The Truth About Vaping: Science, Safety & Public Health with Dr. Paul Reynolds

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours  This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr Paul Reynolds about the effects of vaping on health, particularly its impact on inflammation, cancer risk, and pregnancy outcomes. Dr Reynolds, whose background is in lung development and disease, has been investigating how e-cigarettes influence inflammatory pathways, glycation, and long-term health risks. In this conversation, they discuss why breathing is more than just taking in oxygen and how air quality plays a critical role in overall health. Dr Reynolds explains glycation—how it damages the body—and how inflammation, often seen as a necessary defence mechanism, can sometimes do more harm than good. Mikki and Dr Reynolds delve into the chemicals found in e-cigarettes, comparing their inflammatory effects to traditional cigarettes. They explore whether vaping genuinely helps smokers quit or if it fosters new dependencies, as well as the risks of secondhand exposure and how vaping should be approached from a public health perspective. Dr Reynolds shares findings from his research on vaping during pregnancy, including its effects on foetal and placental weight, and the potential implications for conditions like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia. They also discuss how e-cigarette flavours—such as Red Hot and Green Apple—can influence cancer cell invasion and inflammation, raising questions about whether some flavouring compounds should be restricted. With vaping still largely unregulated in many areas, Dr Reynolds offers insights into where research should focus next, what policymakers need to consider, and whether vaping should be treated with the same caution as smoking. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the science behind vaping and its potential long-term health consequences. Enjoy the conversation! Dr Paul Reynolds is a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at Brigham Young University, with a research focus on lung development, pulmonary disease, and the effects of environmental exposures such as tobacco and vaping aerosols on respiratory health. He holds a PhD in Developmental and Molecular Biology from the University of Cincinnati and has conducted extensive research on pulmonary injury, oxidative stress, and inflammatory pathways. His work examines how vaping impacts lung function, foetal development, and cancer progression, with recent studies exploring the role of e-cigarette flavours and nicotine in inflammation and disease risk. Dr Reynolds has received multiple awards for his research and teaching, including the Parker B. Francis Fellowship in Pulmonary Research, and is an active member of organisations such as the American Physiological Society and the American Thoracic Society. Dr Paul https://cell.byu.edu/directory/paul-reynolds Contact Mikki: https://mikkiwilliden.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/ https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden