Nicotine is the primary bioactive chemical in tobacco that accounts for most of the plant’s addictive properties. Due to nicotine’s presence in traditional cigarettes, many health experts discourage smoking and recommend vaping.
Of course, quitting smoking for vaping doesn’t necessarily amount to cutting out on nicotine consumption. That’s because nicotine also happens to be one of the four main e-juice ingredients. The others include vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), and flavorings.
So, even after taking to vaping, experts still advise avoiding inhaling nicotine-containing e-juices. The following are the main reasons you should consider vaping nicotine-free vape juices.
Addiction
As we’ve just pointed out, nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. Long-term nicotine consumption affects the performance of various brain receptors, particularly receptors involved in stimulating the body’s reward system and feel-good emotions.
On a long enough timeline, the brain of a tobacco user becomes less efficient at processing emotional cues on its own, especially cues relating to happiness and positivity. That explains why many heavy smokers admit that smoking relieves stress and makes them happy.
Fortunately, switching from nicotine-based e-juices to nicotine-free vape oils allows you to avoid the risks of addiction posed by the chemical. And the good news is that there are numerous nicotine alternative herbs that you can vape. Examples include cannabis-based extracts like cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
CBD deserves a special mention as the compound comes with tons of therapeutic properties. Inhaling CBD vape juice that’s safe can offer relief from pain, anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and a host of other diseases.
Toxicity
Nicotine is not just discouraged for its addictive nature. The chemical is also highly toxic.
It’s undeniably true that nicotine is not as potentially harmful as the other chemicals produced by burning tobacco, such as carbon monoxide, tar, benzene, and formaldehyde. However, the chemical still carries its fair share of toxicity.
Long-term exposure to nicotine is associated with increased risks of certain cancers, such as lung cancer, brain tumors, and carcinomas. Other studies have also cited nicotine for its adverse effects on blood pressure. In fact, many researchers agree that nicotine doesn’t relieve anxiety, as most tobacco users would rather believe. On the contrary, the chemical elevates blood pressure. And high blood pressure is a primary risk factor for anxiety and cardiovascular diseases like heart disease.
So, giving up nicotine-based e-juices for nicotine-free ones can go a long way in reducing the risks of cancer, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
Poor Flavor Experience
Many people who vape nicotine-free e-juices generally report a better flavor experience.
Now, it’s worth noting that nicotine has a very mild odor. However, the chemical also has a distinct flavor that could significantly affect the overall flavor of an e-juice.
According to seasoned vapers, nicotine’s flavor is somewhat hard to grasp—some report it to be peppery, whereas others claim that it’s synthetic.
It’s also important to remember that the senses of taste and smell work synergistically in helping vapers to savor the flavorings in their e-juice. That explains why nicotine’s mild odor and distinct flavor can dramatically affect the overall flavor experience.
The fact that nicotine’s taste is difficult to define complicates the situation even further. And it can only get worse for e-juices containing higher nicotine concentrations.
Reduced Vapor Experience
It’s common knowledge in the vaping community that vegetable glycerin is the main e-juice ingredient that accounts for the majority of vape oil’s vapor-producing abilities. So, where does nicotine come in?
Well, higher VG concentrations in an e-liquid isn’t all that it takes to enhance vapor production. You’d also need to make certain adjustments to your vaporizer, such as increasing the temperature and using low-resistance coils.
But while vaping at high temperatures enhances vapor production, it also increases your exposure to nicotine.
Inhaling large amounts of nicotine-containing vapor can trigger a number of side effects like mood swings and blood pressure issues. Not to mention the long-term medical concerns associated with the substance.
Harsh Throat Hit
Throat hit refers to the feeling of vapor as it hits the back of your throat. The feeling is measured using an imaginary scale that runs from smooth/mild to harsh/strong, with some values in between. A smooth throat hit is generally a good feeling, whereas a harsh throat hit is a bad feeling associated with throat irritation.
Within the first weeks of switching from smoking to vaping, most people often prefer a stronger throat hit. That’s because a stronger throat hit mimics the sensation of cigarette smoking. But after a while, many new vapers tend to gravitate towards a milder throat hit.
Nicotine-based e-juices are associated with harsh throat hit. So, an effective remedy against this undesirable feeling is to switch to nicotine-free e-liquids.
You can take other measures to achieve a smoother throat hit besides opting for nicotine-free vape oils. They include vaping e-juices containing a higher VG: PG ratio and vaping at moderate-to-high temperature.
Final Words
There are numerous reasons to switch from nicotine-based e-juices to nicotine-free ones. However, experts advise going slow on this transition, especially for people with a history of heavy cigarette use.
To make the transition seamless, you can start by vaping e-juices containing high nicotine strengths. Then, lower your nicotine intake gradually to avoid experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. Eventually, you’ll be able to vape nicotine-free e-juices without much of a hassle.