Mr Rohit Shelatkar, Vice President, Vitabiotics Ltd.
Smoking is an exasperating habit to quit, but if you truly want to take charge of your health, you will need to persevere until you have quit, and protect yourself against lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. There are thousands out there trying to quit smoking every day, but only the strong-willed succeed. Smoking is a clear indication of leading a bad lifestyle, and the first step to remedying it is making health a lifestyle and being determinedly disciplined about it. The food you eat plays a very important role in helping you achieve this.
Here is a list of power foods to include in your diet to help you curb the urge to smoke and put you on the path to a healthy life:
1. Yogurt: As nicotine levels rise in the blood so does the amount of blood glucose, making your blood sugar levels rise or drop. Yogurt slowly releases sugar into the blood stream, therefore can help regulate this effect. Dairy products are also known to create a bad taste when you smoke, so drinking milk or eating yogurt could be a useful tip when you’re dealing with cravings or trying to reduce the amount you smoke.
2. Vegetables: Vegetables such as Celery, Carrots, Zucchini, Cucumber, Spinach and Eggplant are muscle foods. They contain folic acids and vitamins that will make your body dislike the taste of tobacco, as the muscles relax and flush out toxins, while reducing stress levels.
3. Water: Drinking a good deal of water will allow your body to begin to flush toxins out of your system, as well as help balance out your appetite and reduce cravings.
4. Fruit: Smoking is known to exhaust stores of vitamin C, which is important to boost your immune system and safeguard your lungs. Citrus fruits like Oranges, Kiwi, Pomegranates and Grapefruit help your replenish Vitamin C levels, as well as protects against illness and infections.
5. Nuts: Mixed nuts like Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews, or Pistachios provide energy, protein, and nutrients. These can be eaten over the course of a day as a snack. They make you feel full, boost energy levels and thereby reduce the urge to smoke.
Make sure you avoid alcohol, caffeine, and red meat when you are attempting to quit smoking as these items only increase your craving for nicotine. Apart from eating healthy foods, it is necessary to follow an exercise routine. Quitting an addiction isn’t easy, but it can be accomplished with discipline and sturdy will power. Just like smoking is a choice, not smoking too is a choice. Keep yourself motivated to stick to your healthy lifestyle and you will surely start to crave only for a better life.
