You ever been puffing away on a mango-flavoured vape and thought, “Wait - does this count as a snack?”

No? Just me?

Okay, maybe it’s not the most common question in the world, but it’s one that pops up more than you’d think - especially now that more vapers are also counting steps, tracking macros, and swapping fries for quinoa. So let’s cut to the chase: Do vapes have calories?

Short answer? Technically, yes.

Long answer? It’s a little complicated. But don’t worry - I’ve got you.

Hold Up - Calories in Vapor? That Sounds… Off

Let’s get one thing straight: vaping isn’t eating. You’re not chomping on e-liquid like it’s yogurt. But here’s the kicker - calories aren’t some magical diet fairy that only lives in burgers and bubble tea.

A calorie is just a unit of energy. Anything with energy - be it bacon or battery fluid (okay, don’t try that) has calories.

So when you’re puffing that fruity cloud, you are technically inhaling substances that have caloric content. But...and this is a big but...your body doesn’t exactly treat vapor like it treats food.

More on that in a sec.

What’s Even in Vape Juice, Anyway?

Here’s the rundown:

• Propylene Glycol (PG): A synthetic liquid used to carry flavor. Also found in some food products.
• Vegetable Glycerin (VG): Thicker, sweeter, and helps produce those big ol’ clouds.
• Flavorings: Natural or artificial. Think dessert, candy, fruit, etc.
• Nicotine (Optional): The addictive kicker, though lots of juices are nicotine-free too.

Now here’s the thing: PG and VG both contain calories. Yep. According to food chemistry data:

• PG has about 4 calories per gram.
• VG is around 4.3 calories per gram.

But before you start logging your vape into MyFitnessPal - pause.

So... If PG and VG Have Calories, Am I Inhaling Energy?

Not exactly. Here’s why this gets weird.

Your body doesn’t metabolize vapor like it metabolizes food. When you eat something, it travels through your stomach, gets broken down, and those nutrients (including calories) get absorbed into your bloodstream.

But when you inhale vapor? It hits your lungs, not your stomach. Most of it just...passes through. Some small amounts might be absorbed through mucous membranes, but not in a meaningful, diet-breaking way.

Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, one of the better-known researchers in vaping science, has emphasized that vaping doesn’t contribute dietary calories. Even the FDA doesn’t require vape manufacturers to list calorie content on e-juice labels because it’s nutritionally negligible.

It’s like asking if breathing in steam from your tea adds to your calorie count. Technically? Maybe. Realistically? Nah.

Let’s Crunch the Numbers (You’ll Like This Part)

Okay, you know how a standard vape tank holds around 3 to 5 mL of juice? And some vapers go through, say, 10 mL a day?

Let’s run some napkin math:

• If 1 mL of vape juice has roughly 5-7 calories, then...
• 10 mL would be around 50-70 calories.

That sounds like something until you realize:

• A banana = ~100 calories
• A slice of bread = ~80
• A shot of whiskey = ~70 (and yes, that burns a little too)

But remember that’s only if your body were digesting vape juice like food. Which it’s not.

Unless you’re chugging e-liquid (please don’t), you’re not absorbing those calories in the traditional sense.

Flavor Traps & Cravings: The Real Calorie Sneak Attack

Here’s where things do get interesting.

Even if you’re not ingesting calories, your brain doesn’t always get the memo. Ever had a vape flavor so sweet it made you crave the real thing? Maybe a cinnamon roll hit that turned into an actual trip to Cinnabon?

Flavor plays a huge role in appetite and satisfaction. According to research in behavioral psychology, sweet tastes can trigger hunger cues, even without actual sugar being consumed.

So while your vape isn’t fattening you up, it might nudge you toward that snack drawer. That’s the sneaky part - indirect calories.

Zero-Nicotine & CBD Vapes - Same Story?

Yup. Whether you're rocking a 50mg salt nic or a mellow 0mg CBD pen, the basic ingredients are the same: PG, VG, and flavorings.

Which means the same rules apply.

• The juice has calories (technically).
• But your body doesn’t absorb them like food.
• So nope, still not “eating” your vape.

Doesn't matter if you're vaping lemon tart or lavender-chamomile CBD - your waistline isn't going to flinch because of the vapor.

Can Vaping Actually Curb Your Appetite?

Funny enough, some folks do claim vaping helps them snack less. Especially ex-smokers, nicotine has well-known appetite-suppressing effects. And when combined with dessert-style flavors? That can trick the brain into feeling satisfied.

There’s even some light research suggesting nicotine may play a role in short-term weight suppression. But don’t go thinking vapes are a diet plan, they’re not FDA-approved SlimFast shakes.

Important note: Appetite suppression via nicotine isn’t healthy or sustainable. And for non-smokers? Starting vaping just to avoid snacking is a hard no. The risks outweigh the snack savings.

So Should You Even Care About Calories in Vapes?

Honestly? Unless you’re vaping litres of juice a day (again, don’t), you’ve got nothing to worry about on the calorie front.

The real focus should be on:

• Your habits. Are you replacing real meals with flavoured hits?
• Your cravings. Are sweet vapes leading to sweet snacks?
• Your health goals. Calories or not, vaping should fit into your lifestyle, not define it.

If you're counting every single calorie for a fitness goal, then sure, factor it in if you want to be exact. But for the rest of us? Vaping won’t make or break the belt notch.

A Quick Sidebar: What About Vape Drinks?

There’s a newer trend: caffeine vapes, vitamin vapes, even “energy” vapes claiming no calories, no sugar, just vibes.

Here’s the scoop, some of them do contain compounds that the body absorbs differently, like caffeine or B12. But calorie-wise? Still negligible.

As always: read the labels, check ingredients, and don't believe the hype without research.

Final Puff - Calories Aren’t the Real Question

If you came here wondering whether your vape was silently sabotaging your diet, breathe easy, figuratively and literally.

While PG and VG carry some caloric weight on paper, your body isn’t logging those like a slice of cheesecake. It’s vapor, not fuel. However, should you have a health condition, it is always worth checking with your doctor/physician first.

The real deal? It’s not what’s in the juice - it’s what the habit creates. Cravings, behaviours, patterns - those are what really matter in the long run.

So vape smart, snack smarter, and maybe, just maybe, keep the cheesecake in the fridge until you actually want it.