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Nicotine pouches: Are they safer than chewing, smoking or vaping?
May
A new flavored nicotine product is increasing in popularity – oral nicotine pouches and lozenges.
This product is placed between the cheek and gum. They do not contain tobacco, but they do contain nicotine, flavorings, sweeteners and plant-based fibers. Some popular brand names include Zyn, On! and Velo, and they come in colorful packaging that looks like mint containers.
Why Use Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine pouches are fibrous pouches with fillers, sweeteners, flavorings and nicotine. Nicotine pouches offer an alternative to other oral tobacco products and give a smoke-free alternative to vapes and combustible tobacco products (such as cigarettes). These pouches are tobacco leaf-free, smoke-free (avoiding the harm of secondhand smoke and carcinogens in it), and come in many flavor and strength options (so you can tailor your nicotine experience. As for how nicotine pouches work, they work orally: when the pouch comes in contact with the mucous lining of your mouth – and this is how the nicotine enters your system.
5 Benefits of Nicotine Pouches
- They are smoke-free. This has two benefits: you can enjoy them anywhere, even inside (so you get to avoid having to go outside to enjoy your nicotine experience), and you are not sharing the negative impact of second-hand smoke with those around you.
- They park comfortably. No one has to know you are using a nicotine pouch unless you want them to. The pouches sit between your upper lip and gum, making them basically unnoticeable to those around you, and they are spit-free.
- They don’t have an unpleasant odor. Unlike smoking or using tobacco products, there is no unpleasant tobacco odor from nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches are all white, meaning they contain the nicotine without the tobacco (the element that is known to cause yellow staining).
- There are lots of options. Nicotine pouches come in a wide catalog of flavors and nicotine strengths. You can pick from 0mg to 20mg nicotine strengths and choose from lots of popular flavors including wintergreen, berry and cinnamon flavors!
- They are convenient. Nicotine pouches, in general, are less expensive than tobacco products
How much nicotine is in oral nicotine pouches?
Nicotine concentrations differ across oral nicotine pouch brands. For example, in the United States Zyn is sold in 3 and 6 mg, Velo is sold in 2, 4, and 7 mg, and On! is sold in 1.5, 2, 3.5, 4, and 8 mg, according to each brand’s website. Altria’s new On! nicotine pouch product, called On! Plus, will offer nicotine strengths of 6, 9, and 12mg.
What flavors do nicotine pouches come in?
ral nicotine pouches come in an array of youth-friendly flavors, including fruit, mint, and other flavors.
The availability of sweet, fruity, and candy-like flavors is troubling because, as pod-based e-cigarettes like JUUL face federal flavor restrictions in response to high rates of youth vaping, young people may switch to other nicotine products that still offer flavors. For example, disposable e-cigarettes, which were exempted from the partial flavor restrictions FDA enacted in January 2020, have skyrocketed in popularity. Sales of menthol-flavored e-cigarettes, which were also exempted, experienced a drastic, immediate rise in sales with an increase of almost $60 million and its market share more than doubled.
Flavors play a significant role in drawing youth to tobacco products – nearly 85% of young e-cigarette users choose a flavored product, according to 2022 NYTS data.
Benefits of Nicotine
While we have covered the benefits of nicotine pouches, are there any benefits of nicotine itself?
According to a new report by Dr Fredrik Nyström (Professor of Internal Medicine at Linköping University), regular nicotine use can improve focus, weight loss, and even dementia. While the benefits of nicotine are often overlooked due to the severe health risks associated with traditional cigarettes, Dr. Nyström argues that nicotine carries a range of positive effects for users.
Nicotine and Focus. In his most recent study, Dr. Nyström details how nicotine use improves focus. When compared with coffee, for example, nicotine provides greater precision and the ability to perform tasks. One recent study found that nicotine contributed to higher archery scores for smoking over non-smoking archers. The same has also been witnessed among oral surgery patients who have felt less pain and swelling while using nicotine, giving them the ability to focus their attention away from the lingering toothache.
Nicotine and Weight Loss. As for weight loss, Dr. Nyström highlights the correlation between nicotine use and enhanced energy expenditure, which contributes to weight loss. A recent study, for example, found that nicotine users burn over 60 more calories a day than those who have never smoked. The study also found that both a moderate and low nicotine doses increased energy expenditure compared with a placebo.
Nicotine also has the dual effect of helping consumers feel satiated, making them less likely to consume food that would otherwise cause weight gain. Studies have shown that smokers who wore nicotine patches displayed decreased caloric, carbohydrate, and fat intake. Data has also shown that the appetite suppressing effects of nicotine are further enhanced by caffeine.
Nicotine and Dementia. Dr. Nyström’s study also examines the role of nicotine on psychiatric illnesses and dementia. According to several studies, nicotine use has helped reduce depression and increase REM sleep time. One trial, for example, found that nicotine better reduced depression than the antidepressant fluoxetine, commonly known as Prozac.
