Some e-cigarettes may contain trace calories in their additives, but nicotine itself has no caloric value. However, it may affect your appetite.
Nicotine has long been associated with changes in appetite, but does it actually have any caloric value? This article explores the answer to that question as well as its larger effect on your appetite.
Nicotine, and by extension cigarettes, do not contain calories.
With vaping, some liquid flavors do contain a small number of calories. This is a negligible amount. The calories are usually attributed to the flavoring agents. However, much of the caloric value is burned off.
You’re unlikely to experience any significant weight gain from vaping. However, weight gain is lower on the list of health concerns since vaping is linked to popcorn lung, also known as bronchiolitis obliterans.
Like smoking cigarettes, many of the chemicals released in e-cigarettes can cause lung scarring, which ultimately restricts airways. In turn, this creates an effect that mimics the symptoms associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A small study presented at the 2016 European Respiratory Society International Congress looked to determine how nicotine controlled appetite and caloric intake.
Over 2 days, participants were asked to smoke their preferred brand of cigarettes, and then after 45 minutes, they were allowed to eat a variety of snacks provided by the study. Researchers recorded participants’ thoughts and feelings regarding cravings and snack preferences.
No limitations were placed on participants for how much food they could eat. As a control, participants were also required to hold an unlit cigarette for 15 minutes, followed by snacks 45 minutes later. Researchers recorded their eating habits and thoughts, such as cravings, at this time as well.
Researchers took blood samples from the participants to measure hormone levels for both the smoking and control sessions.
Researchers found that participants ate 152 fewer calories after smoking. Specifically, ghrelin, the hormone linked with appetite control, was lower at the 60-minute interval after smoking. This means participants felt fuller and were less likely to consume as much food as the control test.
Changing your relationship with nicotine
Nicotine may suppress appetite, but the negative side effects of smoking and vaping far outweigh any benefits of appetite suppression.
If you’re ready to change your relationship with nicotine, many local, state, and federal resources and private organizations can help you on your smoking cessation journey. You can check out resources from:
Nicotine does not contain any calories, though sometimes nicotine-containing vape juice will have trace amounts of calories from sweeteners or other additives.
Nicotine may curb appetite, but smoking or vaping is not worth the health problems tobacco and nicotine-based products can create. There are other ways to lose or maintain your weight that won’t put your life at risk.