E-juice is a viscous liquid used for filling an electronic cigarette or vape intended to deliver nicotine. However, you should not forget that it is optional to have nicotine in your e-juice when you vape.
The e-liquid is then heated by the vape device to create a vapor that will be inhaled by the vaper.
Is An E-juice Safe to Use and Inhale?
You assume from the get-go that the e-juice has chemicals, and you wonder if they are safe. Vapers must know that all the chemicals found in an e-juice are declared Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What are the Ingredients of the Vape Juice?
The vape juice has the following main ingredients: vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), flavorings, and nicotine.
Vegetable Glycerin/Glycerol (VG)
The VG is a thick and clear liquid that more often is made from soybeans or palm trees. Less commonly, this can be made from animal fat. It is not the same as vegetable oil. The vegetable oil unlike VG is not water-soluble.
VG is deemed safe for human consumption by the FDA, but the health impact of VG has not been established yet.
VG has multiple uses. It is used as a food sweetener and as a food additive that retains moisture, thickens food, and homogenizes various food ingredients. It is a household ingredient that is usually found in multiple skincare products. It is also a common ingredient in baked goods, cheese, and other processed food.
VG affects the amount of vapor that the e-cigarette produces due to the viscosity of the liquid. A vaper will experience thicker clouds when the vape juice he or she will use has a higher VG ratio. It also allows for a softer and smoother throat hit.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
This is a colorless and odorless liquid from petroleum that has a subtle sweet taste. PG is more syrupy and runnier compared to the VG. People often confuse this with Ethylene Glycol. PG is found in products for human and animal consumption while the Ethylene Glycol has to be handled properly.
PG is also used as an additive in foods which include ice cream, boxed cake mix, soft drinks and others. It is also found in cosmetic products like shampoo, deodorant, ointments, toothpaste, and others.
PG functions as a vehicle for e-juice to have flavor. If you have a higher PG ratio for your e-juice, you'll enjoy a sharper flavor. Higher PG also means stronger throat hits like that of tobacco smoke. PG has a thinner consistency compared to VG.
Some people may be allergic to PG. When you show allergic symptoms like skin irritation and sore throat, it would be better for you to have an e-juice with a higher VG ratio.
Flavoring Concentrates
Flavoring concentrates are made of natural and artificial flavoring that can mimic the taste of a drink or food. These are often found in soda, candy, baked goods, and other processed foods that contain some kind of artificial flavoring.
Flavoring concentrates make up 10 percent of the entire e-juice content. These may contain ingredients that are known to be dangerous to one's health when inhaled.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in cigarettes which makes it difficult to quit. It is an alkaloid that belongs to the nightshade family of plants like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. It is a natural stimulant but it also helps a person to relax.
Nicotine is used in several items such as nicotine gums, inhalers, patches, and vape juices. It is hard to quit smoking cold turkey because it's hard to resist strong nicotine cravings.
The best vape juice for smokers who try to quit the habit contains nicotine. This enables them to enjoy the smoking sensation and allows them to address their nicotine cravings in a less harmful way.
An e-juice may contain various levels of nicotine such as 0, 3, 6, or 12 mg. The higher the nicotine strength the stronger the throat hit of the e-juice. It gives off that peppery taste and it can make the e-juice flavor harsher.
Nicotine can be of two kinds: nicotine salts and freebase nicotine. Freebase is the regular nicotine that is commonly found in the 3, 6, or 12 mg levels.
Nicotine salts also known as nic salts are relatively new in the vaping market. It allows vapers to enjoy higher nicotine strengths minus the harsh taste that one can get from freebase nicotine.
Some e-juices don't have nicotine. This is great for those who want to quit their nicotine intake yet keep the smoking sensation.
