Mar
Let’s talk about vape juice ingredients.
You know, the ingredients that make up 100% of e-liquids out there that people put in their e-cigarettes and chug on. There’s been a lot of chatter about this in the last few years (mostly due to some health scares), so it’s time to clear things up.
Virtually all that e-liquids contain (or can contain) are these four chemicals:
- propylene glycol (PG)
- vegetable glycerine (VG)
- nicotine (regular or salts)
- flavorings
Now, notice I said chemicals there. That’s because these are chemicals. But guess what? Water is a chemical too, and no one is kicking up a fuss about that. Most of what goes inside an e-juice is tested and deemed safe (with some exceptions when it comes to flavorings because they’re not all safe for inhalation and can pose some health risks).
After reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of these main ingredients that make up your vape juice; what do the latest studies say about them, and why you don’t have to fear them. Especially because they are all generally recognized as safe for ingestion by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)… regardless of what you keep hearing in the mainstream media.
Let’s start with propylene glycol and vegetable gycerine, as they are the basic ingredients – and the most common ingredients – in every vape liquid.
The Best Home for Your Safe Vape Juice Ingredients
Start vaping with Mist today & join thousands of happy vapers around the world!
Click Here to Get Your Hands On the Award-Winning Mist Cart Vape
Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is described as a thin, colorless, and odorless organic compound used as a base for vape juice. It has a long history of serving important roles in food products and food industry, and household products like sodas, ice cream, and coffee drinks, and personal care products. PG possesses levels of therapeutic properties and are often used in medical inhalers. As a humectant (ability to absorb moisture), it combines with nicotine to create the usual throat hit effect experienced during vaping. PG is also responsible for the anti-freeze properties in vapes. It is non-toxic and is often added to automotive coolants to lessen the toxic risk for animals drinking from a puddle under a car with a leaky radiator.
The US Food and Drug Administration has long ago given a green light to PG, listing it as generally safe for human consumption. In addition to that, an older study has found that PG has no negative health effects when inhaled. A study from 2010 also concluded that, while certain glycols can be connected to asthma and inflammation, PG is not one of those glycols.
As you can see, when it comes to major health concerns regarding PG, there aren’t any. You can safely vape on 100% PG vape juices without the fear that you’re somehow inhaling a substance that will, in the future, cause you harm. At least, that’s what recent studies and research leads us to conclude. Choose PG for your electronic cigarette if you’re looking for a thinner juice with a neutral taste.
Learn more about PG: PG and VG Explained
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
VG is thicker than PG and slightly sweet when tasted, which is why it’s used for juices with a sweet taste. The food-grade VG Is derived from soy or palm oil in a process that splits the sugar alcohols of the plant extracts and those related to fatty oils. VG is commonly utilized as a food sweetener and a moisture preservative. It plays a key role in preventing toothpaste from drying out in its tube or ice crystals from forming in frozen yoghurt. The health benefits of VG have also been utilized in cough suppressants and heart medications. The combination of PG and VG makes the base ingredient for vape juice. VG is responsible for the visible clouds of vapor exhaled during vaping.
One of the concerns with vaping on VG is the fact that it vaporizes at a higher level than PG. This means that, theoretically, it’s possible to heat the juice so much that it starts melting the wicking material, which can then be inhaled as well. Although this is possible, it’s also highly unlikely. In normal vaping circumstances, you would feel your wick burning because that gives off a very unpleasant taste. Naturally, you would stop vaping and investigate the problem, finally replacing the burnt wick material. To be on the safe side, keep an eye on your vaping temperature when using high VG liquids– it’s better to be safe than sorry, as they say.
Learn more about VG: VG and PG Explained
Flavorings
PG/VG base mixture tends to occupy up to 90% of the entire vape juice, with the remaining percentage occupied by nicotine and flavorings (like strawberry, menthol, or something else). These are food-grade artificial flavors suspended in a PG base with some VG-based variations.
Please note that the flavors used in vape juice are safe to eat, but the level of their safety when heated and inhaled directly into the lungs cannot be guaranteed. This is because there is little to no scientific evidence explaining how they can interact with body cells. But then again, we know that tobacco is definitely bad for you… and some people still smoke! Plus, the amount of flavorings found in e liquids is 10 times less than there is in tobacco products.
Some flavors have been studied, like diacetyl, which creates a buttery flavor and was once popular in bakery-inspired vapes. It was used in the creation of artificial butter flavor added to microwave popcorn and has since been identified as a linked cause of some lung diseases and blood pressure issues. Most other flavoirings – and the amounts used in vaping – have very low toxicity and are not classed as harmful ingredients. Flavorings are also a deciding factor when it comes to the cost of vape juice.
Nicotine Extract
Although not all vapes contain nicotine, it is an important ingredient in vape juice. It is either added as nicotine salts and traditional or freebase nicotine. The use of nicotine provides a smoother feel in the throat and increases the rate of uptake by the body.
Because nicotine in vape juice is used as a quitting aid, 0 nic vape juice is also available. It can be used as the last step to lowering your nicotine intake for good. Other, higher nicotine strengths are used when vapers want to quit smoking. Higher nicotine level helps users ween themselves off cigarettes and on to e-cigarette use more easily.
Although nicotine is usually thought of as a harmful substance, new research shows that in and of itself it’s not too dangerous, and even has health benefits. For example, it’s now used in some experimental drugs to treat cognitive health problems.
Learn more about nicotine: All You Need to Know About Nicotine
Summary
Vape juice is a combination of vape juice base (PG and VG), nicotine extracts, and some sort of flavorings. There are no fatally toxic ingredients in here like in regular tobacco products. These base ingredients are helping millions of people to ditch cigarettes through vape pens… and they are one of the most effective cessation products on the market.
If you’re ready to give them a try yourself, check out our Mist vape pen!
The Best Home for Your Safe Vape Juice Ingredients
Start using the Mist today & join thousands of happy vapers around the world!
Click Here to Get Your Hands On the Award-Winning Mist Cart Vape
