(TRFW News) Tobacco smoking is, sadly, the greatest cause of preventable death across the entire world. Since the 1930s, a vast number of studies have continuously revealed the devastating effects that smoking can have on human health; primarily affecting the lungs, circulatory and respiratory tract by increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and cancer of the mouth and larynx.
Moreover, carcinogenic byproducts of tobacco combustion bind to DNA and cause gene mutations that can potentially trigger cancers anywhere in the body, induce miscarriages and premature births in smoking women, as well as erectile dysfunction in men.
Kicking the habit should be first on the agenda for health-seekers
In the light of these facts, quitting smoking is among the first things to do for anyone who is seeking to improve their quality of life. Unfortunately, tobacco is highly addictive and few people are able to resist nicotine craving without substantial psychological effort and peer support. Specific raw foods, however, may interact with chemical substances that flood the body during smoking and actively help willing individuals give up the bad habit permanently.
According to a study conducted in 2007 by Dr. F. Joseph McClernon at Duke University in North Carolina, enzymes in healthy raw foods such as fruits and vegetables can bind with compounds left in the mouth after smoking and produce an unpleasant aftertaste that the brain may learn to associate with tobacco.
On the other hand, meats, coffee and alcoholic beverages enhance the taste of tobacco smoke and make it much harder for the smoker to quit. For this reason, such items should be completely avoided when trying to quit smoking.
McClernon further revealed that it is not only nicotine that causes addiction, but also the sensory aspects regarding taste and smell, as well as the visual experience of smoking. Therefore, changing one’s morning routine and engaging in exciting, new activities can also be very helpful in overcoming addiction.
Low sugar foods can assist with quitting
Consuming various raw fruits and vegetables low in sugar (including cantaloupe, pineapple, grapefruit, berries, leafy greens, carrots, celery, zucchini and cabbage) when the urge to smoke sets in, can in fact help smokers in two ways: by keeping the hands and mouth busy and by nourishing the body, as well as by actively helping to flush out toxins and clear the respiratory tract.
Scientists also believe that consuming fruits and vegetables when one is craving cigarettes can gradually teach the mind to enjoy healthier habits instead of smoking.