Summer is now full blown throughout the northern hemisphere. Many weather analysts even say that temperatures would be above normal for places like Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Vancouver and Saskatoon in Canada, and that there would be more precipitation in areas near Toronto.
Across the United States, summer temperatures will be warmer than normal in all regions except parts of the mid-Atlantic and Southwestern United States. Rainfall will be below normal in most of the continent’s midsection, which may reduce yields of corn, wheat, soybeans, and other crops grown within this area. The drought in much of California will likely continue as well, putting additional stress on our food supply.
In Canada, temperatures will be warmer than average except for Vancouver Island in Canada. However, rainfall will be above normal from the Maritimes westward through Ontario, slightly above normal in the Prairies, and at or below normal elsewhere.
So, what do you do to cope with these abrupt changes in weather? Because it’s warmer than usual, here are a few suggestions to help you cool down while vaping.
#1: Let’s start with the obvious solution: drink iced beverages while enjoying one of your favorite e-juice flavors.
The pleasure of vaping while drinking coffee is an offshoot of smoking cigarettes while sipping a latte or cappuccino. But, what do vapers drink in summer when it’s too hot outside? It turns out iced coffee is not the only good option. You can have a tumbler of mint iced tea, a tall refreshing glass of lemonade, or an ice-cold beer – it doesn’t matter what flavor or brand you choose.
#2: Choose an e-juice flavor that contains mint, peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus or any menthol.
Peppermint essential oil contains significantly more menthol than spearmint or eucalyptus, but the choice of oil depends on your preferences. Some people like the scent of spearmint more than peppermint, or vice versa. All of these oils that contain menthol can help ease headaches and body pains. They’re also stimulants that can interrupt your sleep or prevent you from relaxing completely and falling asleep.
Rather than use essential oils, which must be diluted before mixing, try using hydrosols of these menthol ingredients.
A hydrosol is the aromatic water that remains after producing an essential oil via steam or water distillation. Some plants are specifically distilled for the resulting hydrosol instead of the hydrosol being simply a byproduct of the distillation.
Hydrosols are gently aromatic, soothing and are a wonderful addition to room mists and body sprays intended to help keep you cool and refreshed. Unlike essential oils that should be diluted prior to application to the skin, hydrosols are water soluble, are much more gentle than their essential oil counterparts and can be used directly on the skin without further dilution.
#3: If you’re planning to vape outdoors, choose a spot that’s protected by a large umbrella or a very leafy tree.
Vaping outside is a fine idea. Who knows, a breeze may blow through now and then to cool you off. And, a day at the beach isn’t complete without your vaping gear. However, vaping your favorite minty e-juice doesn’t help at all when you allow your hardware to get exposed to heat directly. Mods tend to overheat and batteries were known to melt when left steaming under the sun too long.
E-cigs all have one thing in common: they contain lithium ion batteries of one type or another. When heated past 100º F (38 C), the lithium ions in these batteries begin to form the metal itself, damaging the cell. As a result, the battery will hold progressively less and less charge. If you’ve been leaving your vaping equipment out in the direct sun, or inside a hot vehicle, don’t be surprised when the battery seems to go dead faster than before. Worse yet, if lithium ion batteries get REALLY hot, like in excess of 120º F, they can “go thermal,” meaning they rupture and explode!
#4: Bring along some ice in a cooler and store your e-liquid bottles in there.
Many e-juices contain miniscule amounts of table sugar or sucrose. The sugars and nicotine in e-liquids break down faster in the heat. Most e-juices turn dark when exposed to direct sunlight. This chemical process is called the Maillard Reaction.
Even though sucrose is not a reducing sugar, it easily breaks up into fructose and glucose when heated, and these take part in the Maillard reaction. When a sugar is applied to a surface that is exposed to heat, there will be a fine line between caramelization, which involves only sugars, and the formation of Maillard products. If the surface contains proteins or amino acids, both caramelization and Maillard products will be observed.
A typical temperature range of 230 to 340°F (110–170°C) is often cited as ideal for the Maillard reaction to proceed in the normal time frame.
Even when it’s just warm outside, don’t be surprised to see your e-juice slowly take on a darker hue the longer you are outdoors.
Contrary to popular belief, the Maillard reaction will also occur at lower temperatures. In vintage Champagne, autolyzed (inactive) yeast and sugars react to form Maillard products that yield a characteristic flavor profile. This reaction takes place in the cool chalk cellars of the Champagne district in France, where the temperature remains constant at 48 to 54°F (9–12°C) year round. Because of the low temperature, a much longer reaction time is needed, so the characteristic Maillard-influenced flavor is found only in aged Champagnes. If the temperature is increased, the reaction will proceed more quickly.
#5: Drink lots of water or juice to prevent dehydration.
Many people have mentioned this before: vaping can dehydrate you. Because it’s summer, you lose more fluids in your body through sweat. Avoid any problems with your health by drinking lots of water or juice this summer.
These tips aren’t all inclusive when it comes to cooling down on a hot summer’s day. Lots of people enjoy going to the beach or taking a dip in the swimming pool. Others are lucky to have an air-conditioning system at home or at the workplace. Whatever trick you’ve got up your sleeve this summer, make sure you’re vaping safely.
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