Fitness Influencers Turn to Nicotine Pouches for Pre-Workout Boost, Experts Warn of Risks
Fitness influencers and trainers are promoting nicotine pouches as a pre-workout hack, but experts warn of potential long-term consequences, including addiction and decreased exercise performance.
From smelling salts to caffeine-jacked energy drinks, pre-workout performance boosters have long been a staple in the fitness world. However, a new trend has emerged in 2026: nicotine.
Fitness influencer Will Tennyson recently posted a video on his YouTube channel claiming that nicotine helped him "lock in" during lifts. Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels has also praised the benefits of nicotine on cognitive function, suggesting that it can be used strategically with a doctor's permission.
But not everyone is convinced. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been photographed carrying and allegedly using ZYNs, a popular form of ingestible nicotine.
The growing chorus of fitness voices aren't actually smoking nicotine, but rather consuming it via tobacco-free products like nicotine pouches, patches, and gum.
According to exercise physiologist technician Tina Lankarge, the sympathetic nervous system activates during exercise, allowing the body to meet the demands of the activity. Ingesting nicotine can mimic this response, causing heart rate and blood pressure spikes, as well as temporarily increasing motor skills, improving memory, and boosting attention.
However, not all experts agree. Pulmonary and critical care medicine physician Andrea Jonas warns that nicotine can actually make workouts worse by increasing cardiac contractility and constricting blood vessels. This can lead to decreased exercise performance and increased risk of developing an arrhythmia.
Jonas also notes that nicotine is highly addictive, causing users to continuously reach for pouches even if it's hindering their performance. Furthermore, the long-term effects of isolated nicotine use, particularly in pouches packed with understudied ingredients, are not well understood.
Many manufacturers tout their products as "tobacco-free," which Jonas says should be seen strictly as a marketing label. This can lead consumers to misinterpret the label as a health claim, when in fact it simply means that the nicotine is lab-created and chemically identical to tobacco-derived nicotine.
As an exercise physiologist, Lankarge does not recommend any specific pre-workout chemicals, aside from the occasional cup of coffee. Instead, she suggests addressing underlying issues such as fatigue, brain fog, or excessive soreness by investigating personal life changes or consulting a doctor.
**The Risks of Nicotine Use**
| Product | Manufacturer | Nicotine Content |
|---|---|---|
| ZYNs | ZYN | 3-12mg per pouch |
| Nicotine Pouches | Various | 3-12mg per pouch |
| Nicotine Gum | Various | 2-4mg per piece |
**The Dangers of Addiction**
Nicotine is highly addictive, causing users to continuously reach for pouches even if it's hindering their performance. This can lead to a cycle of addiction, making it difficult to quit using nicotine products.
**The Importance of Addressing Underlying Issues**
Rather than relying on nicotine pouches, experts suggest addressing underlying issues such as fatigue, brain fog, or excessive soreness by investigating personal life changes or consulting a doctor. This can help individuals optimize their performance and avoid the risks associated with nicotine use.
**The Need for Further Research**
The long-term effects of isolated nicotine use, particularly in pouches packed with understudied ingredients, are not well understood. Further research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits of nicotine use in the fitness world.
