
How Many Calories are in a Vape?
Ever wondered if your daily vape habit is sneaking extra calories into your diet? With e-liquids flavoured like vanilla custard, strawberry shortcake, and caramel macchiato, it’s easy to assume they come with a calorie count to match. After all, if it tastes like dessert, surely it’s doing something to your waistline… right?
Well, here’s the short answer: yes, vape juice contains calories—but no, vaping isn’t the same as eating those calories. Unlike food and drink, your body doesn’t actually process the ingredients in the same way. But does that mean vaping has zero impact on your metabolism? And could it (somehow) contribute to weight gain?
Let’s break it down and separate the facts from the fluff.
So, do vape juices contain calories?
The short answer is yes, vape juices do contain calories, but it's a small amount. It's important to understand the ingredients in e-liquids as they contribute towards the calorie count. Most 10ml vape juices contain:
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Propylene Glycol (PG): Often abbreviated as PG, propylene glycol is a synthetic organic compound frequently used in pharmaceuticals and foods. It's safe for human consumption and is used in vape juices for flavour enhancement. It's also responsible for your throat hit.
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Vegetable Glycerin (VG): VG comes from vegetable oils and is classified as a sugar alcohol. You'll see VG features as an ingredient in cosmetics and foods.
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Flavourings: Every e-liquid needs flavourings, and the type used in yours can range from fruit and dessert-flavoured e-liquids to menthol vape blends.
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Nicotine: As an addictive stimulant found in tobacco and vape products, nicotine is optional. You'll find plenty of nicotine-free vape juices available.
The main ingredient containing calories is vegetable glycerin, a sugary alcohol. However, VG contains four calories per gram on average. While some flavourings might add negligible calories, they're much lower than you'd find with traditional foods and drinks.
How many calories are in a vape puff?
Whether you're a light vaper or rely on a few puffs every hour, you'll probably want to know how many calories you're ingesting. Calculating the number of calories in a single vape puff can be challenging because it depends on what you're vaping.
For example, high-VG vape juices will have more calories than those that are high in PG.
Every 1ml of e-liquid contains around four to five calories, with a single puff using up to 0.05ml of e-liquid. So, you'll consume between 0.1 and 0.25 calories for each puff.
Even if you're a regular vaper, you'll consume up to 10 calories for every 2ml of vape juice, so it's a small amount. So, when you vape e-liquids, a 10ml bottle will contain up to 50 calories, but your body might not absorb them all.
Will vaping lead to weight gain?
While you might absorb calories from vaping, it's an incredibly low amount, and you're highly unlikely to pack on the pounds. When people talk about gaining weight from vaping, it's usually due to one or more of the following factors.
Nicotine reduction
If you're ready to reduce your nicotine intake, vaping is proven to be more successful than traditional nicotine replacement products. However, as nicotine is an appetite suppressant, it's common to gain some weight when you kick the habit.
The increased hunger can cause people to eat more, but you can reduce the risks of this by gradually reducing your nicotine levels. Unlike smoking, vaping lets you do this, as you can gradually transition to lower nicotine e-liquids over time.
Flavourings
You might even lose weight when you start vaping - and it's usually due to how e-liquids can satisfy your sweet tooth.
Opting for dessert-flavour vape juices means you can enjoy your favourite flavours and won't be reaching for calorie-laden desserts. Of course, some people might find that their cravings increase, but this is rare.
Metabolic changes
Some studies show that nicotine can have a small increase in your metabolism, which means you might notice that you burn fewer calories when you reduce your intake.
However, if you already have high nicotine needs and are happy to satisfy them through vaping, your metabolism will remain the same.
How does the body absorb calories from vaping?
It's also important to remember that your body reacts differently to the calories it absorbs from vaping because you inhale instead of ingesting them. When you eat and drink, the calories go through your digestive system and give your body energy, but it's different with vaping.
The vapours and ingredients go into your lungs, and they're then absorbed or expelled. However, your body won't ingest them in a way that contributes to your daily calorie intake. So, even if vape juices do contain some calories, the amount your body will receive is negligible.
Should I worry about calories from vaping?
While it's natural to worry about your calorie intake, vaping won't have any impact on your weight. Yes, vape juices do contain some calories, but they can also reduce food cravings and help you avoid sugary snacks.
If you're transitioning to vaping after quitting smoking, you can also look forward to a healthier lifestyle and other benefits, including:
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Better Health: Electronic cigarettes are proven to be 95% safer than cigarettes, as they don't contain toxic chemicals, carbon monoxide or tar. Ditching your cigarettes for a vape kit is a positive decision for a healthier lifestyle.
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Financial Savings: With tobacco prices constantly increasing, you can also save money with vaping. Aside from purchasing a starter vape pen, the long-term savings can equate to hundreds each year.
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No Odours: Smoking leaves behind a nasty odour that can get into your hair, clothes and home. E-liquids don't leave any lingering scents, making them more socially acceptable.
Final thoughts
As you can see, vaping doesn't have an impact on your weight loss efforts, and you can enjoy a guilt-free puff whenever you want it. The calories that e-liquids do contain are considered negligible, and opting for a high-PG vape juice can put your mind at ease if you're worried about the calorie content.
88Vape has plenty of delicious e-liquids available at great prices. Spend just £15, and we'll ship your items for free. So, shop today and enjoy the convenience vaping offers.