what nicotine levels for your box?
Introduction
Those who want to get rid of the harmful effects of smoking, but can't give up the addiction caused by nicotine, can greatly benefit from using nicotine-enriched vaporizers and e-liquids.
On the market today, there are two types of e-liquid with nicotine, the classic (as offered in boxes) known as "Free Base" and nicotine salts or "Nic Salt". The differences between the two types are also quite significant. Want to know more about nicotine-containing e-liquids, the differences between nicotine types and how to choose the best one for your profile? Read on!
What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a substance found in certain plants and used by these plant species to defend themselves from herbivorous animals. It acts as a pesticide, preventing other animals from eating the plant. It's not just found in tobacco, as many people think. In fact, it's found in vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower and broccoli.
Eggplants, for example, contain a high concentration of nicotine. Did you know that the consumption of a single cigarette is equivalent to that of 10 kg of eggplants? In other words, the nicotine concentration in most plants is very low.
When nicotine is consumed in large quantities, it provokes two-phase reactions, stimulating one moment and relaxing the next.
The brain quickly becomes accustomed to the substance and begins to expect it, leading to addiction. The consumption of nicotine by conventional cigarettes is proven to be dangerous, as the presence of tar and carbon dioxide in high concentrations is a factor that increases the risk of cancer throughout the body.
Thanks to nicotine-containing vaporizers and e-liquids, however, it's possible to live with nicotine addiction without suffering the harmful effects of the other substances found in traditional cigarettes.
What are the different types of nicotine e-liquid?
There are essentially two types of nicotine: "free base" and "Nic Salt". Find out the difference between the two in the sections below:
Free base nicotine:
Until recently, e-liquid with nicotine free base was the only one used in the e-liquids. However, its effects are often insufficient for some people. Conventional cigarettes deliver much more nicotine than e-cigarettes, which is absorbed much more quickly.
Nic Salt nicotine:
Nic's salt, on the other hand, is not as easy to vaporize and has poor absorption by the body. All this has been solved by the development of a technique that uses benzoic acid to make Nic salt not only vaporizable, but also more easily absorbed by the body.
The change has been so significant that it has created a whole new market for products developed exclusively for the consumption of this type of nicotine, whose leading exponent is Juul, who is now a billionaire after conquering over 70% of the American market.
New devices, dubbed "pods", have been developed, and their low wattage has enabled Nic Salt to be used at concentrations of 20 mg and even 50 mg. This may sound like a lot, but given its absorption characteristics, these levels become ideal for a consumption and experience closer to that of conventional cigarettes.
How much nicotine does an e-liquid contain?
The answer to this question is: it depends on the e-liquid used. Is it Free Base nicotine or Nic Salt?
Free base nicotine e-liquids can have nicotine concentrations ranging from 1.5 mg to 12 mg.
Nic Salt e-liquids, on the other hand, can have much higher nicotine concentrations, up to 50 mg. In Europe, legislation limits the level to 20mg/ml.
The right dosage for you will depend very much on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day, and the extent of your nicotine dependence.
If you smoke much more than a pack a day, the ideal is to use e-liquids with Free Base nicotine at higher concentrations, close to 10 mg, or pods and Nic Salt at medium concentrations, 20 mg or more.
If you have one pack or less, choose the free nicotine base with the lowest concentrations. LiquidBox does not offer nicotine salts, but a very wide choice of classic nicotine.
Is nicotine e-liquid bad for you?
Many people who start using e-cigarettes to give up smoking conventional cigarettes are asking themselves this question: is nicotine e-liquid bad for your health?
For smokers of traditional cigarettes, the use of e-liquids containing nicotine, whether Free Base or Nic salt, is considerably less harmful than traditional cigarettes. The latter contain at least 4700 substances harmful to the body, while nicotine e-liquids are limited to around 3 substances. On the other hand, for a person who has never smoked a cigarette and is not addicted to nicotine, the ideal is never to use nicotine in vape, as it is a highly chemically addictive substance.
In conclusion
As we've seen, there are essentially two types of nicotine that can be used in e-liquids: classic nicotine (known as freebase) and nicotine salts (Nic Salt). The effects of nicotine are well known, and its use is recommended as part of smoking cessation.
Remember, if you've never smoked cigarettes and you're not addicted to nicotine, then never use nicotine in your vape, as it's a highly addictive substance, so choose nicotine-free e-liquid boxes.