Snus is an orally consumed form
of tobacco which is smokeless and contains more nicotine per portion than a
single cigarette. It is typically placed between the gum and upper lip at the
front of the mouth. Traditionally produced in Sweden among other Scandinavian
countries, snus has become much-hyped in the sports world, with an increase in
its use over the past decade by several well-known athletes. This is mainly due
to anecdotal evidence which suggests that nicotine increases performance
capability, particularly if the athlete is/was a smoker. Here we look at the
recent hype to find out why snus has become a favourite for some
athletes.
Snus in Football
Perhaps one of the most highly publicised cases of snus use in sports is in
British football. Noted footballers such as Ashley Cole, Charlie Adam,
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jamaal Lascelles, Victor Lindelof and Jamie
Vardy have all admitted to taking
snus, often in the form of a nicotine pouch to be placed under the player’s
lip. Despite the Football Association’s (FA) attempt to restrict and reduce its
use (snus is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s watch list despite not being
banned), snus remains a popular form of nicotine intake due to its quick and
long-lasting effect. In fact, some players don’t just resort to using snus as a
means of relaxation, but they take it on the pitch during a game.
Most stimulants are banned and restricted for athletes, with the exception of
nicotine. Along with caffeine, nicotine (of which snus is made of) is one of
the most widely taken psychoactive substances on the planet. Although nicotine
isn’t primarily associated with performance enhancement, it has been understood
to improve alertness and coordination which in turn improves cognition and
motor skills. This is mostly because nicotine intake increases the
user’s heart rate and blood pressure. Studies have shown that snus — along
with other forms of nicotine use — is used by individuals with a nicotine
addiction to feel “normal”. This in turn may improve levels of sports
performance by maintaining an “allostatic
state” (achieving stability).
Although research into the effects of snus in sports are mostly
inconclusive, there have been several studies into snus’ effects on
cardiovascular response. Some noted no difference; some noted a
difference.
So why do sportspeople take snus? In general, smokeless tobacco was introduced
by Scandinavian players into the UK football scene, where they are used both to
relax whilst satisfying a nicotine craving. For snus and other associated
products, visit SnusDirect to get more
information about the product as well as the possibility to purchase it
yourself. They also provide worldwide shipping.
