Smoke ‘em Drink ‘em if you got ‘em

Like Frankenstein’s monster, maybe it wasn’t evil, maybe it was just misunderstood– because scientists working at the cutting edge of knowledge (which is apparently in Sunnyvale, CA) have discovered a new use for an old menace: nicotine.

Researchers at the Parkinson’s Institute have discovered what millions of high-strung smokers have long known: what’s in a cigarette is good for the shakes. In this case, researchers believe that nicotine can help diminish the tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease. At least, it’s done so in lab monkeys. And no, the experiments do not involve the very wrong, yet very entertaining, spectacle of monkeys smoking– the monkeys are drink nicotine-laced orange Gatorade instead.

Of course, this in no way means smoking is healthy for you. And you will get no health boost from drowning your half-smoked cigarettes in orange Gatorade and then swigging from the bottle. (Unless, that is, that tangy taste of nicotine and Gatorade makes you give the butts for good.)

Tags: cigarettes, Gatorade, health, monkeys, nicotine, Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's Institute, science, Sunnyvale