While New Year’s is over and many people would say that the time for resolutions has come and gone, there’s really no bad time to quit smoking. The health risks that accompany smoking have long been established, and the problems smokers experience don’t stop there. The smell permeates everything, from clothes to upholstery to curtains. Meanwhile, the smoke itself gets breathed into the air and stains just about any porous surface it touches.
Seeking an alternative, many smokers turn to e-cigarettes and vape mods to get their nicotine fix. Others decide to quit cold turkey, though, which can be incredibly difficult. Through the process of quitting, smokers can experience strong cravings and withdrawal symptoms. In addition to drinking sufficient water to keep themselves hydrated by drinking sufficient water, many people adjust their diets to include specific foods. We’ve gathered a list of a few organic dietary options that are becoming more popular.
1. Milk and Other Dairy
A study by Duke University, along with other research, indicates that milk and dairy products actually make cigarettes taste bitter to smokers. Smokers who are trying to quit attempt to use this fact to their advantage. Whenever they start to crave a cigarette, they will first drink a glass of milk. Afterwards, even if they do smoke, smokers will experience a disgusting taste in their mouth. When they taste awful, cigarettes hold less appeal, even for smokers who claim to have a full-blown addiction to nicotine. This is true for most dairy; eating organic yogurt will also give cigarettes a disgusting flavor.
You can achieve a similar result by dipping cigarettes into a glass of milk ahead of time, then allowing them to dry. That way, even if they don’t have immediate access to milk right when a craving hits, smokers can still deter themselves from smoking.
2. Vegetable Sticks
Just like milk, several vegetables have been shown to make cigarettes taste terrible. Some of the more effective ones include carrots, celery, cucumber, zucchini, and eggplant. By eating these vegetables regularly, smokers can significantly lessen the impact of their cravings, because suddenly, smoking has a steep cost.
Cutting the vegetables into sticks has a second effect, more psychological than the taste: in some cases, cutting the vegetables into sticks before eating can satisfy at least a small part of the craving for a former by serving as a physical replacement for holding a cigarette in their hand. The action of chewing can also serve as a distraction while pushing through the craving. Restoring the body’s vitamin C reserves has also been shown by some studies to help reduce cravings, so vitamin-C-rich vegetables like sweet peppers can also be beneficial.
3. Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that has shown to actually reduce some of the cravings associated with smoking. It is often included in multivitamins, so people who are regularly taking one may not need any additional ginseng. When smokers have a cigarette, the brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the “pleasure” sensation. Some studies have shown that ginseng can prevent this from happening. For those who aren’t taking multivitamins adding a spoonful of ginseng powder to food or drink in the morning can help to decrease cravings as the day goes on. If its effect wears off later in the day, then you can take it with later meals as well.
4. Licorice
Yes, licorice is organic—at least, it is if you’re talking about the actual plant root, and not the red, sticky movie theater candy. The evidence is mostly anecdotal, but many smokers who are trying to stop will keep a licorice root handy. Many claim that sucking on a root when experiencing a craving can help to satisfy it. Similar to chewing vegetable sticks, sucking on a piece of licorice root can satisfy the oral craving. Keep in mind that using licorice for more than six weeks, or ingesting excessive amounts of it, can produce headaches, high blood pressure, and decreased levels of potassium, so try this one sparingly.
Do you have any suggestions or have you tried any of the above ideas that helped you successfully quit smoking?
If so leave them in the comment section?
Shared on WASTE LESS WEDNESDAY!
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Licorice saved me during my smoking withdrawal time. It satisfies the craving for smoking. I never knew ginseng can be helpful too. Thanks for sharing this!
HI George,
That’s great to hear! I am so glad you were able to kick the smoking habit. Different tools help different people. I am glad you found one such as licorice that help you beat the deadly habit. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Have a healthy, happy & blessed day.
I had no idea about most of these. Thankfully I’ve never been a smoker, but I’ll have to keep this in mind if I run across anyone who needs it. Thanks for sharing on the Waste Less Wednesday Blog Hop!
HI Katy,
Smoking is such an addictive and unhealthy habit. I have never smoked either but know many people who have and some relatives that smoking killed them, so it has become very important to me to help give people helpful tips on how to quit smoking. Thanks for hosting Waster Less Wednesday blog hop.