Tag: calories in vape

Do You Inhale Calories When You Vape or Smoke?

Curious whether you’re consuming calories when you vape or smoke? It’s a common question among health-conscious smokers and vapers. With more people tracking their nutrition and caloric intake, understanding the potential impact of smoking and vaping on your diet is more relevant than ever.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the science behind whether vapes have calories, if smoking makes you lose weight, and the connection between nicotine and appetite. Whether you’re puffing on a nicotine vape or lighting up a cigarette, this guide is here to separate fact from fiction.

 

Does Vaping Have Calories?

Let’s get right to the point: do vapes have calories?

The short answer is yes—vape juice contains ingredients that technically have calories. However, the way your body processes these ingredients through inhalation is not the same as eating or drinking them.

What’s in Vape Juice?

Most vape juices (also known as e-liquids or e-juice) contain the following ingredients:

• Propylene Glycol (PG) 
• Vegetable Glycerin (VG) 
• Flavourings 
• Nicotine (optional) 

Both PG and VG are caloric substances. Vegetable glycerin, for example, contains about 4.32 calories per gram, and propylene glycol has around 4 calories per gram. These are the same ingredients used in some food products, so yes—there are calories in vapes.

But here’s the catch: inhaling them doesn’t deliver calories the same way eating does.

 

Are There Calories in Vapes That Count Toward Your Diet?

Although vape juice contains calories, your body doesn’t absorb them in the traditional sense when you inhale. Unlike digestion, which breaks down substances and stores them as energy (or fat), inhalation bypasses the digestive tract.

Does Vaping Add to Your Calorie Count?

For all practical purposes, vaping doesn’t add to your daily caloric intake. The small amount of PG and VG absorbed through the lungs isn’t metabolized in a meaningful way. So if you’re worried about weight gain from vaping, rest easy—you’re not inhaling fattening calories.

What About Flavoured Vape Juices?

Flavoured vape juices can smell like candy, fruit, or desserts—but don’t let that fool you. Even sweet-tasting vape juices don’t contain sugar in a form that your body can process through inhalation.

So, is there calories in vape? Technically yes. But do they matter to your waistline? No.

 

Does Smoking Have Calories?

Now let’s talk cigarettes. Do cigarettes have calories?

Similar to vaping, cigarettes contain organic materials—tobacco, paper, additives—but when burned and inhaled, they don’t provide usable calories. The combustion process destroys most caloric content, and any tiny particles that enter the body are not absorbed in the way food is.

In short, smoking doesn’t contribute to your calorie intake either.

 

Does Nicotine Make You Lose Weight?

Here’s where things get interesting. If neither smoking nor vaping adds calories, why do so many smokers claim they lose weight?

The Role of Nicotine

Nicotine is a stimulant that affects your metabolism, appetite, and even your hormones.

Here’s how:

• Appetite suppression: Nicotine reduces hunger and curbs appetite, especially in new users. 
• Increased metabolism: It can increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR), meaning your body burns more calories at rest. 
• Behavioural influence: Many smokers or vapers might skip snacks or meals while smoking or vaping. 

That’s why “does nicotine make you skinny” is such a commonly Googled phrase.

Does Smoking Make You Lose Weight?

Possibly, but it’s not a healthy or reliable method of weight control. Many long-term smokers report lower body weight compared to non-smokers, but that comes at a steep cost—increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and lung conditions.

Weight loss due to smoking or vaping is often temporary and unsustainable once the habit is stopped. In fact, many people gain weight when they quit due to:

• Return of appetite 
• Slower metabolism without nicotine 
• Habit replacement with snacking 

 

Vaping vs Smoking: Calories and Weight Impact

Let’s compare vaping and smoking when it comes to calories and weight management:

Factor	Vaping	Smoking
Contains caloric ingredients?	Yes (VG, PG)	Yes (tobacco, additives)
Adds to calorie count?	No	No
Appetite suppressant?	Yes (due to nicotine)	Yes (due to nicotine)
Causes weight loss?	Possibly	Possibly
Healthy for weight control?	No	No

So while neither vaping nor smoking directly causes calorie gain, the presence of nicotine may influence appetite and metabolism. But relying on either to manage your weight is not medically recommended.

 

Common Myths: Debunked

Let’s tackle a few persistent myths head-on.

Myth 1: “Vape flavours are full of sugar, so they must have calories.”

False – Vape flavours are artificial or food-grade, but they don’t contain actual sugar that enters your bloodstream through inhalation.

Myth 2: “You’re basically eating when you vape, just through your lungs.”

False – Inhalation and digestion are completely different. The lungs are not designed to extract calories, so the calories in vape juice are essentially irrelevant for your diet.

Myth 3: “Vaping helps you lose weight.”

Half-true – While nicotine can suppress appetite, vaping should not be used as a weight loss tool. Health risks far outweigh any potential weight management benefits.

 

The Psychological Side: Oral Fixation and Snacking

An overlooked factor in the relationship between smoking/vaping and weight is oral fixation. People who quit often feel the urge to keep their mouths busy, which leads to snacking more frequently.

That’s why some ex-smokers turn to:

• Chewing gum 
• Hard candy 
• Frequent snacking 

This behavioural shift can result in weight gain, even though nicotine itself isn’t the root cause.

 

Healthier Alternatives for Weight Management

If you’re concerned about weight or looking for a healthier lifestyle, consider alternatives that don’t carry the risks of smoking or vaping.

Try This Instead:

• Regular physical activity 
• Mindful eating 
• Drinking water to reduce appetite 
• High-fiber foods to stay full longer 
• Talking to a nutritionist or health professional 

Vaping or smoking for weight control is not a long-term solution—there are far safer and more effective ways to manage your health.

 

Conclusion: Do Vapes Have Calories You Should Worry About?

Yes, vapes have calories—but no, you’re not “inhaling” them like food. While e-liquids contain calorie-bearing substances (PG and VG), inhaling these does not contribute to your dietary intake. Smoking and vaping do not add calories, and they do not make you gain weight directly.

On the flip side, nicotine may cause temporary weight loss by suppressing appetite and boosting metabolism. But this weight loss is unhealthy, inconsistent, and tied to addiction—hardly a tradeoff worth making.

So, if you’re asking:

• Does vaping have calories? → Yes, technically. 
• Are there calories in vapes that affect your diet? → No. 
• Does smoking make you lose weight? → Possibly, but not in a healthy way. 
• Does nicotine make you skinny? → It might suppress appetite, but it’s not a solution. 

 

Shop Smarter, Stay Informed

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REFERENCES:

John D. (2024, May 6). Does Vape Have Calories? (Separating Facts From Fiction). Available at: https://www.ciliconplus.com/learn/does-vape-have-calories/ 

J Audrain-M.G., NL B. (Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Jun 1;90(1):164–168. doi). Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine, and Body Weight. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3195407/