UAE
Do you need to avoid gluten in your life? We take a look at whether vaping is suitable for those avoiding gluten and if E-Liquids are normally gluten free.
Does Your E-Liquid Contain Gluten? Gluten Free Vaping
Is there gluten in E-Liquids? What you need to look out for.
For some, gluten is the bane of their existence, for others it’s a fad phrase prompted by overzealous fitness gurus. Gluten is the compound commonly found in wheat, barley and rye so first thing that comes to mind is of course, bread and pasta, but you’d be surprised where gluten can be found. Are there some vapers who need to be cautious about what they vape?
Who needs to watch out for gluten?
Wheatgerm, rye, barley and malt are just some of the surprise gluten elements that can be found in things such as pre-made meat products, drinks such as beer and even cordials, cosmetics and flavourings. Those who are sensitive to gluten, or those with the auto-immune coeliac disease, must follow a strict gluten free life to avoid unpleasant side effects and long-lasting problems.
Although most believe that such people only need to be wary of gluten in their food, there is some research that suggests otherwise. A study on farmers that tested positive for coeliac disease, worked in an enclosed space feeding cattle barley, wheat, corn and other ingredients, noted severe responses to the gluten. Similarly, other studies have noted that inhalation of gluten from particles in the air often create the symptoms of having ingested gluten.
So, why can this trigger symptoms? The answer is quite simple, when you inhale particles containing gluten, they can become trapped in your saliva and nasal passages, entering the mucous membrane, and then further travelling to your intestinal tract where the reaction takes place.
Are E-Liquids gluten free?
For coeliacs and gluten intolerant smokers looking to quit cigarettes, vaping would obviously be a fitting option but even this can cause worry for those needing to avoid gluten. There are countless comments on the internet regarding vapers in these situations experiencing symptoms of being ‘glutened’. Are E-Liquids to blame?
We know that PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine) are naturally gluten free products, but there are some flavours you need to watch out for. Any flavours that are smoke or malt should of course be avoided as they’re likely to include barley in the flavourings. There are even flavours nowadays that replicate the flavour of bread and beer which, as you probably could guess, should also be avoided as they’re likely to include rye.
Manufacturers of E-Liquids should be able to advise whether their flavours are gluten free, so if in doubt, you can contact them to double check.
Some of the common concerns/side effects felt by those new to vaping
Is there anything else that could potentially cause problems? Some users still report issues after trying to vape only VG and PG, but there is a possibility that this is not necessarily the ‘glutened’ response, but something similar.
Too much nicotine or too high a strength can result in some side effects similar to being ‘glutened’, aptly called Nic-sic. If you’re new to vaping it can be easy to accidentally pick a strength too high for your needs or vape too much, as nicotine from vaping tends to be less and hit slower than cigarettes. These symptoms can include nausea or vomiting, stomach-ache and headache, increased heart rate and blood pressure
For those with problems like coeliac disease, there is a likelihood of other sensitivities and intolerances developing. There is a possibility you could be sensitive to either PG or VG. You could try vaping 100% PG and 100% VG to see if the symptoms persist, but these ratios don’t tend to create an ideal vape.
If you are having problems with vaping and find you’re getting unwanted side effects or symptoms, you should seek advice from your GP. They will be able to help either narrow down the list of culprits or potentially advise you to see other quit-smoking alternatives.
How Pod Salt can help
If you need to vape gluten free E-Liquids, we are happy to confirm that our 10ml Nic Salts and Pod Salt Go 600 devices are gluten free. We use only the highest grade of flavourings for our award winning Nic Salts to ensure a premium quality. With Pod Salt you can enjoy quality flavours alongside our premium Nicotine Salt recipe tailored especially for smokers looking to quit. If you have any queries on whether a Pod Salt product may be suitable for you, feel free to contact us for more information.
