Mind what you eat when quitting smoking

Want to quit smoking? Are you worried about the pounds that you will pile on in the meantime? Just change your food habits a bit, and you are on your way to good health. Considering your diet, when quitting smoking is extremely essential, as the body needs to flush out the toxic nicotine. Read on for some information on diet tips which would be helpful in the process.

Remind yourself that even if you gain some pounds during quitting, it is much healthier than smoking. You could always lose that extra weight by following an exercise regime. Quit smoking

Nervous about following a diet while trying to quit smoking? Well, following a diet does not mean staying away from your favorite foods.

Consume lots of water:
The health benefits of drinking water are well known. Drinking water flushes out the residual toxins from smoking cigarettes out of your body. It helps keep you hydrated and can make you feel full. Your craving for food would also reduce. A recent study showed that sipping cold water through a straw triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good hormone in the brain that may counteract stress.
• If you do not like drinking tap water or plain water just add a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice. It is also a good source of vitamin C.

Stay away from crash diets:
According to Steven Schroeder, MD, director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California, quitting is tough enough without adding the stress of extreme dieting. Do not make drastic changes in your diet. Make small changes to which the body can easily adjust.

Incorporate more vitamins:
Make sure to fill up your kitchen cabinets with foods rich in vitamins. Take plenty of vitamins to help you feel your best as you are quitting.
Vitamin B12 is essential for your nervous system. Foods high in vitamin B12 help you if you are getting jittery from quitting smoking. So go ahead and eat lots of yoghurt and shrimps.

Vitamin C helps fight infections in the body. So, ensure that you consume foods rich in vitamin C daily, as your body excretes excess vitamin C in the body. Stock up on foods such as red, yellow and green peppers, tomatoes and broccoli.

Cut down on certain foods:
Stay away from foods that you always eat with cigarettes like coffee or alcohol. Get your daily dose of caffeine from other sources such as tea or coke.

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