A Quit Smoking Diet ?
March 5, 2008 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Diets and Dieting, Health, How To, Smoking
Can what you eat help you give up smoking ?
Yes, according to Duke University psychologist F. Joseph McClernon. Based at the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Research, McClernon “… kept hearing smokers say that certain foods and beverages made their cigarettes taste much better. He began to wonder exactly which foods these were — and whether any foods made smoking a worse experience.”
Which, of course, got him thinking about the connection between foods and smoking. He enlisted 209 long term smokers (who smoked at least a pack a day for at least 21 years) and had them list the foods that seemed to enhance the smoking experience and the foods that seemed to worsened the smoking experience.
The results…
70% of the participants found that meat, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages appeared to make cigarettes taste better.
But for 45% of the participants, foods such as fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and beverages such as water, juice, and non caffeinated drinks appeared to make their cigarettes taste worse.
What this means…
Getting people to eat health, with lots of fruit and vegetables, and have them drinking plenty of water might just enhance the quit smoking process.
So what do the smokers out there think?
Have you tried diet modification in your quit smoking campaign ?
(source)
I’ve given up beer and coffee in my ongoing battle to quit smoking. And every time I think “Oh, a beer won’t hurt” I end up lighting up. But I refuse to stop trying to quit!
I know what you mean. When I was giving up smoking years ago, every time I made a coffee or even smelled coffee I wanted to light up. Eventually, the need for a cigarette when I had a coffee went away but it was difficult.
Don’t think I changed the diet any though. But did go through packets of pepperment lifesavers.
Coffee and alcohol definitely do me in as far as lighting up goes. *sigh*
I quit smoking 11 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes, 8 seconds ago (give or take a few) I always thought I was an average size 10. In 11 weeks, I have gained 14 lbs. I absolutely hate it!! I have cut out all but 1 Dr. Pepper a day. I am a huge DP freak and have started drinking water. I know I am now retaining water. I do agree with the fruit and veggie thing. Even when I did smoke, if I would eat veggie’s, smoking tasted awful. Of course the smoking always won out. I do like veggie’s now and am really trying to get on a “track” of snacking on that instead of the frito’s or pastatio’s which I got addicted too when I quit smoking. Those aren’t very good for you either. I really do like being able to talk to other people that are having the same issues.
Alicia, it’s the coffee and alcohol that will get you every time….
Lisa, way to go. That’s almost a third of the year (if my maths are right) without a smoke. You’re getting it right!!! Good one.
Just keep chomping on the carrot and celery sticks.
i think fruits help out a lot too as they very liquid and can help flush out the throat while cilia regenerates and also helps create mucous which can be blown out
Guys, thanks for your advice. I am a 30 yrs old and trying to quit. I really, really want to quit and I am surprised that I am not able to resist Cigs? When I don’t smoke for a day, my mouth goes dry, my stomatch feels funny and I buy another packet of Marlboros. I will start drinking more water and see if that helpes to stay away and also mints
thx
Ajay, best of luck with quitting. An ex-smoker myself I know how very hard it is to do… stay positive.
I just quit smoking a week ago yesterday. It wasn’t all too difficult, not as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, I wasn’t all that crazy about smoking anyhow. My problem times were while driving, after my morning cup of coffee, after the gym (I know, how counter-productive), and of course while drinking alcohol. The cup of coffee doesn’t induce my wanting to smoke and neither does after eating a meal. It’s just the alcohol & in my age group (30’s), it’s just not likely that I’d quit drinking, nor would I want to. So, anyhow, that’ll be my only “real” temptation which I think is pretty great. I’m extremely proud of myself taking this huge step to improving my health. I do pray that God will help me stay on the right path and not damn me with the gaining of weight. That would be more detrimental to me and my other health problems that I deal with on a day-to-day basis. Any suggestions other than eating celery and carrots which get pretty old after a while?
I quit 8 days ago! i have tried many times and failed. Butr this time i know i will never smoke again. I am a christian woman and I have felt very guilty smoking while trying to live for God. So 8 days ago i finally gave it to the Lord, I prayed to God that I cant do this no more and I need your help to do this. And guess what he answered my prayers. If you are a Christian and when you really decide to give it up then take it to God in prayer and you will be able to quit, remember all things are possible with God. I still get cravings of course and it isn’t easy but every time it hits me I pray and read the Bible and instantly the cravings are gone. i already notice I can breath better. And I don’t have that smoker’s cough as bad already. God Bless you all.
I’ve quit for almost 2 months now. It’s my 3rd REAL attempt and I’m feeling good about quitting, but horrible about the weight. I’ve gained 15.4 pounds (yep, I’m tracking every fraction!) I absolutely hate it and keep thinking that if I just light up once in awhile when I’m reaching for the junk, I’ll be fine. But I’ll give it a few more weeks and cross my fingers before I give in to that because the actual cravings are nearly gone, it’s the whole weight issue that seems to be driving me to want to smoke. I’ve been working out a minimum of 1 hour a day and pretty hard, which you would think would counter the additional eating, but it’s not working. It’s getting a bit depressing and I’m not very fun to be around right now. This sucks – I love not being the lone smoker, I love not stinking (I can really pick out the smokers in a crowd now!), I love breathing deep without wheezing and I love that I wake up and my chest doesn’t feel like someone is sitting on it. You’d think that would be enough to keep me motivated – not to mention the several people in my life who have suffered through cancer, some still around and some that are not. Why does weight gain have to bother women so much. Most men, 15 pounds would be no big deal, right? Hopefully I can keep telling myself that in time I’ll be back in shape and better than ever – so just need to deal with the extra weight now. Probably wasn’t a good idea to give this up over the holidays – but is there ever a good time. Well – I feel a bit better getting this off my chest. Best to all you quitters and wanna-bes. We can all do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to all those who have quit! I’m struggling with it, I go 3-4 days without one with the help of a patch. But then something weakens my resolve and I go back to it. I’m starting again tomorrow for the 4th time in a month and a half. I’m confident that I will succeed, the patches really help curb the cravings a lot. As long as you’ve TRULY decided that quitting is better for you, anyone can do it. Good luck to all of you. Keep your fingers crossed for me and keep up the good work!
Quitting is really easy. It’s one easy step to follow: don’t smoke ever again.
After three days, that’s phrase seems much more realistic.
I tried quitting before by going cold turkey and was told to drink lots of water, orange juice and chew gum (that worked for 3 months then I “gave up” and went back to smoking)
It’s like the minute you go on a diet, you start craving the sweets that you don’t normally care for. but because your depriving your body from those things it wants them back asap! Think that you don’t want to think about food (or cigarettes).
This time I didn’t exactly “quit” I just “stopped smoking”! its reverse-psychology…. or even SELF-HYPNOTHERAPY!!!!
How about you don’t quit!?! Convince your mind and body that you don’t feel like having a cigarette! It really works and this time there were no cravings, no munchies.. I wasn’t even counting hours, minutes and seconds.. just how another whole day went by without smoking! I’m proud of myself. It feels so good when I’m offered a cigarette and I comfortably tell people “I don’t smoke”.
Dear Tammy,
I decided to write here for you . There are a 1000 ways to reduce weight . i have even seen poeple who go on the right guidance and reduce 150 pounds in half a year. A cigarette is not the solution. I am writing this since you have quit for 2 months now .Thats very good. Its not a average mans task to quit for good. It needs a lot of persistance. So never take another puff . whatever may be the reason. it will ruin the efforts.
I think it’s true that vegetables and fruits help quitters stay smoke free, in addition to that, I think that milk and water helped me a lot, but the thing that helped me the most is staying away from junk food, coke and coffee.
This totally makes sense. I quit drinking soda in September, as a health issue, then quit eating meat (and all other animal byproducts) in October, as an animal rights issue. I quit smoking New Years Day cold turkey (after having smoked at least a pack a day for 20 years) and have not turned back since. It never occurred to me that my change in diet aided my quit.
Hi everyone. Me and my finance decided to stop smoking together. His been smoking since he was 16 and me since I was 19. His 24 now and I’m 23. I decided to stop because I got very sick. I had a very bad chest at times. Sometimes I battled to breathe when I was sleeping. Now I’m eating a bit better, We do long walks in the afternoon and nothing stinks like smoke. It’s been 4 days without a smoke. I do still have cravings. But everytime we feel like one, we do something that keeps our mind occupied. We are doing great. The best of all is that our one friend has decided to stop as well. Pray for us. We need to keep this up. Best of luck to all of you. May God give you the strengh to stop.
great site. i am commited to quitting (35 years of smoking) i will check back
best
Just completing my 3rd day after 40 years of smoking. It’s brutal. Drinking a lot of water. Bought some grape tomatoes today for munchies. Wearing a patch. It’s still brutal but I can do this.
Hey Steve, I hope you’re 6 days healthier than me.
Best2all
I quit smoking 2 weeks ago and just a minute ago i smoked a cigaratte and it tasted like an ashtray. I puked and kept on saying sorry sorry sorry to my self. Now im coughing and i drank a liter of milk to get rid of that taste. I quit coffee and tea and smoking together. I started to eat healthy and YES its true healthy food makes u hate smoking. I FEEL SO BAD for smoking half a cigaratte
Hi all,
This is my first time quitting, been at it for 4 days now, and i didn’t even plan it! i think the best thing was just waking up one morning and saying ‘today i wont smoke’ i completely agree with Olivia. now i am saying i wont ever smoke! but my oh my is it a struggle! want to say well done to you all and I QUIT, don’t be disheartened at least you haven’t giving up trying to give up! x
I quit chewing on Nov 11, it’s been very difficult. I’ve gained twenty pounds, my pants don’t fit, my suits don’t fit. I’m just plain fat. But I’m not chewing. Keep in mind folks, those who know say you’re not out of the nicotine dependancy woods until you’ve gone 24 months without any, so you MUST keep your guard up for at least that long. Say to yourself NOPE (Not One Puff Ever) every time you smell smoke. And after 24 months you’re still not done. You can never ever let your guard down. You must always be on guard. Your brain will rewire the nicotine dependancy instantly even 20 years down the road. You can never go back and you’re an addicted fool if you think you can.
Every smoker out there wishes they had the guts to be in your shoes, to have quit 3 days/weeks/months ago. They’re too weak though, you’re not. You can do it.
Eat your veggies. Broccoli is great. Keep a bag of it at your desk and shovel it down your throat as fast as you need to. Cauliflower is great too. Carrots are awesome. Buy the bag of all three mixed together at King Soopers. Buy a bag a day if you need to, it’s cheaper than smoking. Drink green tea. Drink lots of green tea. Watch your weight climb. But at least you’re not smoking. The weight will come back down. Put $5 a day into a piggy bank, in three months go buy yourself a new townie cruiser bike to help start pulling the pounds off. Ride the bike everywhere.
I’ve been four months now, don’t you wish you were me? BE ME! Quit now, suffer through it, put four months behind you. I’ve still got a long way to go but at least I’m on my way. The worst may or may not be behind me. I’ve made it nine months before. This time I’m smarter though. I didn’t know the 24 month rule. I do now. BE ME!