The online world and offline world both are flooded with suggestions on what to do and what not to do while trying to quit smoking. There are so many guides and so many many opinions. But since every person is different, there is no one ‘perfect’ way to quit.
Quitting is a personal journey and quite a challenging one. If you had been smoking for quite a while now, it is no longer just something that you do, it must have been now ingrained into your daily life and routine. And changing such a habit is not an easy task. While there are multiple steps and medicated products available in the market, there is one more angle to this quitting journey that is often overlooked.
We are talking about the impact of regular food items that we consume everyday. There are certain food items that can help you manage your nicotine cravings and help you in your quitting journey. Although eating is not very much directly related to the smoking habit, it is a great distractor. There are some food items that even make cigarettes taste terrible. So, while you can definitely depend on any NRT product like nicotine tablets, nicotine patches or Nicotine Chewing Gum to manage your nicotine withdrawal symptoms, you can count on certain food items to fight the urges and keep you satiated.
In this blog, we will introduce you to certain foods that will help you fight against nicotine and cigarettes while also helping you build your health:
- Milk
Our mothers always nudged us to drink milk when we were young and they were absolutely right! It is not only good for your bones and teeth but is also a super drink that will make you give up smoking. Whenever you have an urge to light up a cigarette, consume a glass of milk right then. And if you end up smoking, it will taste really bad.
While it is not clear what component in the milk gives rise to this bitter taste but some believe that the bitter result is caused due to the chemical reaction between lactose and tobacco smoke. - Nuts
A perfect snack that is full of protein, nutrients and energy!. Whenever you feel like smoking, just reach out to nuts. It will not only help you manage your hunger caused by nicotine cravings but will also help deal with oral fixation. The soluble fiber in the nuts will slow down your digestion. They can be highly effective in helping you quit while managing your weight. - Cinnamon
Oohh.. who doesn’t like cinnamon flavored buns or rolls? Known to have hundreds of benefits like helping in weight loss or managing blood pressure etc, it is one of the tastiest ways to manage nicotine cravings. Simply inhaling deeply on a cinnamon stick mimics the deep drag on a flavourful cigarette. You can chew on a small piece of cinnamon stick to curb your cravings. - Ginger
Mixture of ginger and honey works wonderfully when we are having a sore throat and stuffy nose. We love putting it in our tea in winters. But this herb is actually more than that. This root is also great in curbing all urges for smokers. Grind one piece of ginger, mix it with a spoon of sugar and consume it. It will help you to take smoking out of your mind. - Vit C food
Immunity boosters – there are a number of Vitamin C foods that you can munch on throughout the day. Foods like guava, berries, and sliced tomatoes with a dash of pepper and salt are some you can try.
Apart from these, do not forget to stay hydrated throughout the day. Water is an essential element that keeps our body fresh, nourished and healthy. Drink lots of water so that your tummy also gets full. This will also help in fighting the smoking urge.
Now that you have gone through the items that you should include in your diet, here is a list of food items that you should be avoiding while smoking:
1. Alcohol
Alcohol is a great trigger for smoking. People usually end up smoking after having a few beers or some other form of alcohol. Hence, it is recommended to stay away from alcohol while you are on your quitting journey. It will help you stay in charge and not give into the urges that easily. You can replace alcoholic drinks with non alcoholic ones.
2. Coffee
You must have noticed people having their first cigarette with their first coffee of the day. This is because unlike milk, coffee adds to the taste of cigarettes. Caffeine in coffee adds to the buzz of cigarettes, making you smoke more or making smoking more enjoyable. It is advisable to stop drinking coffee as it will help you stay away from cigarettes as well.
3.Meat
A great companion for cigarettes, these fatty foods add to the taste of cigarettes. We are not asking you to turn into a vegetarian while you are trying to quit, but you can definitely try to cut down on meat during this time. This will also help in managing a healthy weight while you are trying to quit.
Adding or avoiding these food items will help you significantly in your quitting journey. Just pair these things with a NRT product that is prescribed by your healthcare provider and say hello to a happy and smoke-free life!
