E-cigarettes have become an increasingly popular way for people to quit smoking cigarettes. When people use vapes as a cessation aid, they avoid the major health issues caused by cigarettes while still being able to calm their nicotine cravings. But these days people aren’t just replacing cigarettes with vapes; they’re cutting out nicotine altogether and vaping with zero nicotine vapes.
Nicotine-free e-liquids and vapes are fairly new developments in the vaping scene, so there’s still a few questions and some uncertainty floating around about their safety. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on zero nicotine vaping to answer all your questions about the safety of nicotine free vape juice.
What is nicotine free vaping?
Nicotine free vaping is when you vape with an e-liquid that doesn’t contain any nicotine. For many people, the main appeal of vaping is the ability to enjoy nicotine without the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. However, not everyone wants to consume large amounts of nicotine in their vape juice, and some people may be trying to quit nicotine altogether.
Those who are trying to quit smoking will typically start with an e-liquid with a high nicotine strength and slowly reduce their nicotine intake until they can start vaping with nicotine-free e-liquid. Fortunately, there are now many options for zero nicotine vaping. E-liquids without nicotine are widely available and many of the vape devices themselves are completely identical to those used for vaping with nicotine.
Why do people vape without nicotine?
People vape without nicotine for several reasons. Some people are trying to quit smoking and view nicotine free vaping as a way to wean themselves off of cigarettes, especially if they have a long standing smoking habit. Others simply enjoy the act of vaping without the addition of nicotine. Nicotine free vaping has become increasingly popular in recent years, as people become more aware of the potential health risks associated with nicotine addiction.
Cloud-chasers often enjoy zero-nicotine vape juice. With high-powered sub-ohm vaping, it’s necessary to turn large amounts of e-liquid into vapour to create those huge clouds. Using a vape juice with nicotine for these purposes can lead to high amounts of nicotine entering the body, leading to unpleasant side effects. Therefore, many cloud-chasers will opt for a vape liquid without nicotine in order to enjoy the huge clouds without any harmful or addictive side effects.
How does nicotine affect the body?
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that is found in cigarettes and other tobacco products.
One of the most well-known properties of nicotine is how addictive it is. Research has shown that when nicotine enters the body, it increases the level of dopamine – a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure. This can lead to people becoming addicted to nicotine and needing higher and higher doses to get the same effect. Nicotine addiction can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and other health problems.
In addition, nicotine withdrawal can cause anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Moreover, nicotine has been shown to impair cognitive function and memory. As a result, nicotine addiction can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and mental health.
How do I vape without nicotine?
There are a few different ways you can go about zero nicotine vaping. The first one would be to use a nicotine-free e-liquid, such as shortfills, with your favourite vape kit.
If you’re familiar with direct-to-lung vaping you may have heard about shortfills. They’re a type of e-liquid that come in large bottles and contain no nicotine, with a bit of space left at the top of the bottle that allows you to mix in a nic shot. Many vapers choose to use these shortfills without mixing in any nicotine, allowing for a zero nicotine vaping experience. The fun thing about shortfills is that they’re available in a wide range of flavours such as Ohm Boy’s Caramel Latte on Ice, Zeus Juice’s The Black Ice (with extra menthol), and Flavour Treats’ Vanilla Custard Waffle.
There are also many different brands of nicotine-free disposable vapes available on the market, with industry giants such as Elf Bar and Geek Bar producing their own line of nicotine-free disposables. Disposables are especially great if you’re trying to quit smoking completely but are still in the habit of reaching for a cigarette or vape. With disposable vapes, you can throw them out as soon as their battery dies or they run out of e-liquid and easily purchase a new one. The hope is that one day, after slowly but surely reducing your nicotine consumption, you’ll be able to exclusively vape with nicotine-free disposable vapes or e-liquid.
What are the effects of vaping?
Vaping in itself isn’t as harmful as smoking cigarettes. In fact, vaping is seen as a much healthier alternative. Even if you’re vaping with an e-liquid that contains nicotine, you’ll still be avoiding the 250 known toxic chemicals present in cigarettes.
However, it’s important to note that there is still much we don’t know about vaping’s long-term effects on health. Part of the reason for this is that vaping is a relatively new phenomenon; it’s only been in the past decade or so that it has really taken off.
That said, there are some potential risks associated with vaping that we are aware of. For example, when you vape, you are inhaling a mixture of chemicals, including e-liquid (which usually contains food grade vegetable glycerine, propylene glycol, and other additives) and aerosolised metal from the heating element — aka the coil/atomiser. These chemicals can be harmful to your lungs and respiratory system; in fact, vaping has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Additionally, vaping can also lead to other problems such as COPD, bronchitis, and mouth ulcers.
Whilst very little conclusive evidence exists on the potential side effects associated with vaping, as vapers, we all have a responsibility to ourselves to ensure that we mitigate any potential risks. At Oxford Vapours, we believe that this starts from using only the highest quality vape kits and e-liquids – those that have been carefully designed and tested to ensure your safety. Make sure to only buy legal vape products from reputable brands and use a trustworthy vape shop when shopping either online or in person.
How safe is nicotine free vaping?
With all this in mind, let’s come back to the main question: is nicotine free vaping really safe?
While the jury is still out on the long-term health effects of vaping, most experts agree that it is much safer than smoking cigarettes. Disposable vapes and e-liquids do not contain the large number of toxic chemicals that cigarettes do. But just because you’re using nicotine-free e-liquid or a nicotine-free disposable vape, it doesn’t mean you’re completely avoiding any health risks.
As we’ve previously mentioned, e-liquids — even those that don’t contain nicotine — will consist of different chemicals, solvents, and flavourings. Inhaling vapour produced from these chemicals can be harmful to your lungs and overall physical health, especially if you have any pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma.
So although zero nicotine vapes are still significantly safer than smoking cigarettes or vaping with nicotine, we can’t guarantee that they will be 100% risk-free. If you’re considering vaping and you have any medical conditions, we recommend consulting your GP first. And as with anything, if you start to feel unwell, out of breath, or in pain, contact your GP or emergency medical services immediately.
Conclusion
Nicotine-free vaping has become an interesting talking point, both within and outside of the vaping scene. More vapers are starting to use zero nicotine disposable vapes or vape juice, with the hope that one day they’ll be able to kick their nicotine addiction for good. Nicotine-free vapes are great for this purpose and have proven to be an extremely helpful cessation aid.
However, like with all vapes we recommend you use them responsibly and safely in order to prevent any health issues. With proper usage, you’ll be able to vape safely with your favourite zero-nicotine e-liquid and start your journey into your new nicotine-free lifestyle.
Ready to get started with nicotine free vaping? Browse our wide range of zero nicotine vape liquids to find your new favourite flavours. Or, if you’re trying to kick the nicotine habit but still want something more from your e-liquid, try some of the Darwin CBD disposable vapes to enjoy a satisfying, non-addictive vaping experience.