A new wave of wellness influencers, biohackers, and pro-MAHA creators are promoting nicotine pouches, patches, gum, and lozenges as cognitive boosters.
Here are some claims made by influencers like Dave Asprey: Nicotine can improve concentration, make you more alert, more alert, more productive, and more focused. And unfortunately, this is just what the internet is, designed to be glamorous because it’s rooted in bits and pieces of truth that are then blown out of context. For example, remember mouth taping and color analysis?
Doctors told the New York Times that many of the claims about nicotine are exaggerated or misrepresent research. It is both a stimulant and a relaxant, and actually makes people more alert. Some studies have shown that nicotine may have potential benefits in very specific medical situations, but the tobacco industry funds a lot of the research, so things can get a little murky here.
And it’s worth noting that over time, people can develop a dependence on nicotine. Approximately half of all smokers attempt to quit each year, but only 6 percent actually succeed. What initially feels “trapped” can eventually become literal.
In this episode of Mashable’s Trending Now series, Christianna Silva and Teodosia Dobriyanova unpack this eyebrow-raising trend.
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