They’re tiny — no bigger than a thumb nail — and discreet.
That’s what makes Zyn nicotine pouches so appealing to former smokers like me, especially on nights out when cravings hit hard.
The compact white sachets containing nicotine salt are placed between your gums and lips, releasing nicotine gradually into your bloodstream.
Recently, as these small pouches transitioned from an occasional indulgence to a regular habit for me, I have observed an unexpected bonus: they suppress your hunger.
We’ve known about the appetite-suppressing effects of cigarettes forever — hence the cliche about people getting fat when they quit smoking.
Nicotine speeds up your heart rate and floods your system with adrenaline, tricking your body into thinking something urgent is about to happen.
This minor ‘fight-or-flight’ mode triggers a surge of enjoyable nervous vitality that typically attracts smokers. In this condition, the body loses its desire for food.
With cigarettes, the effect lasts only a few minutes. Zyn pouches, on the other hand, deliver a slow release of nicotine that can linger for up to an hour.
Zyn nicotine pouches so appealing to former smokers like me, especially when alcohol is involved and cravings hit hard
The result? A prolonged feeling of alertness — and, in my experience, a total drop in appetite.
It’s not unlike what you hear from people on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic: not only are you not hungry, but the constant chatter about food in your brain — known colloquially as ‘food noise’ — also fades away.
For the first time in my life, I’ve been able to successfully commit to intermittent fasting — which is a fancy way of saying I skip breakfast, eating two meals a day instead of three.
I’d tried it before, but the morning hunger pangs were always too intense to ignore.
Now, with the help of a few morning Zyns, the shift has been effortless.
I’ve lost two pounds in two weeks, despite still eating out and drinking alcohol a few nights a week.
Meanwhile, the average weight loss you can expect from Ozempic is about one to two pounds per week, according to clinical studies.
And there’s a massive difference in cost. A pack of 15 Zyn pouches sells for $5-$10. A month supply of Ozempic will set you back around $1,000.
But, to use a food pun, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and Zyns come with some pretty severe side effects.
The most obvious is nicotine addiction. Cravings, irritability and restless legs can make you unpleasant to be around.
Being bound to a vice also makes you feel weak – I remember this vividly from my smoking days.
If you’re prone to anxiety, the stimulant effect of nicotine will likely make it worse.
The Zyn pouches look like tiny tea bags filled with nicotine. Placed discretely between your lip and gum, the nicotine is absorbed directly into the bloodstream (stock image)
Then there’s the oral health toll: receding gums, flare-ups of gum disease and painful mouth sores are to be expected when putting an irritant in your mouth for hours on end.
There’s also the unknown. Zyns are marketed as safer than cigarettes, and technically they are — there’s no combustion, no smoke, no tar.
But they’re still relatively new. Remember when people said vaping was safe?
Personally, I’ve experienced occasional bouts of blurred vision and a weird sense of losing track of time — like I’m slightly spaced out.
I haven’t seen this reported widely elsewhere, but it’s hard to ignore when it’s happening to you — so bear that in mind.
They have also been linked to heart trouble in teenagers and young people, who have quickly become the group most likely to use them.
Some researchers have also linked their use during adolescence to harm to brain development and problems with learning, memory and attention.
Despite being sold in bodegas, smoke shops, and 7-Elevens for years, Zyn was only officially authorized by the FDA in January.
The decision doesn’t mean that Zyn is safe, just less harmful than older alternatives.
The agency cited evidence that they expose users to significantly fewer harmful chemicals than cigarettes and could help reduce smoking rates.
Tucker Carlson slips a Zyn into his mouth at the Republican National Convention last July
Unlike chewing tobacco or snus, Zyn pouches contain no tobacco leaf.
They are filled with nicotine salts, flavorings, and plant-based fibers which work together to provide a controlled release of nicotine.
They are sold in two different strengths of nicotine: 3 milligrams and 6mg.
There are other brands, too, like Rogue, VELO and Tucker Carlson’s company Alp.
They come in an array of flavors including mint, coffee, cinnamon and lemon.
Millions of Americans now use nicotine pouches, with sales more than doubling in recent years.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was reprimanded by the NFL for putting a Zyn in his mouth while on the sidelines of a game.
Actor Josh Brolin has shared he’s so addicted to an unspecified brand of nicotine pouches he sleeps with them in his mouth.
But the rise has been especially notable among young adults and former smokers, many of whom see it as a cleaner, more discreet alternative to cigarettes or vaping.
And yes, there’s evidence that nicotine pouches are contributing to falling smoking rates — though health experts warn that swapping one addiction for another isn’t exactly a win.
