to manage anxiety, and I've definitely noticed that I avoid eating because I know I won't be able to have kava for about 3 hours after. So the psychological effect of that makes me delay eating or skip meals.
I've gotten a lot better about it now though, but it's still something I have to keep track of. I've had a low blood sugar episode after a hard workout before, which freaked me out and made clear that I need to eat regularly. I also find that I get skipped heart beats if I neglect eating or sufficient hydration for long.
I've gotten a lot better about it now though, but it's still something I have to keep track of. I've had a low blood sugar episode after a hard workout before, which freaked me out and made clear that I need to eat regularly. I also find that I get skipped heart beats if I neglect eating or sufficient hydration for long.
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