One of the leading reasons why quitting smoking is so difficult is that nicotine is a highly addictive substance. In some ways, it messes with how your mind works. The longer you smoke the more you become addicted to it. One way to stop smoking is to change your lifestyle and everything that links you to smoking. This includes living an active life, and overhauling your diet.
In fact, there are specific foods that can actually help you quit smoking. Below are 5 foods that can boost your quit smoking efforts.
Food #1: Milk
Aside from milk’s nutritional value, it can also boost your effort to quit smoking. Studies revealed that smokers who consumed a glass of milk before smoking didn’t enjoy the taste of their cigs. They complained of the bitter after-taste.
If you’re used to smoking while drinking coffee, you may want to substitute coffee with a glass of milk to curb your urge to smoke. Also, this change in your routine will reinforce your quit smoking effort.
Food #2: Vegetables
Vegetables such as celery, carrots, cucumber, zucchini, and egg-plant, like milk, similarly leave bitter after-taste if eaten before smoking. Moreover, some experts suggest that eating a whole heap of these vegetables can lessen nicotine dependence.
On the other hand, you may want to stay away from peas and corn, and other sweet vegetables. They contain high amount of glucose which can increase your urge to smoke by stimulating the parts of your brain controlling pleasure and satisfaction. So when your cravings starts to kick, chew some fresh carrots or celery, or you can turn your attention to a bowl of delicious spinach salad.
Food #3: Foods Rich in Vitamin C
Nicotine replaces vitamin C in your body. As a result, you’re deprived of this very important nutrient. So if you really want to kick cigarettes out of your life, drinking more lemon or orange juice, or eating pomegranates and other vitamin C packed foods, can greatly boost your effort.
Food #4: Salty Foods
Whenever you feel like smoking, say in the office or while walking on your way home, eating salty foods can help kill your urge to smoke.
However, eating too much junk foods or chips in lieu of smoking is not a healthy option. Eat these foods only when you have nothing else to chew, or on emergency basis only.
Food #5: Ginseng
Aside from its many health benefits, this traditional Chinese herb has more to offer. Studies suggest that ginseng prevents the nicotine-induced release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the “feel good” feeling.
However, daily usage of this herb is not advisable, for maximum result, it is advised that you limit your consumption of ginseng to 3-4 times a month.
While these foods reduce your cravings to smoke, caffeinated drinks and foods, alcohol, and red meat on the other hand, makes it more pleasurable to smoke. Abstaining from these foods will greatly enforce your effort to quit smoking.
