Disposable vapes like Elf Bar are immensely popular. But what does an Elf Bar actually do to your body? Here’s what science has to say on the matter…
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Elf Bar vapes, like any other kind of vape device, run on e-liquid, although in the context of Elf Bar and many other disposable vapes, they use nicotine salt e-liquid rather than freebase nicotine e-liquid. Nicotine Salt e-liquid, generally speaking, is smoother on the inhale and significantly stronger than more traditional, freebase e-liquids so you get more of a “hit”.
Disposable Vapes, Elf Bars & Gen Z
Disposables like Elf Bar are popular with Gen Z, ex-smokers, current smokers, and even people that have never smoked. Being popular always draws attention, and Elf Bar is currently under a lot of scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the pond.
With nicotine strengths ranging from 0 MG all the way up to 20 MG, Elf Bars cater to every type of vaper from those looking for the strongest possible hit to those that don’t want any nicotine whatsoever.
We know what nicotine does to the human body, we’ve known about its effects for years. But in case you need a catch-up, here’s the spark notes version if how nicotine affects the body.
How Nicotine Affects The Body
When nicotine enters the body, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and starts affecting the brain within 10-20 seconds. It stimulates the adrenal glands, which results in the release of adrenaline. This adrenaline rush stimulates the body, causing a release of glucose, as well as an increase in heart rate, breathing activity, and blood pressure.
Nicotine also stimulates the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in rewarding behaviors and the sensation of pleasure. This dopamine release is thought to be one of the main reasons nicotine is so addictive.
In the brain, nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This binding leads to increased levels of several neurotransmitters – chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells – including dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine.
High levels of these neurotransmitters increase the intensity of the nicotine “reward” and make nicotine a very addictive substance.
Nicotine also has a direct impact on the metabolism. It increases the metabolic rate, which can affect how the body processes sugars and fats. This can lead to weight loss, changes in appetite, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Nicotine withdrawal can cause a variety of symptoms, including cravings for nicotine, irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, increased hunger and weight gain, and problems sleeping.
It’s important to note that while nicotine itself is addictive and has several negative health effects, many of the health problems associated with smoking are caused by other chemicals in tobacco smoke, not nicotine itself.
For example, tar and carbon monoxide (both found in tobacco smoke) have been linked to lung and heart disease, respectively.
How Does Elf Bar Affect The Human Body?
As the last paragraph above highlights, nicotine by itself, while not entirely harmless, is not the most dangerous part of smoking – or the compound that causes cancer. Byproducts of burning tobacco, things like tar and carbon monoxide, are what causes cancer inside the human body after prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke over a period of decades or more.
And this isn’t just hyperbole from a vaping blog either; there’s plenty of science to back-up this sentiment, that nicotine, removed from tobacco products, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Here’s some research from RSPH:
Nicotine is harmful in cigarettes largely because it is combined with other damaging chemicals such as tar and arsenic, and as a highly addictive substance getting hooked on nicotine is one of the prime reasons why people become dependent on cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (gum, lozenges, and patches) contain nicotine but don’t contain the harmful substances found in cigarettes.
Alarmingly RSPH research reveals that 90% of the public still regard nicotine itself as harmful and the organisation is now calling for measures to promote safer forms of nicotine products to smokers and make it harder to use tobacco.
With Elf Bars, the main active ingredient inside the e-liquid they use is nicotine, specifically, nicotine salt e-liquid and, unlike cigarettes, there is no burning which means there is no carbon monoxide or any of the other noxious chemicals found in cigarettes.
The rest of the e-liquid composition is made up of VG and PG, as well as flavorings.
Furthermore, this is why Public Health England has maintained, since 2017, that vaping products are 97% safer than smoking and should, therefore, be promoted as the main tool for getting heavy smokers off of cigarettes.
Bottom line? Nicotine is addictive. Everybody knows this, and if you didn’t, well… I’d argue that you probably have more things to worry about than nicotine right now. If you’re a current smoker looking to quit, disposable vapes – while not ideal from an environmental standpoint – are no different from more traditional types of vaping products.
And Elf Bar vapes are about as good as it gets right now when it comes to disposable vapes.
Are they 100% safe? Probably not. But compared to cigarettes – and the effect they have on your body – vapes like Elf Bar are definitely the lesser of two evils.
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