Does Nicotine Make You Lose Weight?

The question of "Does nicotine make you lose weight?" is one of the burning questions of our generation. Research into smoking and its effects on the human body has brought us many uncomfortable facts, some you may already know, others you may not. You may be asking yourself "Is it bad for me?"

Nicotine addiction is a condition that has affected all of us, including non-smokers. It is a proven and highly addictive drug, that does everything but make you lose weight. Smoking is a form of addiction, more than any other, that has affected the bodies of smokers worldwide. Most non-smokers have at one time or another tried to quit smoking but failed, simply because the psychological component was too difficult to conquer.

There are several things about smoking that are well known to the non-smokers. Firstly, it is an addictive drug, that acts on the central nervous system and increases the release of dopamine. The increase in dopamine activates both the pleasure centre in the brain, which is where you will feel the most pleasure when smoking, as well as increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. This all increases your metabolic rate, which results in extra calories being burned off in order to power the human body. If this process is not completed sufficiently, your weight will start to increase again.

The second thing that you must realise is that nicotine does not do anything at all to the body except make you want to keep using it. There is absolutely no energy in the human body for anything except the consumption of food. The nicotine simply helps to fill the gap, providing a soothing, calming influence that we crave. As the nicotine reaches the brain, it can take up the job of telling the body to go ahead with the craving. This explains why many smokers choose to go through their entire day without smoking, as they are completely unaware of how their body feels without cigarettes.

The last thing that you should know is that nicotine is present in every drag of a cigarette, and is absorbed by the body gradually over a period of time. Therefore, you can never gain weight by smoking only a few cigarettes a day. Weight loss is only possible if your body burns off more calories than it takes in. Nicotine will give you temporary relief from hunger pangs, but your body will quickly regain all of its lost energy, before you know it.

This is why it is better to quit smoking completely than to use any method of "quitting" that relies on the placebo effects of cigarettes. If you really want to lose weight, then the best way to do it is to follow a healthy diet and regular exercise. You should also try to reduce the amount of junk food that you consume, or avoid eating it altogether. Instead, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain cereals and other foods that contain low levels of calories. A well-balanced diet combined with regular exercise and a proper work out can make a dramatic difference in your weight.

If you smoke a lot, you should make a serious effort to stop. Smoking can cause lots of diseases and illnesses, including cancer. Nicotine is highly addictive, so you will need to make a strong effort to quit. There are many products on the market that claim to help you stop smoking, including nicotine replacement therapy gums, patches, lozenges, sprays, inhalers and Zyban, a drug for tobacco withdrawal. You can get help from your doctor or nurse, or even join a stop-smoking group.

In addition, you should keep up your physical activities. Physical activity burns off calories, which helps you lose weight. Try walking, jogging or cycling each day, as long as it is intense enough to be effective. For example, if you normally walk five miles a day, try doing it six times a week. This will help you to burn more calories.