SerpApi.Org
(NewsNation) — After being told for decades how bad tobacco products are, nicotine may be making a comeback.
Some say it helps with focus and creativity, pointing to figures like Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill, who puffed on pipes and cigars for years and credited the habit with helping them stay calm and think clearly.
Fitness expert Jillian Michaels agrees, telling NewsNation’s Leland Vittert on Tuesday that nicotine does have cognitive benefits, but when it’s not abused.
“You have to be strategic, and you need to do it with your doctor’s permission, of course,” said Michaels.
She recommends avoiding the smoke or vape varieties, which can still have negative effects on your respiratory system. Instead, Michaels recommends nicotine gum or a patch.
“The patch is the absolute least addictive method,” says Michaels. “It also helps prevent the down-regulation of your body’s ability to be sensitive to nicotine.”
In order to do that, Michaels says you must stop using nicotine at night; that way, you’re not overstimulated, because it can mess up your sleep. She also recommends doing it five days on and two days off, so your body doesn’t adapt to it, meaning you’d need more to get the full effects.
As long as you can maintain a balance, Michaels says the naturally occurring stimulant can be used to your benefit.
“It can help curb appetite. It can help with cognitive enhancement, memory, focus, recall,” says Michaels. “I’m not saying it’s a health food. It isn’t. It’s a tool so that you can function more.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
