How to Understand Calories in Vapes
Vaping has become a common alternative to smoking, often praised for its smoother experience and wide flavor variety. But a question many health-conscious users ask is, “Do vapes have calories?” This guide will break down everything you need to know about calories in vape products, including how they work, what they contain, and whether they impact your diet.
Do Vapes Have Calories?
Yes, but it’s complicated. Vapes do have calories, but not in the traditional sense of food or drinks. Most e-liquids contain vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG)—both of which have a small number of calories. However, when inhaled, your body does not metabolize these calories the same way it does when you eat or drink them. So, does vaping have calories? Technically, yes. But those calories rarely affect your body in any meaningful way.
How Many Calories in a Vape?
Let’s get specific. A typical 1 mL of vape juice contains about 4 to 5 calories. Most of those calories come from the VG, which has about 4.3 calories per gram. PG has even fewer—about 4.1 calories per gram. If you’re vaping 2–3 mL per day, that’s only around 10–15 calories total. So, if you’re wondering how many calories are in a vape, the answer is very few. The amount is so small that it doesn’t make a difference in your daily caloric intake.
Are There Calories in Vapes?
You might still be wondering, are there calories in vapes if you’re not ingesting them? The answer is yes—but they’re inhaled, not eaten. When you vape, you’re not consuming the liquid directly; you’re inhaling the vaporized form. This limits your body’s ability to absorb those calories. In other words, are there calories in vapes? Yes. But those calories aren’t processed the same way as food, so they have little to no impact on weight gain.
Does Vaping Have Calories That Affect Weight?
This is the real concern for many people. They ask, Does vaping have calories that cause weight gain? Here’s the truth: the calories in vape juice are negligible and do not lead to fat storage or weight gain. Your body does not absorb them efficiently through the lungs. Vaping doesn’t add to your daily caloric intake in a way that would affect your weight. If you’re dieting or counting calories, you don’t need to track how many calories are in a vape. The numbers are too small to matter.
Where Do These Calories Come From?
Most e-liquids contain three main ingredients:
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Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
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Propylene Glycol (PG)
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Flavorings and Nicotine (optional)
Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
VG is a sugar alcohol derived from plant oils. It tastes sweet and creates thick vapor. VG is where most calories in vape juice come from. Even then, you’re not likely to absorb many.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
PG is a synthetic liquid that helps deliver flavor and throat hit. It contains fewer calories than VG and evaporates more quickly.
Flavorings
Flavorings add taste, but they usually exist in tiny amounts. Their calorie content is negligible.
Do Vapes Have Calories from Nicotine?
Nicotine itself has no calories. That means nicotine-based vapes do not contribute to your calorie intake from that specific ingredient. So, if you ask, do vapes have calories from nicotine? The answer is a clear no.
Are Flavored Vapes Higher in Calories?
Flavored vapes might seem like they contain more calories due to their taste, especially dessert or candy flavors. But even sweet flavors like vanilla custard or strawberry cheesecake contain almost no measurable calories. So, how many calories are in a vape with flavoring? The difference is too small to matter.
Vaping vs. Eating: Calorie Comparison
Let’s put this into perspective:
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1 slice of bread: ~80 calories
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1 soda can: ~140 calories
You’d need to vape more than 15–20 mL a day to even come close to the calorie content in a small snack. Unless you’re chain vaping extreme amounts, calories in vape will not impact your weight or health the way regular food does.
Is There a Caloric Difference Between Devices?
Whether you’re using a disposable vape, vape pen, or mod, the ingredients in the e-liquid remain the same. So, the calories in vape devices are identical per mL of juice used. What matters is how much you vape, not what you use.
Does Vaping Break a Fast?
This is a hot topic, especially among intermittent fasting followers. Most experts agree that because the caloric content of vape juice is so low, vaping doesn’t break a fast in any meaningful way. Still, if you’re following a strict zero-calorie fast, it’s best to avoid flavored vapes with sweeteners. But generally, vaping during fasting won’t trigger an insulin response or stop fat burning.
FAQs:
1. Do vapes have calories?
Yes, but the calories are too low to impact your health or diet.
2. How many calories are in a vape?
About 4–5 calories per mL of vape juice.
3. Are there calories in vapes with nicotine?
Nicotine contains zero calories. The calories come from VG and PG.
4. Does vaping make you gain weight?
No. Vaping does not contribute significantly to calorie intake.
5. Do flavored vapes have more calories?
Slightly, but not enough to affect your diet.
6. Are there calories in vapes that can break a fast?
Not usually. Most fasts allow for minimal calories, and vapes fall under that limit.
7. How many calories are in a vape session?
If you vape 2 mL in a session, that’s about 8–10 calories total.
Should You Be Concerned?
Unless you’re vaping massive amounts daily, you don’t need to worry about how many calories are in a vape. The average vaper consumes less than 15 calories per day through vaping. That’s less than a sip of juice or a bite of an apple. In short, if your goal is to lose weight, stay healthy, or count calories, vaping is not a major concern.
Final Thoughts
Vaping may contain trace calories from its base ingredients, but it’s not a dietary threat. You won’t gain weight or break your fast because of it. So, while it’s wise to stay informed, there’s no need to stress about calories in vape products. Still, remember—vaping isn’t calorie-free, but it’s very close. If you’re choosing between a sugary snack and a vape, the vape wins for fewer calories. But always prioritize long-term health and consider the other risks of vaping, like nicotine addiction.
Call to Action:
If you care about health, keep tracking your diet—but feel free to skip counting vape calories. For more health-conscious tips on vaping and lifestyle, bookmark this page and stay informed.
Conclusion:
While vapes do contain a small number of calories—mainly from vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol—the amount is minimal and unlikely to affect your diet or weight. These calories are inhaled, not consumed like food, so they aren’t metabolized in the same way. Whether you’re tracking your intake for weight loss, fitness, or fasting, vape calories are negligible and typically don’t need to be counted. Understanding this can help you make informed choices without unnecessary worry. Always remember, while calories in vapes are low, staying informed about vaping’s other health effects is just as important.
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