Vaping is increasingly on the rise, especially with more people learning the benefits of cannabis. More people are now vaping cannabis as an alternative to smoking. Certainly, vaping is safer than smoking, but it also carries potential risks.
One of the leading causes of risks associated with vaping is the type of ingredients used in vape juice. Some vape juice manufacturers use chemicals that could be harmful to the body. Consequently, when buying vape juice, you should check the ingredients to ensure that they are safe.
If you are looking for the best vape juice in 2021, you should know the best ingredients to help you make an informed choice. But how do you know the best or the worst ingredients? It isn’t easy if you are not so vast in chemistry. But you don’t need any knowledge in chemistry because we have a list of the ingredients you need to avoid.
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Key Ingredients in Vape Juice
Every vape juice contains Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG) or both. These ingredients give the vape juice its smooth flavor, but they are mixed with other ingredients, including natural or artificial flavors, to give the user a unique, satisfying experience.
Both PG and VG are safe for human consumption and are common additives in food products and medicines. The best vape juice combines PG and VG even though each can be used independently. VG is too viscous, which makes it unsuitable for vaping, while PG is too light.
While PG and VG are safe, they may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. But apart from allergies, there is nothing of concern with PG and VG. So, what ingredients should you avoid in your vape juice?
Vape Juice Ingredients to Avoid
1. Diketones
When you taste your e-juice and notice that it has a creamy, buttery flavor, you are probably tasting diketones. This chemical is used in many food products to add flavor, but you will find it indicated on the label. The law does not require manufacturers to indicate on the label if the e-juice contains diketones like in food products. That’s why you will not see it on the label.
The other problem with diketone is that even if it’s indicated on the label, you will hardly notice. Diketones refers to a group of chemicals rather than one. This group comprises diacetyl, acetoin, and acetyl propionyl. Some manufacturers will indicate these chemicals, but many consumers do not know that they are diketones.
Long-term inhalation of diketones could be dangerous to your health. Diketones are associated with severe respiratory infections. Diacetyl is potentially the most dangerous diketones, and you should avoid vape juices that have it as an ingredient.
2. Cinnamon
Coumarin, the main chemical in cinnamon, could cause liver problems. This must be a surprise because you wonder why people use cinnamon as a spice if it’s dangerous. Well, cinnamon has significant health benefits, but the same chemical that gives it those benefits could be dangerous if taken in large amounts.
You probably don’t eat cinnamon in your food every day, and the amount in food is too little to cause any problems. But if you vape daily, then using e-juices with cinnamon could put your health at risk.
3. Vanillin
The vanilla flavor is common in e-juices. To acquire that vanilla flavor, manufacturers use vanillin, a flavoring chemical that is toxic if inhaled. Natural vanilla extract is rare and expensive, so manufacturers turn to synthetic vanillin.
Research shows that vanillin can cause cell death and lead to heart disease. Even when used in low levels, it can cause oxidative stress and trigger inflammatory marker interleukin-6. If the vape juice contains vanillin, it could cause damage to your heart over time.
4. Menthol
This is a shocking one because menthol is one of the most common flavors in vape juices. And vapers also like the cooling effect it offers, especially during long vaping sessions. But that soothing feel it gives could camouflage a deadly chemical.
Menthol is potentially toxic to epithelial cells. If you vape menthol-flavored e-juice for an extended period, it could increase cell death risk, especially bronchial cells.
5. Dimethyl Pyrazine
You probably have never heard about dimethyl pyrazine, but you certainly know the strawberry flavor. Shockingly, the chemical dimethyl pyrazine used to acquire the strawberry flavor can harm your heart cells. Pyrazine derivatives could also cause irritations of the upper respiratory tract.
You may not cause any harm to your body if you use these flavors occasionally. However, regular use could cause small damages that may manifest into serious health issues over time.
Conclusion
Most of the flavorings used in e-juices are widely used in the food industry. Some of these chemicals may not present safety concerns when ingested but could be dangerous if inhaled.
Consumers just know their favorite flavor but never check the ingredients that give these flavors. The next time you buy vape juice, check the label to ensure the ingredients are safe.
