Foods to help you quit smoking

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jul 19th 2007 2:00PM

Categories: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Over the years, I've had several friends who have tried to quit smoking, only to pick it back up the minute they walk into a bar or drink a beer. "I only smoke when I drink," they'd say. Over at The Cardio Blog, Chris wrote an intriguing post that may help explain the phenomenon. A study recently published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that certain foods enhance the flavor of cigarettes, including alcohol and caffeinated beverages. On the flip side, there are also foods that smokers reported do not go well with cigarettes, like fruits and vegetables, juice, and dairy products. It seems that healthy living and smoking don't mix, something that probably won't surprise anyone. But I'm curious...do you think that eating these foods could help curb cigarette cravings? What do you think?

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Comments (83)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

BBOTSS 8-13-2007 @ 1:11PM

"fruits and vegetables, juice, and dairy products. It seems that healthy living and smoking don't mix"

While alcohol and caffeine do increase the desire to smoke, no smoker I know has ever had a problem mixing these. They don't enhance the taste, but after a meal or snack is always a craving time.

Patti 8-13-2007 @ 8:13PM

I smoked for 20 years and tried everything. When I got pregnant at 39yrs.old, I knew I "had" to quit for my baby's health. I quit cold turkey. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I was grouchy , and felt emotional and physical withdraw. Trust me... If you want to quit bad enough, you CAN!!! I loved my smokes, and still wish they were healthy because I loved smoking, but I will never smoke again because it's too damn hard to quit!!! The first 4 months into quitting was easier for me, then it got harder. It's now been almost 3 years for me- ciggie-free! I can't believe it!!! "YOU"...yes, -->you... can do it too!

Donna 8-13-2007 @ 8:18PM

I gave up smoking 9 yrs and 2 weeks ago cold turkey, due to a heart attack at a young age. I would snack out on fruit and cut veggies when I had the craves for a cigarette and it definetley helped. I felt it helped me detox all the chemicals from the cigarettes.

saviei2 8-13-2007 @ 8:22PM

I THINK THIS IS RIGHT ON! WHO SITS AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE HAVING YOGURT WITH GRAPEFRUIT AND HAS A BURNING CIGARETTE IN AN ASHTRAY! I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SMOKE AND I KNOW MY TRIGGERS. LET'S SAY I WAS HAVING THAT GRAPEFRUIT WITH A SPLASH OF VODKA IN A SHORT GLASS AT 5:30 PM, YOU BET THERE WOULD BE A CIGARETTE BURNING IN FRONT OF ME!

marion chabot 8-13-2007 @ 8:37PM

i stoped smoking cold turkey when i ended up in the hospital cause i could not breathe,even so it was do to a cold i ended up with bronchites and could not breath,also i have an anerysm said it can also be caused by smoking and a light touch of envcyma.well,cold turkey is better then not breathing,right.it is hard trust that but i still drink my coffee and have a drink time and again.i had been smoking 47 years so if i can anyone can.
marion

MaryLou 8-13-2007 @ 8:34PM

My last cigarette was May12, 2007. I had tried everything and nothing worked. UNTIL I tried Chantix. I still get cravings at times, but not enough to go and buy a pack of cigarettes. I can even drink without smoking, no problem. But, coffee will never be the same. My daughter also had tried everything and nothinng worked UNTIL Chantix. Her last cigarette was June 1st.

elizabeth fuller 8-13-2007 @ 8:45PM

I don't believe healthy eating will make you stop. I eat healthy foods all the time and I don't drink alcohol or do drugs. I only drink 3 cups of caffienated beverages a day. The rest of the day its decaf and water. Any comments on this? I am also Physically fit and not overweight. Age- 49 yrs. old

ad 8-13-2007 @ 8:39PM

I stopped smoking completely by accident. I got injections of glutathione for a completely different reason and ever since then the act of inhaling a cigarette really grossed me out. I still smoked but didn't inhale until I just lost interest in smoking. Now, I may take one up but could never inhale them and the smell really gets to me as well as smokers smoke going up my nose and in my hair.

Ralph 8-14-2007 @ 9:24AM

I quit when my 'ex-wife to be' said I was WEAK and couldnt do it....I am proud to say I got rid of both my bad habits.....the smokes AND her!

cthickman 8-13-2007 @ 8:56PM

Just what we need...change a smoking habit for an eating habit. I am not a doctor but I have a big brain... I am sure that people smoke when they drink for the same reason some have one night stands when they drink. Intoxication causes people not to make the greatest of decisions. But they don't know it at the time for the same reason they drive home. Because they are in-toxic-ated!!

Carol 8-13-2007 @ 9:17PM

Lung cancer was actually quite low years and years ago when everybody smoked, but today, with fewer smokers, it's on the rise?

Cigarettes don't kill. Cigarettes plus EMFs kill though (such as cell phones and wireless).

Why not get rid of the real cancer sticks? - cell phones and wireless.

annab 8-13-2007 @ 9:17PM

quit123.com is the easiest way to stop smoking. it cost 500.00, but it is worth it because it makes quitting so much easier. it has been almost 2 years since my husband and i have smoked. we will never smoke again as it is toooooo expensive, and too hard to quit AND TOO unacceptable socially.
food might make smoking undesireable for a very short period of time, but the cigarette is much more important to the smoker. after a couple of puffs, you can only taste the cigarette.
good luck to those who try to quit. it is worth the effort! :)

simplyundercover 8-13-2007 @ 10:09PM

I just recently quit cold turkey after smoking 23 years. In those 23 years and still today my favorite thing to eat is fruit and veggies. I always lit up after I was done eating them. I don't drink soda, and only drink one cup of coffee a day, the rest of the time I drink water. What I drank other than alochol (which I always smoked more) never seem to have an effect on smoking. The only effect smoking had on eating for me was if there wasn't food around I would smoke instead and curve my appetite.

Gina 8-13-2007 @ 9:21PM

Set a goal...I did my first 5K race in 15 years. What was the healthy food that helped me quit cold turkey? Sour green apples!! I kept them in a glass bowl in my kitchen and grabbed one whenever I had a craving. I am on my 6th 5K and cold turkey free!! All and all you have to find something to put in your mouth...why not something healthy and you'll lose the weight and feel great while doing it! :)

Madeline York 8-13-2007 @ 9:21PM

quitting cold turkey is the ONLY way to go. I smoked for 30 years and tried many times to "taper off"
but when my Hubby was diagnosed with Emphysema
and heart problems I just decided, hey this a no brainer, him or the cigarettes. it's been 3 and 1/2 years and I never looked back. sure the cravings were there but my love for my husband was stronger.

Stella Furness 8-13-2007 @ 9:31PM

I smoked more than 2 pks. a day for30 yrs. Never ever thought I would stop smoking. I started using the patch,my doctor put me on iron pills and I started taking multi vitamins,this did help but another thing I would recommend is instead of sweet candy use atomic fireballs.I ate alot of them and gained 10 lbs. but they really really helped.Ive been smoke free for 3 yrs. and I still cant believe it!

Shelley 8-13-2007 @ 9:32PM

MaryLou, My Dr. has written me an rx for Chantix. I have not gotten it filled yet because I have tried everything that is on the market. Does Chantix really work, do you have cravings? I also heard that you can continue to smoke while taking it!? I really want to quit!
Thanks!

Julie 8-13-2007 @ 9:39PM

I quit smoking for the 6th time over a year ago. I will never smoke again, although I do miss them, it is a disgusting habit, attractive smart women don't appear to be smart and attractive with a cigarette in their mouths. The smell is offensive and the lines around the lips are as well.
I tell myself that the only thing I will ever own completely in my life is myself, and I don't want to allow anything to have control over me. It is also becoming difficult to smoke anywhere, no one does it anymore, and it is not fun to try and find a place to smoke!!
Try whatever you can, I still chew Nicorrette gum, but in the end, you must decide to quit for yourself and those who love you.

Robin 8-13-2007 @ 9:40PM

I ate chocolate. Chocolate syrup by the tablespoons. It was trading something that I love for something else that I love, too. I read this somewhere that chocolate would help with at least trading off the addiction until you get stronger. I also read Joel's website on MSN, which is very, very good! 1 and 1/2 years now. The 12 steps help and simply accept life on life's terms...big sigh..I know it isn't easy, I still crave, too, but it gets easier...the thought passes. I don't miss that smell. A cigarette is not your best friend!