If you are a smoker, you might have been thinking all this while that vaping is safe compared to smoking, especially if you are aiming to quit smoking. After all, most e-cigs come with a variety of different juice flavorings such as cinnamon, strawberry, and vanilla – to name a few.
However, have you taken some time to find out which ingredients are added to your e-juice? What types of vape juice ingredients are bad for your health?
Nicotine
Nicotine is one substance that has been dividing opinions recently. Being a stimulant, Nicotine could enhance your focus and help you relax. Also, it is advisable that ex-smokers use nicotine to help them quit smoking. However, this highly addictive substance can seriously affect your nervous system by causing cardiovascular damage. Therefore, if you have never smoked, do not use Nicotine.
Diacetyl
This harmful compound has a buttery taste and appears yellowish-green when in a liquid state. Commonly used in margarine and alcoholic drinks, this compound is also ingested in food and beverages and is actually harmless at this state. However, when inhaled, it could be very harmful.
A study conducted on factory workers exposed to this compound while making microwavable popcorn found that; there were cases of coughing, wheezing and malaise which worsened steadily. After several tests, the workers were found to have bronchiolitis obliterans (Popcorn Lung). This disease inflames and obstructs the lung’s smallest airways, and the only way out is through a lung transplant. Therefore, just eat your popcorn and do not inhale it.
Caffeine
Now, who doesn’t know coffee liquids? However, if your e-juice ingredients have a coffee flavor, then be cautious. Although vaping a little coffee is not that bad, avoiding it altogether may be best. Why? If you inhale caffeine, the substance is absorbed directly into the bloodstream causing immediate effects. At this point, you will not even know how much you have consumed. Also, the central nervous system could be affected by inhaling too much coffee leading to rapid heartbeat, shaking, vomiting, altered consciousness, and seizures.
Cinnamon
This delicious ingredient is commonly used to spice up tea, breakfast, and even dinner. That said, avoid any e-juice with this ingredient at all costs. Why are we saying this? According to a Cannabis Advisor, Cinnamon is made up of toxic chemicals that could cause serious damage to your monocytes (white blood cells). Do you still doubt? Well, Frontiers in Physiology’ journal even went as far as publishing cinnamon among the highly toxic vaping flavors to avoid.
Cinnamon is made up of a toxic organic compound, cinnamaldehyde – a compound responsible for its flavor. This compound is the one responsible for damaging a smoker’s immune cells. Although Cinnamon can be used to reduce blood sugar levels, heart diseases, and inflammation, it can cause inflammation on the monocytes and some serious tissue damage. Therefore, if you want to stay healthy, avoid e-juice with cinnamon flavorings.
Chili Powder
Although it is difficult to find this ingredient in your vape juice, hobbyists are known to like it. If you note any chili powder ingredient in your vape juice, kindly avoid it. Chili powder is a cooking ingredient and should not be inhaled just like Diacetyl. This neurotoxin substance can have immediate side effects like chocking, coughing, and splattering. In case of taking large amounts, it could lead to seizures, heart attack, or could even be fatal.
Acetyl Propionyl & Acetoin
These substances share many molecular properties with Diacetyl. In artificial butter flavoring, it is commonly used as an additive. However, these two compounds are present in cigarettes. Also, its huge similarities with Diacetyl make it a huge concern.
In other words, it’s advisable that you go for e-liquid products from reputable premium manufacturers. Even though their prices could be higher than most low-quality brands, you will be 100% confident that the above ingredients are not included.