In addition, it can lead to a number of serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
However, quitting cigarettes is a challenging task. The nicotine withdrawal symptoms are incredibly intense and they can last for weeks, even months.
One way to ease these symptoms is by adding certain foods into your diet. These foods are proven to be an effective natural remedy, with some of the most effective including green tea, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and turmeric.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at a number of the best and worst foods you can include in your diet when trying to quit cigarettes. We’ll also look to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
Best Foods For Quitting Cigarettes
1. Green Tea
Green tea contains high amounts of antioxidants called catechins. It’s also a great food to add to your diet considering it helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
2. Ginger
Ginger is known to have impressive anti-inflammatory properties. This is incredibly important when it comes to quitting cigarettes as it can help to reduce the inflammation caused by cigarette smoke.
3. Garlic
Garlic is rich in antioxidants which helps to prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Free radicals cause damage to DNA and other cell components. Other findings also suggest that a high intake of raw garlic can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.
4. Cinnamon
It’s been shown that cinnamon is able to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is one of the main causes of weight gain, therefore this can be helpful in reducing fat accumulation. It’s also been proven that cinnamon can prevent lung cancer, a problem that can often be triggered by excessive smoking.
5. Broccoli
Broccoli contains sulforaphane, which is an essential compound that can fight against cancer. This compound is also important in the sense that it has the potential to lower levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol.
6. Popcorn
When quitting cigarettes, there’s every chance that you’ll have the urge to constantly snack, mainly because you can no longer keep your hands and mouth occupied with a cigarette. Not only does snacking on air-popped popcorn keep you busy, but it can also help you feel full, reducing the urge to light a cigarette.
7. Avocado
Avocados are packed with monounsaturated fats. Monounsaturated fats are associated with the reduced risk of suffering from health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the very best spices for weight loss. Not only is it great for shedding pounds, but it can also boost your metabolism and significantly improve digestion.
9. Frozen Grapes
After quitting cigarettes, there’s every chance that you’ll start to crave sweet snacks. Indulging in these sweet cravings is beneficial because it prevents you from reaching for a cigarette. However, instead of grabbing processed desserts, frozen grapes are the healthiest option for satisfying the craving.
10. Beans
Replacing cigarettes with an excessive amount of food is a common problem, so it’s important that you’re consuming healthy, nutritional food in order to keep off the pounds. One of the best additions you can make to your post-cigarette diet are high-fiber beans.
11. Cinnamon Sticks
Simply sucking on a cinnamon stick can provide you with a nice taste with absolutely no calories. Furthermore, they can also give you something to chew on and play with in your hands – replicating the shape and size of a cigarette.
Worst Foods For Quitting Cigarettes
1. Soda
The vast majority of sodas are packed full of sugar. However, sugar isn’t a good or healthy addition for anyone who wants to quit smoking.
2. Fried Food
Fried foods are usually high in trans fats. This isn’t the type of diet you want when trying to quit smoking as trans fats can increase the risk of serious health issues such as the development of heart disease.
3. Coffee
Coffee and cigarettes often go hand-in-hand, making it incredibly difficult to keep drinking coffee without the urge of smoking a cigarette. What’s more, caffeine also delivers an extra buzz to the stimulating effect of a cigarette, meaning coffee will often trigger a stronger craving.
4. Alcohol
Similar to coffee, many people often pair drinking alcohol with smoking cigarettes. This is why it’s a good idea to abstain from consuming alcohol during your first cigarette-free month. This is when the potential for relapse is at its highest. Alcohol is also a highly addictive substance and can cause severe damage to the liver.
5. Chocolate
Almost all chocolates are rich in saturated fats. This is definitely something to avoid adding to your diet when quitting cigarettes because saturated fats increase “bad” cholesterol levels.
6. Processed Meat
Processed meat is filled with a range of different preservatives and additives, so these ingredients may make you feel sick. It’s also worth noting that some types of meat, such as beef, can increase the risk of lung cancer.
7. Dairy Products
Many of the most popular dairy products like cheese and ice cream tend to have a high salt content. This is less than ideal when it comes to remaining a healthy weight after giving up cigarettes as salt will make you retain more water, thus your body weight becoming heavier in the process.
