Is Rolling Your Own Cigarette Healthier?

Commercial cigarettes are the most popular product amongst smokers. However, there’s another smoking product that can provide you with more benefits than the regular cigarettes you buy from the store. Roll‐your‐own cigarettes are hand‐rolled and made with loose tobacco. Other names for RYO cigarettes include “rollies”, “roll‐ups”, “burns”, and “rolls”.

There are a few ways to make hand‐rolled cigarettes, such as:

• Using cigarette papers and loose tobacco.
• Using a rolling machine to make a uniform and more tightly packed cigarette.
• Using preformed cigarette tubes: these can also be filled with loose tobacco and smoked—both with and without filters.

Common reasons why roll‐your‐own cigarettes are preferable to many smokers include:

1.Cost

A pouch of rolling tobacco and cigarette papers is considerably cheaper than buying brand‐name or commercial cigarettes.

2.Social Perceptions

There is a perception in some social circles that people who roll their own cigarettes are cool, edgy, and non‐traditional. A study in Ireland published in a 2018 issue of BMC Public Health found that the “artisanal” appeal or the craft nature of roll‐your‐own cigarettes is another reason why a lot of young people prefer them.

3.Health-Wise Perceptions

Roll‐your‐own cigarettes are deemed healthier by a good number of smokers because they believe them to be more “natural.” Also, this variant of cigarettesdon’t contain as many harmful chemicals as commercial cigarettes do. Another big plus is that if you are a heavy smoker and you are looking to quit, you can use the RYO cigarettes to gradually lessen the number of cigarettes you smoke each day until you finally achieve your goal.

These crowd motives aside, below are some added benefits of rolling your own cigarettes.

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1. You Have Control Over the Amount of Tobacco You Smoke.

The number 1 benefit of rolling your own cigarettes is the control that you will have over how much tobacco goes into your roll‐up. You can tailor your cigarettes to be healthier with lesser amounts of tobacco, which is generally impossible with commercial cigarettes.

As was mentioned earlier, RYO cigarettes can be used if you want to quit smoking but are finding it difficult because your body has become addicted to it. You can use RYO tobacco to gradually decrease the amount of tobacco you smoke until you can finally rid yourself of the habit. Self‐control might be the best way to stop smoking, but roll‐your‐own cigarettes will ease the process for you.

 

2. You Will Be Certain of What You Are Smoking.

Commercial cigarettes are produced and packaged so you do not know what other components or chemicals are included in them. If you roll your own cigarette, you will have full prior knowledge of exactly what is going into your cigarette, and in the same vein, what will be getting inside of your body. Additionally, you can customize your rollies even more by adding flavors to them.

3. Roll‐your‐own Cigarettes Help You to Lose Weight.

Take a good look. You will notice that most people who smoke RYO cigarettes become slimmer. Tobacco helps to suppress otherwise large appetites. It helps to diminish any constant desire to eat for a short period. Research has shown that tobacco is an effective way to combat obesity and eating disorders. The result is subsequent positive changes to your weight, and attaining a moderate weight is good for the overall wellness of your body.

4. Roll‐your‐own Cigarettes Reduce the Risk of Death After a Heart Attack.

This is astounding but very true. A study has shown that rollie smokers are less likely to be at risk of death after a heart attack. Also, cigarette smokers who have never had heart attacks before are less likely to have dangerous heart attacks compared to non‐smokers. Another study has revealed that smokers respond much better to heart attack treatment than non‐smokers.

5. Roll‐your‐own Tobacco Eliminates the Risk of Having a Neurological Disease.

Some studies have shown that long‐term smokers have little to no risk of having a neurological disease like Parkinson’s disease when compared to non‐smokers and short‐term smokers.

Cigarettes of any kind are used to relieve tension and stress after work and in many more areas of life. Some people smoke to stimulate their brains. Others smoke while reading or while they are trying to calm themselves from a certain situation. RYO cigarettes are clearly the better choice if you need a cigarette for any of the above purposes because they are a cheaper and healthier alternative to commercial cigarettes.

In addition, there are proven cases of people with schizophrenia who smoke tobacco having lesser episodes of attack. It also eliminates the disease’s impact. Furthermore, it indirectly lessens the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Psychological Benefits of Roll‐your‐own Cigarettes.

The main reason why most people smoke cigarettes, irrespective of whether they are commercial or a roll‐up, is to help them relax in a stressful situation. Also, some people smoke because cigarettes stimulate the brain. Nicotine, as an added chemical in an RYO cigarette, stimulates the brain to release dopamine.

Dopamine is a brain chemical associated with euphoria and pleasurable sensations, along with learning, memory, motor system function, and more. This is the reason why cigarettes are addictive, and the reason why people feel happier when they smoke.

7. Roll‐Your‐Own Cigarettes Are 100% Legal.

Roll‐your‐own cigarette products, including rolling tobacco and paper, are regulated by the FDA. Anyone who makes, manufactures, or imports tobacco must comply with several laws, such as registering their business every year, paying fees, and submitting an ingredient list to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retailers who sell RYO cigarette products also must adhere to a list of rules such as applying to market their product and displaying a warning statement on its packaging. And as of December 20, 2019, you must be 21 years old in the United States to purchase a tobacco product.

Therefore, anyone looking to purchase roll‐your‐own tobacco can rest and be assured that it is perfectly legal.

Here is a summary comparison table of buying a commercial cigarette at the store versus rolling your own cigarettes. On the left is commercial cigarettes and on the right is roll your own.

In conclusion, yes, rolling your own cigarette is healthier for you, so why don’t you try it out today?

Here’s a mini‐guide that will have you rolling your own cigarettes like a pro! All you need are rolling papers, loose‐leaf tobacco, a bit of skill, and time to practice.

• Pick out any rolling paper of your choice, but the best ones are not too thin or thick.
• Lay it out on a flat surface with the sticky side facing upwards.
• Pick out a filter—it is advisable that you use one.
• Place your filter onto your rolling paper.
• Pick out the tobacco of your choice.
• Pinch the amount of tobacco you would like to smoke and sprinkle an even amount of it from the filter tip to the end of the rolling paper.
• Make sure the tobacco is evenly distributed and that there are no clumps.
• Pick up your cigarette with your fingers around the filter and the far end of the cigarette.
• While keeping your fingers gripped lightly around the filter, begin to gently but tightly roll the cigarette between your other thumb and middle finger for it to take shape.
• Be careful that the filter does not move as you do this!
• Once you have started achieving a cylindrical shape, stop rolling when only the adhesive end of the paper remains.
• Lick along the edge of the paper to make the gum sticky, and then seal the cigarette by applying gentle pressure to the adhesive end until it sticks.
• Pinch off any excess tobacco sticking out of the far end.
• Twist the far end to completely seal the cigarette.
• And your hand‐rolled cigarette is now good for a smoke!

You can also make use of a rolling machine or preformed cigarette tubes to make cigarettes that are more even and tightly packed.