So we know that electronic cigarettes are smoke free, tobacco free and tar free. Sounds good so far! But what about nicotine? Read on to learn about what nicotine is, how it relates to vaping and how harmful it is to you.
Nicotine in the Bud
Before we get started, let’s talk a little more about where nicotine actually comes from and what it does. Simply put, nicotine is a naturally occuring stimulant drug - much the same as caffeine. In fact, it has a similar effect on the body to caffeine, causing a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as suppressing your appetite and speeding up metabolism.
Named after French ambassador Jean Nicot, nicotine is a natural substance found in most members of the Nightshade family of plants, including in tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers and aubergine. It also naturally occurs in the tobacco plant, hence why it is found in tobacco cigarettes.
Does Nicotine Cause Cancer?
The word “nicotine” is therefore often synonymous with smoking and cigarettes, causing many to link it to lung cancer and other similar diseases. As with any stimulant, nicotine is not good for you in large quantities. However, it’s the burning tobacco, tar and thousands of chemicals found in smoke which make smoking so damaging to your lungs – not the nicotine. Nicotine is not carcinogenic and has not been linked to cancer.
It is, however, addictive. It’s the substance which makes users crave cigarettes and in this sense it is dangerous. But, in responsible amounts, nicotine itself is not harmful.
Electronic Cigarettes and Nicotine
Electronic cigarettes use liquid, often called e-liquid or e-juice, which is vaporised and inhaled by the user. E-liquid consists of a mix of non-toxic PG, natural VG, flavouring and distilled water. It may also contain varying degrees of nicotine.
The difference is that e-cigarettes simply heat the liquid nicotine to form the vapour – nothing is actually burnt, therefore there is no combustion and no smoke. So vaping does provide the user with a nicotine fix, similar to a traditional cigarette, but without delivering the thousands of toxic chemicals that would be caused by burning tobacco smoke.
Why Include Nicotine At All?
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that nicotine is addictive. So why include it in e-liquid at all? Well, firstly, you can choose e-liquid which has no nicotine content whatsoever. If you’re not addicted to smoking and are simply curious to try vaping, whether for the range of intriguing flavours or to have a go at cloud-chasing, zero nicotine e-liquid is advisable. Why risk forming a dependency?
However, many people choose to vape as a substitute for analogue cigarettes. If this applies to you, your body may still crave nicotine. Vaping in this sense can be regarded as a more realistic and interactive alternative to nicotine gum or patches.
Unlike analogue cigarettes, with vaping you can choose the concentration of nicotine you wish to receive. Our table offers a good guide as to which you should go for:
Strength
Suitability
24mg
Very High
Maximum strength. Suitable for heavy smokers (more than a pack a day) or smokers of strong cigarettes.
18mg
High
Suitable for regular pack-a-day smokers. For smokers, this is the recommended starting point.
16mg
High
Used by e-cigarette brands for high-level cartridges.
12mg Medium
Good for lighter smokers who smoke less than a pack a day or prefer lighter cigarettes.
11mg Medium
Used by e-cigarette brands for medium-level cartridges.
6mg
Low
Perfect for occasional or very light smokers. Low-level e-cig cartridges also come in this strength.
0mg
None
Non-smokers and ex-smokers/nicotine users
You may, therefore, choose to start with a higher level of nicotine and wean yourself off as your dependency decreases. As your cravings diminish, you may find you end up needing no nicotine whatsoever, enjoying vaping for the flavour and clouds alone!
So, in short:
Electronic cigarettes use liquid which can contain nicotine
The liquid is available in varying concentrations of nicotine
You can choose nicotine-free liquid
Nicotine is a stimulant
Nicotine does not cause cancer
Nicotine is addictive
E-cigarettes heat liquid nicotine – no burning and no smoke
Vaping can help satisfy nicotine cravings
The user can then wean themselves off
Vaping is just as enjoyable nicotine-free
If you feel ready to start vaping visit our online store!