Originally, vaping was invented to allow people to inhale nicotine while avoiding the carcinogenic properties of smoking traditionally. And, while vaping has been wildly successful in helping smokers kick the habit, even vapers are aware of the fact that it still isn’t healthy to be vaping high nicotine strengths regularly. Although it has been proven to not be carcinogenic, nicotine is still a stimulant that increases blood pressure and heart rate.
So, how can you continue vaping while still being mindful of your nicotine consumption?
This article will cover nicotine-free vape juice and how you can use it. We'll also list the pros and cons of this type of vaping.
What Is Nicotine-Free Vaping?
This is self-explanatory; nicotine-free vaping means vaping without nicotine using a nicotine-free e-liquid. It's an excellent option for vaping enthusiasts who want to be mindful of their nicotine consumption or former smokers tackling a nicotine addiction. Further than this though, it is a great way to enjoy many of the fantastic flavours that the world of e-liquids have to offer.
How Do You Vape without Nicotine?
You can vape without nicotine by using an e-liquid that does not contain any. This liquid can be used in your e-cigarette; it is vaporised and then inhaled when used. Typically this is a blend of water, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and flavourings.
Most nicotine-free vapers use a sub-ohm kit with a shortfill. These are bottles of e-liquid that have no nicotine in them. Usually available in 50ml, 100ml, or even 150ml quantities, shortfills are so named because they contain a little space at the top of the bottle to add a shot of nicotine if you so choose. However, there is no requirement to add nicotine and they can easily be vaped nicotine-free.
Pros of Nicotine-Free Vaping
So what are the upsides of using these zero-nicotine blends instead of those that contain nicotine? Well, there are a few benefits to consider:
No Risk of Addiction
The issue with nicotine is that it's an addictive chemical; in fact, it's well-agreed in the medical community that most smokers persist with their nicotine intake solely because they're addicted to it. That's why choosing vaping over smoking can be a very effective smoking cessation tool.
There's no risk of getting addicted to any of the substances included in a nicotine-free vape, as they're merely food-grade ingredients. And they're frankly quite enjoyable: curiously, zero-nicotine vape juice has helped vaping enthusiasts everywhere reduce their sugar consumption just because it satisfies a sweet tooth.
Kick the snack habit
Because as we've already mentioned, vaping can help satisfy a sweet tooth, and it can help you reduce snacking. You can deal with sugar cravings just by using your vape when you feel the urge to grab that chocolate bar or packet of M&Ms.
Better Flavour Experience
Getting rid of the nicotine frees up your vaping experience so you can enjoy flavours to the full without any dilution by nicotine. Vape juice is extremely flavourful and comes in various flavours, such as plain vanilla, caramel, ice cream, jam, maple syrup, oats, and others: there are hundreds out there to try!
Zero nicotine vaping solely with flavours offers users a way to enjoy the experience of the flavour to the full.
Nicotine-Free Vapes Can Cost Less
It's sometimes cheaper to purchase zero-nicotine e-liquid than to buy e-liquids with nicotine. So along with being overall healthier for you, easier to tolerate, helping you snack less, and even being suitable for stopping smoking (which we'll explain in detail in our next point), it’s a cost-effective option.
Effective Smoking Cessation Aid
Non-nicotine vape juice can effectively separate you from a smoking addiction by acting as a great placebo. It's known to satisfy cravings by tricking the brain into thinking it's receiving a dose of nicotine (because you're still vaping, just without any of the stimulant).
While it won't rid you of all the nicotine withdrawals such as fatigue, headache and anxiety, it'll undoubtedly help you ride out these symptoms and potentially lessen their severity.
You can either use zero-nicotine vapes to quit cold turkey or start by using nicotine-containing e-liquid and slowly lower the levels over time until you’re vaping nicotine-free. It's up to you: you have to do what works for you and your body.
Nicotine-Free Vaping Allows You to Practise Tricks
While this point might seem silly compared to what we've already mentioned, using a nicotine-free vape can open up a whole new activity for you.
Here's the thing, you can't comfortably use nicotine repeatedly to practise these tricks because, eventually, it'll get a bit harsh on your throat and your system as a whole.
However, practising tricks with just vape juice is much easier, and once you've mastered the skill, making o-rings and manipulating vape clouds can be a lot of fun to show off to your friends, and in general, it's a cool "parlour trick". It may even impress your colleagues: and speaking of work:
You Can Get a Negative Nicotine Test
Employers can require prospective employers to take nicotine tests in certain parts of the world and refuse to hire someone solely because they test positive. That's one of the many reasons you might want to consider quitting nicotine altogether and not just cigarettes.
Cons of Nicotine-Free Vaping
There are some cons of nicotine-free e-liquid, although they're not particularly problematic. Nevertheless, we feel they're worth mentioning. Here are the primary ones we were able to determine:
Less Satisfying Throat Hit
When using zero-nicotine vape juices, you may not get as satisfying a throat hit. This is the feeling you get when you inhale the vapour and it hits the back of your throat. Essentially, without nicotine, that throat hit isn't the same. Some people, especially former smokers, enjoy the harshness as part of the experience.
But all hope is not lost: the trick is to find a non-nicotine vape that'll deliver the right throat hit. There are numerous vape kits that you can consider when looking for one that's right for you and that'll give you the right throat hit. One way is to opt for a zero nicotine e-liquid with a higher PG ratio which can imitate this sensation.
Quitting Smoking Without Any Nicotine Can be Difficult
The other major downside of switching from cigarettes to nicotine-free e-liquid is that the nicotine cravings can be a challenge at first. While the act and sensation of vaping may help by providing a placebo effect or a distraction, it’s likely that former smokers will still find themselves craving a cigarette, or some form of nicotine. However, it’s worthwhile to wait the cravings out – eventually they will go away and you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier nicotine-free life.
FAQs
Can nicotine-free vapes harm you?
Nicotine-free vapes could be harmful in some ways, but that's the case with anything in life. Vaping without nicotine can be much better for you than vaping with nicotine as the latter exposes you to addiction. Nicotine-free vaping also helps you avoid problems down the line such as hypertension and other issues due to the stimulant effect of nicotine.
How often should I vape in a day?
This is a difficult question to answer; the thing is, it depends on a multitude of factors. You need to find the vaping frequency that works best for you. For example, a few puffs every couple of hours might be enough for you, or you might choose to vape only on weekends; it's entirely up to you. If there’s no nicotine in your vape you don’t have to worry about accidentally consuming too much and feeling unwell. This means you can vape frequently without worries.
What is the safest vape to use?
The safest vapes to use are nicotine-free e-liquids contained in pod systems or disposable vape kits: they're low-powered and have features such as safety cut-offs to prevent overheating. In addition, they're straightforward to use.
Is it healthier to vape or smoke?
Vaping is much less harmful than smoking as it avoids many carcinogenic substances produced and inhaled when smoking cigarettes. Even secondhand smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals, with hundreds toxic to humans. Seventy of them even cause cancer. Public Health England has called vaping ‘95% less harmful than smoking’ as a result.
What happens when you quit smoking and start vaping?
When you quit smoking and start vaping, within 24 hours, your body will get rid of any residual carbon monoxide in your system. Your lungs will also begin to detoxify, getting rid of mucus and debris that built up during the time you were smoking.
Does vaping help you sleep?
If you're vaping with nicotine, your vape can actually disrupt your sleep as you've now inhaled a stimulant. On the other hand, vaping e-juice that does not contain nicotine will not affect your sleep. Vaping might make you feel more relaxed, but purely on a psychological level.
Conclusion
Nicotine-free vaping can be a great way to enjoy your vape without any of the potentially addictive nicotine. Why not try it today using some of our favourite nicotine-free shortfills?
