Diet To Help You Stop Smoking
Quitting smoking seems like an impossible task for many people. It takes a lot of effort, especially for those who are used to smoking a lot. Keep in mind, however, that with willpower, anything is possible. In order to help you with this difficult task, we have suggested a diet to help you stop smoking.
Have healthy snacks
Quitting smoking is almost synonymous with anxiety and mood swings. In most cases, ex-smokers tend to use food to relieve anxiety, and as a result, they tend to gain weight.
When anxiety appears, we head to the fridge to eat, and for one reason or another, we end up eating more than we want to.
The reality is that anxiety is inevitable during the first week after stopping smoking. It’s normal for the body to react this way due to the lack of nicotine. However, gradually, the body adapts and the anxiety will slowly disappear.
As we previously mentioned, the anxiety (caused by the absence of nicotine) is inevitable, however, there are some tips to make the process more bearable and to prevent you from putting on weight.
- Don’t buy unhealthy food. This seems like a very simple thing, however, it takes a lot of effort to eat healthily. Keep in mind that it all becomes a lot easier if there is no junk food at home. Try to go shopping when you are feeling relaxed. This will help your judgment. The best time to go grocery shopping is after eating. When you are feeling satisfied and relaxed, you will adhere to your shopping list.
- Cook healthy snacks. A good way to keep your mind busy and to prevent thinking about smoking is to cook. You can make your own healthy snacks. You will be preparing healthy foods while keeping busy and relaxed.
- Always keep fruits in the house. Fruits are satiating and on average they have low caloric content. Select fruits that are both healthy and delicious. You can eat them directly or make fruit salads or juices.
Foods rich in vitamin C
Another tip to help you quit smoking is to consume foods that are rich in vitamin C. Did you know that smokers usually have vitamin C deficiencies?
In addition, foods that contain vitamin C are usually quite satisfying so they are suitable for calming anxiety. Here are some foods that contain this important vitamin that you can easily incorporate into your daily diet.
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflowers
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Green peppers
- Red peppers
Always carry a bottle of water
One way to calm the urge to smoke is to always carry a bottle of water with you. Every time you want to light a cigarette you can take a sip of water. In addition to calming anxiety, keeping hydrated can help to eliminate nicotine from the body.
Experts believe that nicotine takes about 20 days to be fully eliminated from the body. Once the first three weeks have passed by, the body stops asking for nicotine with such intensity, since it starts to adapt.
In addition to helping to eliminate nicotine, water does not contain any calories. Therefore, it’s a great way to feel satisfied without adding extra calories to your diet. If you follow all of the tips mentioned above, the weight gain that usually occurs when a person stops smoking will not occur in your case.