Vaping’s impact on overall health and potential weight gain is widely debated. With misinformation running rampant, this definitive guide dives into the key question: does vaping have calories? Read on for science-backed answers.
What is Vaping?
First, let’s cover the basics on what exactly vaping is and how it works[1].
Vaping refers to battery-powered devices, known as electronic cigarettes, that heat and aerosolize a liquid mixture for users to inhale as an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. These vaping devices contain:
- A heating element called an atomizer
- A power source like a rechargeable battery
- A small tank or pod system to hold the vaping liquid
The vaping liquids used typically contain:
- Vegetable glycerin (VG) – A plant-based thickener
- Propylene glycol (PG) – Provides a “throat hit”
- Flavorings – For tastes like fruit, desserts, etc.
- Nicotine (optional) – Delivered without smoke, tar, or carbon
Now let’s analyze if these standard vaping liquid ingredients themselves contribute any calories or does vaping have calories?
Do Vaping Liquids Themselves Contain Calories?
To determine if vaping introduces calories directly, we must analyze the ingredients found in standard vaping e-liquids:
Typical Vape Juice Ingredients
- Vegetable glycerin (VG)
- Propylene glycol (PG)
- Flavorings
- Nicotine (optional)
Does vaping have calories? The primary factors – vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavorings – contain virtually no calories by themselves.
For reference, consuming a full tablespoon of pure VG or PG equates to under 20 calories. And flavorings are added in very small concentrates. Additionally, nicotine has no calories whether ingested or within vaping liquids.
So all evidence points to the standard vape juice itself containing at best trace amounts of calories per puff. Especially when you consider an average vaping session uses well under a tablespoon of e-liquid.
Vaping Liquid Calories vs Cigarettes
| Product | Approx. Calories |
|---|---|
| 30ml Bottle Vape Juice | 0-5 calories |
| 1 Cigarette | 10-15 calories |
Additionally, cigarettes contain over 7,000 other chemicals, many of which are formally listed toxins and carcinogens.
So vaping liquids represent an exponentially safer alternative calorie-wise. However cigarettes can still increase appetite and food consumption more aggressively.
Can Vaping Lead to Increased Calorie Intake?
While vaping liquids themselves may not contain significant calories, emerging research shows vaping can lead to downstream behaviors that promote weight gain through increased eating.
Oral Fixation Theory
Some studies point to vaping replacing the physical habit of smoking. So while not directly caloric, vaping can become an obsessive oral fixation leading to increased food cravings and snacking behaviors to occupy mouth and hands.
Effects on Sense of Taste
Additional research shows some vaping flavors and concentrated nicotine liquids can temporarily dull users’ taste buds. Fading sense of taste is closely linked to overeating behaviors in efforts to experience stimulation and satisfaction from food.
Impact on Appetite
For a small subset of users, vaping directly stimulates appetite and food cravings, especially when vaping sweet or savory flavored liquids. Much like how smelling food cooking can trigger increased hunger despite no direct calorie intake.
So for certain populations, the secondary effects of vaping such as oral fixations and appetite stimulation can lead to excess food consumption and weight gain.
Research on Vaping and Eating Behaviors
Recent promising studies on vaping’s downstream impacts show mixed results[2]:
- A Yale study found vaping sweet-flavored e-liquids significantly increased calorie intake during group meals compared to unsweetened tobacco flavors.
- However an NIH study using artificial sweeteners as a replacement found no increase in food cravings or consumption for sweet-flavored vaping.
- A 2022 clinical trial noted short-term increases in hunger and desire to eat after vaping, pointing to oral fixations as the cause.
- Yet other researchers found no link between vaping and measured metabolic health markers like body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage when accounting for other lifestyle factors.
So more research is still needed to reach scientific consensus. Initial evidence suggests certain situations like flavor profiles and individual personality traits may influence increased eating behaviors after vaping sessions.
The Verdict: Does Vaping Have Calories?
Given the currently available research, the verdict is:
Vaping liquids themselves do not contain meaningful calories or directly cause weight gain.
The base ingredients in vape juices – vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and flavorings – carry no significant caloric value or carbs. Even pure liquid nicotine does not contribute nutritional intake.
However, downstream behavioral side effects linked to vaping like intensified urge to snack can indirectly increase calorie consumption through excess food intake in certain scenarios.
While not universally causal, the emerging research needs to be further analyzed regarding connections between vaping, spikes in appetite, and increased eating for some populations under specific conditions.
Does vaping have calories? – vaping without a change in eating habits does not represent a significant source of calories or weight gain on its own. But more research is still required analyzing the indirect behavioral variables and individual biological responses.
For now we can definitively state that vaping itself does not directly cause any meaningful calories or guaranteed weight changes positive or negative.
Yet influencing behavior related to oral fixations, appetite stimulation, or intensified cravings can potentially lead to increased snacking and calories absorbed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to Does Vaping Have Calories? article:
Does vaping make you hungry?
For some users, yes – vaping can stimulate appetite and food cravings, especially when inhaling sweet flavors. Oral fixations replacing cigarette habits may also lead to increased snacking for mouth stimulation.
Do vape juices contain sugar or carbs?
No. Vegetable glycerin and artificial flavorings contain no sugar or carbs. Pure nicotine as found in some vaping liquids also does not increase blood sugar or provide carbs.
Can vaping help lose weight?
Vaping is not an effective or medically recommended weight loss strategy. Replacing cigarette smoking with vaping can possibly help some users eat less. But vaping itself does not reliably burn calories or suppress appetite. Consulting a doctor is best for managing weight issues.
Does 0mg vape juice have calories?
No. The base components in 0mg nicotine vaping liquids – VG, PG, and flavors – represent no significant calorie intake per puff. So 0mg vape juice has at best trace amounts equaling less than 5 calories.
Does Vaping Cause a Sore Throat?
Yes, vaping can sometimes cause sore throats. Common causes include PG sensitivity, dehydration, or applying too much heat from high wattages. Staying hydrated, using higher VG liquids, and lowering device power can help. Throat irritation from vaping tends to be temporary for most users.
Can vaping help me quit smoking?
For some people, yes – switching to vaping can help quit cigarette smoking. The nicotine satisfaction and oral fixation can prevent relapse cravings. But willpower and gradually lowering nicotine levels is still vital. Combining vaping with other resources maximizes success quitting smoking long-term.
Is vaping cheaper than smoking?
Generally, yes – vaping has lower long-term costs compared to smoking traditional cigarettes. But the upfront costs of devices and accessories requires higher initial vaping investments. Over time, money saved on buying cigarette packs adds up substantially.
Does vaping have calories?
The straightforward answer is no, vaping does not significantly contribute to your caloric intake. While the primary ingredients in vape juice – propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) – do contain calories, their method of consumption through inhalation makes the caloric intake negligible. When these substances are vaporized and inhaled, the body does not metabolize them in the same way it would if they were ingested. Therefore, the caloric impact of vaping is minimal and not a concern for those monitoring their calorie intake.
