I thought you might ask that. While smoking is bad for you, smoking electronic cigarettes is a much healthier smoking alternative.

Because there is no fire, no tobacco, and no real smoke, there is no second hand smoke and none of those pesky 4000 mystery substances found in cigarettes (except the nicotine that is.)

There is the brilliant question of the day. The cartridges in the electronic cigarette contain 4 ingredients. Nicotine, water, flavor, and Propylene Glycol.

While nicotine is the addictive substance found in cigarettes, it is not a carcinogen. That's right. It is not really the worst thing in the cigarettes. It is all that other gunk added.

Nicotine is found naturally in other vegetables. It is in the nightshade family of plants. Sure, it is used as a pesticide - but that is for BUGS! So that humans can eat the yummy plants! Nicotine is in tomato and potato and there is even some in califlower. People who don't even smoke can be tested positive for nicotine - depending on their diet.

I think we can all agree, water is not bad for you. That is unless you drink too much in a contest to win something like that time on that radio show. But sitting in a steam room will give you much more water inhalation than the electronic cigarette.

The flavor or essence added is to give that tobacco like flavor. The primary flavor is like tobacco, but new flavors are coming out like apple and strawberry. These are geared more toward the cigar and pipe smokers - but why should they have all the fun?

Here is the tricky one. Propylene Glycol or PG. This is a substance found naturally. It is currently approved by the FDA and considered GRAS (generally recognized as safe). It is found in in toothpaste, make-up, and even some foods.

PG is found in the smoke machines too, but there are currently no long term studies on the inhalation. Anyway, that is what gives the smoke like look. It is not smoke, but just a vapor.

China has always been associated with small gadgets and interesting technology.

Known for the Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world, we can now also thank China for the birth of the electronic cigarette.

Golden Dragon Group Ltd kick-started it with Runyan, and shortly spread out to plenty of nations. It did not take long for other brands to develop, and for this device to finally make it's debut In America. The technology essentially goes back to 2003.

Before the year 2k there were approximately 350 million smokers in China. China used about one 3rd of the worlds tobacco supplies.

With a rising threat facing their own folks, one can simply see the must have to form a satisfactory alternative.

It's too new in the game for the electronic cigarette. It is hard to tell if this is something that will help smokers and if they will adapt to this technology.

One thing is certain, it is healthier for those around the smoker. That alone is reason enough for every smoker to consider trying an electronic cigarette.

For more information and some of the latest news on the e-cig, please be sure to visit http://electronicigarette.net