Health Diet - Quit Smoking and Eat Booster Foods to Limit Your Cravings

I am sure at least 99.9% of all smokers regret ever starting. Not only does it affect a person's health but it also causes tooth decay and can cause a person to smell like a full ashtray.

Most smokers have tried to give up this nasty habit at least once, only to find that the self control they thought they had was not as strong as they wanted it to be. Nicotine is very addictive and smokers can fail in their attempt to give up with just one puff. I know when I am stressed, worried, sad or angry I reach for my cigarettes, this prevents me from finally giving up the nasty habit [I personally have tried to give up more than most].

There are some booster foods out there that can assist in easing the withdrawal and stress of giving up, I have surfed around and found a few that have actually helped me.

What are booster foods and liquids

These are foods/liquids that are high in nutrients and have a very beneficial effect on our bodies [I have given a few examples below but if you feel you need more info you can surf the web for hours and find all sorts of information regarding these booster foods].

1) Garlic - yup we all love to hate garlic, this is pretty high in selenium and sulfur, which in turn helps the body get rid of the toxic byproduct cadmium [by-product of smoking] Not to forget that it is also very beneficial to our immune systems.

2) Ginger - this also has antioxidant properties which help eliminate the by-products of smoking. Ginger stimulates circulation [which is affected by our smoking] and aids our digestion.

3) Cayenne pepper - good for circulation and digestion, not to mention our hearts, lungs, spleen, kidneys, pancreas and stomach. Most dietitians recommend we add this wonder spice to all our foods.

4) Sea Plants/vegetables - these aid elimination, support our endocrine system, clean out our lymph nodes [lymphatic system], aid our central nervous system and alkalize the blood.

5) Spirulina, chlorella etc - known as green powder these are excellent sources of protein, vitamin b, enzymes and trace elements [to name but a few]

5) Water - you need to up your intake to about 2 liters and your daily intake of fluids can include - green/herbal teas and mineral broths, an example of one of these wonderful teas [formulated by C Hobbs and known as Polari tea] is a blend of flax, fennel, peppermint, fenugreek, burdock root and licorice root. This combination enhance your digestion and assist in removing toxins [caused by smoking as well as bad eating habits] from your liver and your blood.

6) Supplements - taking multi-vitamins [which include large amounts of antioxidants and vitamin c] and a stand alone Vitamin c, will help restore your vitamin imbalance as smoking servery reduces the absorption of vit c [neutralizes toxic by-products and acts as a antioxidant] into your body. L-Glutamine and L-Cysteine are also recommended.

Remember that just cutting back will not work! If you have been a heavy smoker for years you will/may require some outside assistance like a nicotine patch or maybe nicotine gum to help with the withdrawal symptoms you are going to go through. Some people even try the hypnosis route [did not work for me] and also 'the food that makes smoking taste awful' route - cannot claim to have tried this but have found many mentions of it in my research [will cover this at some other time].

Do...

• Keep your hands busy - draw or squeeze a stress ball
• Avoid foods that deplete your nutrients like white sugar and white flour products etc.
• Stay away from highly processed and prepared foods.
• Leave deep fried foods, margarine's etc out of your diet
• Chew on celery or carrot sticks to keep your hands and mouth busy
• Take a couple [10 to 20] of deep breaths when the craving hits
• Go for long walks to take your mind off your cravings
• Increase your level of activity

Don't...

• Think one puff will not get you smoking again
• Daydream about having a smoke - it has a way to get you right back to day one
• Buy a box just to keep - to make you feel better
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle - makes your mind wonder back to smoking

As always - consult your doctor for assistance with this serious matter [yes it is serious] as health complications can occur if you try to go 'Cold Turkey' when giving up smoking.