Yes, nicotine is a PED (performance-enhancing drug), but the enhancements are minor. Nicotine is a stimulant that can increase heart rate, activity, alertness, and improve mood. However, these effects can change based on the type of nicotine that you use.
For example, cigarettes can give you a rush, but they also have drawbacks that could negatively affect your exercise performance. While some people might still want to use them, we have to consider the risks first.
We'll look at the pros, cons, effects, and potential uses for performance enhancement. We'll leave no stone unturned in this pursuit.
Is Nicotine and Nicotine Pouches a PED?
Yes, nicotine and nicotine pouches are considered a PED. Nicotine in all forms, be it cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or refined pouches, effects your heart, alertness, and activity. One of the major effects is a nicotine buzz, which is an elevated feeling of happiness and cognition.
Now, before you all start snorting nicotine, know that these effects are minor. While I do know that they have PED effects, these aren't magic rocket boosters. The most that you can get from this neurostimulant is a better mood, motivation, and a slight adrenaline boost.
What is a PED?
A PED also known as Performance Enhancing Drug is something that makes you more active in sports, exercise, or other activities. It works by releasing certain neurochemicals that improve the way you do certain things.
Common PEDS include anabolic steroids, blood boosters, ergogenic acids, and more. All of these have a pronounced effect on your muscles, blood flow, and mental state. Nicotine is considered a PED unofficially, but the use of nicotine has no direct effect on your muscles.
That's why nicotine lies in a gray area with caffeine and other stimulants. It has effects, but none of them are strong enough to qualify it as a complete PED. You could say nicotine is slightly better than an Espresso shot.
What Could Make Nicotine a PED?
Nicotine could be considered a PED because of its metabolism and mood boosting effects. For example, when you use nicotine, it increases your heart rate, and cognition. In games that require strenuous activity, it can improve your performance.
For example, I've used nicotine as a pre-workout and it did help me. Professional football players use it during, before, and after games. At the same time, we can't say it's a perfect PED, because that's not what nicotine is supposed to be.
Nicotine in its purest form is not something meant for increasing your physical prowess. Research published in the NHI states that nicotine could have an effect on cognition, but not on muscle growth or efficiency.
Effects of Nicotine as a PED
Common nicotine effects and its use in a PED have been documented thoroughly. Here's what and how nicotine works as a PED:
- Improve Cognition: Nicotine reacts with your nACHR, which stimulates your brain and makes you more perceptive. You sense things slightly better and react accordingly. This is crucial in sports like baseball, football, etc.
- Increases Alertness: The rush of endorphins also leads to an influx of adrenaline and increased heart rate. This combination makes you more alert and a bit more active.
- Boosts Mood: The main reason why nicotine affects your body and activity is by boosting your mood. Nicotine rewires your brain and promotes endorphins, which keep your brain in an elevated state.
How does this affect every aspect of your body and activity. We'll look at this in detail.
Does Nicotine Affect Muscle Growth?
Research on nicotine has shown that it's counterproductive as a muscle growth agent. Nicotine administration does not affect muscle growth in any way. You won't lift more, jump higher, or punch heavier beyond your usual limits.
However, the increased metabolism can make nicotine pouches a viable weight loss ingredient. Because of its dietary suppressing effects, some people use nicotine to lose weight by curbing their food cravings.
Does Nicotine Affect Physical Performance?
Nicotine affects your physical performance by boosting your mood and heart rate. Nicotine intake leads to a release of multiple neurochemicals. These chemicals stimulate your mood, increase pain tolerance, endurance performance, and make you more motivated.
For example, nicotine consumption won't help you lift 110 kilos, but it will motivate you to at least finish your reps. You'll feel a reduced drawback from the heavy lifting. That minor boost in mood and endurance can have a major snowball effect on your long-term athletic performance.
Does Nicotine Affect Cognition?
Nicotine in in all forms has an effect on your cognitive performance. For starters, the extra adrenaline in your body speeds up your cognition. You feel more in-tune with yourself and senses, which makes your activities much more enjoyable.
It's why a lot of professional football players use nicotine. Research in the NHI has also established that nicotine can improve your reaction times. For example, baseball players have used dipping tobacco for the longest time for a bit of extra boost during games.
Risks of Nicotine as a PED
While nicotine does enhance performance, it also bears risks. The biggest risk is nicotine dependence, which could hinder your overall lifestyle. Excessive exposure to nicotine can cause addiction, which rewires your neural pathways.
Withdrawing from nicotine can then cause major slumps, depression, and anxiety. Nicotine also has a vasoconstriction effect, which leads to heart problems down the road. Smoking tobacco or other substances could also cause cancer and muscle loss.
Yes, there a few positive impacts on anaerobic performance, but these aren't much compared to the pitfalls. Using nicotine as a PED requires precise usage, caution, and care.
Different Types of Nicotine and PED
Different forms of nicotine have varying effects on the body, which includes advantages and disadvantages. We'll look at every form to help you understand the safest option.
Are Cigarettes a PED?
Yes, cigarettes contain nicotine and can act as a PED. However, cigarettes have more drawbacks compared to every other form of nicotine. For example, using cigarettes can cause heart disease, CVD, and COPD.
Cigarettes also limit your stamina by increasing CO levels inside your body. You breathe less and your muscles get less oxygen. Naturally, you feel less energetic, weaker, and prone to illnesses.
Is Snus a PED?
Yes, snus or smokeless tobacco is a PED. It contains large amounts of nicotine, which positively impact your performance. Most people use snus as an alternative to cigarettes, like football and baseball players.
At the same time, snus contains tobacco, which can harm your gums and gut microbe levels. While snus is undoubtedly safer than cigarettes, it isn't completely safe. You can use it as a PED, when you want to quit cigarettes.
Are Vapes PEDs?
Vapes can act as PEDs because they contain nicotine liquids. Gaseous forms of nicotine are also much easier to absorb, which makes them very effective as a PED. However, vapes are riskier than snus and comparable to cigarettes.
The heated gas particles can cause oxidation damage to your face, gums, and lungs. Vapes also contain a significant amount of vegetable oil, which leads to mucus buildup. You also have lower stamina compared to people who don't vape.
Are Nicotine Pouches PEDs?
Yes, nicotine pouches are considered PEDs. Nicotine pouches are refined and lack the toxins that cigarettes, vapes, and snus contain. They are much safer because they do not contain carcinogens or tobacco.
While nicotine pouches are the obvious safest choice, they still are addictive. You have to use them carefully and in moderation to avoid drawbacks like addiction. Furthermore, you should ideally use nicotine pouches like ZYN to quit smoking, which is their intended purpose.
Is Nicotine Gum a PED?
Nicotine gum is a nicotine replacement therapy option which can be used as a PED. This gum is laced with copious amounts of nicotine, which distributes through your body as you chew. Nicotine gum is an authorized and approved NRT.
It has minimal risks, apart from a minor nicotine addiction. Since it doesn't contain as much nicotine and the absorption rate is relatively low, it doesn't work as effectively as nicotine pouches or snus.
Are Nicotine Patches a PED?
Nicotine patches aren't generally considered PED because lack the nicotine concentration. Nicotine Patches are small band-aid like square pieces that you stick on your body. Your skin absorbs the nicotine, which is why they are also called Transdermal Nicotine Patches.
These patches are approved the FDA as a medication to quit cigarettes. Each patch distributes nicotine through your skin over a long period of time. They can help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms, but aren't strong enough to be considered a PED.
Sports Regulation About Nicotine Use
Nicotine use is not prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency or other major leagues. There were controversies surrounding cigarette and smokeless tobacco use in major football leagues. However, the WADA does not consider it as a major PED.
We checked the official WADA list for prohibited substances and nicotine is included in the S6 Stimulant category.
Simultaneously, they have expressed concern over the growing use of nicotine in sports. They have also added nicotine to their list of monitored substances. Only more research into its effects can determine whether nicotine will be banned or allowed in sports.
As far as history goes, nicotine use has been prevalent in sports since the early 1800s. Major Baseball players were notorious for using dipping tobacco. Football players have been using snus and nicotine pouches for well over a decade.
Will Nicotine Be Banned in Sports?
For now, there is no clear information, because of the lack of concern. However, FIFA did ban cigarettes and vapes in all of their venues. Smokeless tobacco and nicotine pouches are still allowed, because they don't do second hand damage.
However, there has been a shift in ideas about nicotine addiction. For example, there were talks of a ZYN ban in the US because of increasing demand. Canada also banned the sale of certain flavors to discourage use.
With these shifts, we might see mounting pressure on sports organizations. Heated and smokeless forms of nicotine may be banned in certain venues or clubs. Only time will tell!
Conclusion: Is Nicotine a PED
Yes, considering the effects of nicotine, it is a PED. It can boost your cognition, alertness, and reaction times to a certain degree. However, these effects aren't substantial enough to cause a major shift in your overall activity.
Most of the effects of nicotine are related to your mood and heart rate. Furthermore, heated forms of nicotine like cigarettes and vapes have more drawbacks. It makes them unsuitable for performance enhancement and activity boosts.
Tobacco free nicotine pouches are the safest PED options for existing nicotine users. The other forms often have major risks that could limit your long-term health. All in all, if you're using nicotine as a PED, please be aware of the risks and use them responsibly.
