A common question among vapers is: Does my vape consumption affect my calorie count? In recent years, health consciousness has increased, which has forced many to carefully monitor their weight. This is largely due to the increased awareness of maintaining general well-being.
Given that many e-liquids, especially juices with a high head content or juices with a small amount of filling, have a sweet taste, it is likely that the calorie content can be questioned. Here, EDGE Vaping looks at the calories in e-liquids, including how much they contain and what their effects are.
Do e-liquids contain calories?
In short, vapes do have calories, but the amount is negligible. Studies comparing the effects of vaping and smoking on weight management show that nicotine is a major contributor to any potential changes.
Our bodies are programmed to seek food when hungry, and rewarding eating with a burst of dopamine is a survival mechanism. Nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant by altering our brain’s reward system.
Ingesting nicotine can cause a similar surge of dopamine, disrupting the body’s normal functions. When hunger strikes, smoking or vaping can trigger a release of dopamine, tricking our bodies into believing we’ve eaten, thereby suppressing appetite. Therefore, long-term smoking or vaping can potentially lead to weight loss.
This is why those who quit smoking or vaping experience a brief increase in appetite as dopamine, which reduces hunger, is released from the body, meaning they will want to eat more. Many people who try to quit smoking gain five to 10 pounds.
How many calories does the average vape contain?
The focus on e-liquid calories is usually weight gain, not weight loss. Despite their sweetness, most vape juices do not pose a significant risk to your diet.
Vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), the two main ingredients in any e-liquid, are said to contain about four calories per ml. Also, flavorings and sweeteners added to vapes are usually calorie-free, although this can vary if the manufacturer chooses sugar over sweetener, resulting in more calories.
Do vape calories matter?
From the available evidence, the calories present in vapes appear to be negligible. Given that the average bottle of e-liquid contains a maximum of 30-50 calories, these are likely to be expended during normal daily activity rather than leading to weight gain.
However, if you have any health or dietary concerns, it is advisable to consult a doctor or health professional who can provide the best recommendations for your individual dietary needs.
If you have never smoked or drank before, it is important to emphasize that you should not start using nicotine in any form as a weight management tool. Nicotine is highly addictive and vaping should only be considered as a harm reduction strategy for those who want to quit smoking.
