WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NICOTINE AND TOBACCO?

The leaves of the tobacco plant contain the chemical nicotine, and until recently, nicotine and tobacco went hand-in-hand. Cigarettes? Tobacco and nicotine. Cigars? Tobacco and nicotine. Thanks to inventions like VELO nicotine pouches, nicotine is no longer synonymous with tobacco – but what’s the difference between the nicotine and the tobacco itself, and how is it possible to isolate nicotine from tobacco? Read on to find out.

The tobacco plant was first grown thousands of years ago in Central America. The leaves of the tobacco plant are first dried and then fermented, before being cut or shredded and consumed, either by smoking the tobacco in a cigarette or even chewed and sniffed in products like snus or snuff. Nicotine is a naturally occurring psychoactive chemical found in the tobacco plant, that when heated provides a pleasant sensation. When tobacco is burned, it releases nicotine.

Once the nicotine has been ingested, it is absorbed into the bloodstream where it stimulates the adrenal glands to release the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate, and increases dopamine levels.

While consuming tobacco used to be the only way to ingest nicotine, that’s no longer the case – thanks to innovative products like VELO nicotine pouches, which contain isolated nicotine, the nicotine that can be absorbed on its own, without needing to smoke or chew tobacco. This means that VELO nicotine pouches provide the same stimulating effects of nicotine with 99% less toxicants than a cigarette*. Nicotine is still a potent chemical, however, and should only be consumed by persons over the age of 18.

VELO nicotine pouches come in a variety of flavours and strengths , so you’re sure to find a pouch that suits your preferences. They’re simple to use and can be taken with you anywhere you go. Keen to give them a try? Grab a free can  and start your next adventure with VELO!

* This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance. 99% less toxicants than a cigarette comparison is based on an assessment of smoke from a scientific standard reference cigarette (approximately 9mg tar) and components released during use of a Velo pouch, in terms of the average of the 9 harmful components the World Health Organisation recommends to reduce in cigarette smoke.