Foods to Help Quit Smoking

Congratulations on your desire to quit smoking. Making small changes in your diet daily can help you be successful in quitting smoking. Milk products, citrus fruits and certain vegetables will help you avoid nicotine cravings and aid in your quest to kick the habit.

History

• According to the National Lung Cancer Partnership organization, there are 219,000 people a year diagnosed with lung cancer and 59,000 of those will die within one to five years after diagnosis. A leading cause of lung cancer is smoking. Approximately half of the people with lung cancer caused by smoking will die from the disease after they quit smoking.

Misconceptions

• A very common misconception among smokers is the belief they will get cancer, regardless if they quit smoking. Quitting smoking before extensive lung damage is important. It is never too late to quit smoking.

Significance

• You can change your diet and the foods you eat to help you quit smoking. Eating the right foods and drinking the proper fluids can reduce your cravings for cigarettes and increase your success at quitting.

Milk

• Smoking a cigarette after drinking a glass of milk can be extremely unpleasant. The milk residue in the mouth creates a bitter aftertaste when combined with cigarettes. Pour a small amount of milk into a glass. Fill your mouth with the milk. Let it set in your mouth one minute and then swallow. If you give into the craving, the cigarette will taste bad. If nothing else, you will more than likely not finish the cigarette.

Vegetables

• Eating certain vegetables reduces the actual craving for nicotine, leading to a more successful smoking cessation. Additionally, the extra chewing of the foods enables you to satisfy the oral craving associated with smoking. Raw celery, broccoli, zucchini and cucumbers will reduce nicotine cravings, satisfy oral cravings and leave a bitter aftertaste in the mouth if you smoke a cigarette after eating them.

Sugary Foods

• One type of food to avoid when you quit smoking is sweets. These stimulate the brain's pleasure center and actually increase the craving for nicotine. Eat fruits for dessert, such as plums, pomegranates, grapes or oranges. You'll get additional vitamin C for your body to offset the losses from nicotine and satisfy your desire for a dessert after meals. You can drink fruit smoothies that are nutritious, but aren't sweet-tasting for a refreshing drink or for a dessert. This will allow you to avoid stimulating your brain to crave additional cigarettes.