How Many Calories Are in a Vape?

The question of whether there are calories in a vape has intrigued many vaping enthusiasts. With so many flavours to choose from—ranging from rich desserts to fruity blends—it’s understandable to wonder if these might add to your daily calorie intake. Here, we’ll clarify the facts about the calories in disposable vape juice, its ingredients, and whether it can affect your weight.

What Is in Vape Juice?

To understand the potential calories in vapes, it’s essential to look at the components found in vape juice. The primary ingredients include:

Vegetable Glycerin (VG)

Vegetable Glycerin (VG) is a sweet, thick liquid found in many e-liquids, food products, and medicines. It contains around 4 calories per gram, but since it’s inhaled when vaping, the body absorbs very little. Thus, VG’s caloric contribution through vaping is negligible and won’t affect weight.

Propylene Glycol (PG)

Propylene Glycol (PG) is a key ingredient in e-liquids, providing about 4 calories per gram. It serves as a tasteless, thinner base that balances with VG to create smooth vapor. Although PG contains calories, when inhaled, the body barely absorbs them, making its impact on weight negligible.

Flavourings and Sweeteners

Flavourings in e-liquids typically contain small amount of calories, especially with the use of artificial sweeteners. E-liquids with natural sweeteners or sugar may have slightly more calories, but the overall impact remains negligible for daily intake.

Nicotine

Flavourings and Nicotine doesn’t add calories but acts as an appetite suppressant, reducing hunger and influencing eating habits. This can lead to indirect weight changes, often causing reduced food intake. After quitting nicotine, appetite may increase, potentially leading to weight gain as normal hunger signals return.

Can Calories Be Absorbed by Vaping?

The short answer is: hardly at all. Most calories in a vape come from VG and PG, but since these ingredients are inhaled, the body doesn’t absorb them in the same way as it does food or drink. The common theory is that the calories in vape juice are exhaled, much like breathing in and out.

Theory #1: Calories Cannot Be Absorbed via Inhalation

When using disposable vapes or any device with e-liquid, the general belief is that the body cannot absorb calories from vaping. Since inhalation bypasses the digestive system, the calorie count from the e-liquid is too minimal to be absorbed in a meaningful way. The lungs are not equipped to burn calories or process nutrients.

Theory #2: Some Calories Might Be Absorbed

There is a small possibility that some calories from a bottle of e-liquid might be absorbed through contact with the throat or mouth. However, only around 5-10% of these calories are absorbed, which equates to just 7.5-15 calories from a typical 30ml bottle—negligible in terms of overall calorie count.

Do Vape Calories Matter?

When comparing electronic cigarette calories to everyday items, the calories in vape juice are negligible. A 30ml bottle of vape juice typically contains around 150 calories, or roughly 10 calories per ml, but you would need hundreds of puffs to consume the entire amount. Most people use one bottle over several days, so its impact on your weight and daily calorie intake is minimal.

Does Vaping Affect Your Weight?

Switching from smoking to vaping can influence weight control, as nicotine suppresses appetite, potentially leading to losing weight. While vape juices do contain calories, they are minimal, and behaviors like replacing snacks while vaping might affect weight control. The ingredients in vape juice generally don’t contribute significantly to calorie intake, but changes in eating habits might have a slight impact on your weight.

Comparing Vape Juice Calories to Common Foods

To give perspective, the calories in a 30ml bottle of vape juice might be similar to those in a can of soda. However, while you might drink soda quickly, it takes several days to finish a 30ml bottle, meaning the calories are spread out. Additionally, the body barely absorbs calories through the lungs, making their effect on weight negligible.

Conclusion

CConsidering the connection between vaping and calories, it’s safe to say that the minimal calories found in a vape device are insignificant. If you’re wondering if vaping contributes to weight gain, the answer is no; the body absorbs calories from vaping in such small amounts that it doesn’t lead to noticeable changes. The few calories you inhale while vaping are not enough to cause weight gain. Instead, nicotine’s appetite-suppressing effects may have a more direct impact on weight control.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do all vape juices have calories?

Yes, all vape juices contain calories due to VG and PG, but the amount is minimal—about 5 calories per ml.

Can vaping replace a meal or snack?

No, vaping does not provide any nutritional value and should not be used as a substitute for meals.

Does nicotine contribute to caloric intake?

Nicotine itself has no caloric content but may reduce appetite, indirectly influencing overall calorie consumption.

Are sugar-containing vape juices higher in calories?

E-liquids with sugar may have slightly more calories, but the difference is still trivial.

Can vaping lead to weight gain?

The negligible calories in vaping mean it is unlikely to cause weight gain. However, lifestyle factors have a more significant impact.