Did you know smoking can be harmful not only for you but also for the people who inhale the smoke passively? Although many people use smoking to relieve stress, it can quickly turn into an addiction, which is harmful.
This article presents you with the safe and natural options that will help you stop smoking naturally. Read on to know more!
12 Effective Strategies for a Nicotine-Free Life:
Determination is the key when you want to quit a habit like smoking. There is temptation throughout, making the process even more difficult. No shortcut will make you quit smoking cold turkey. It would be best to prepare yourself for the withdrawal symptoms and use tips that give you consistent and permanent results.
1. Create a List of Reasons to Quit Smoking:
People who are chain smokers often have a realization that will make them determined to quit smoking. Making a list to remind yourself of why you led you to make this decision is one of the first and necessary steps to quit smoking. Make sure you choose a reason that is strong enough to control the urge to light a smoke.
- To protect your family from passive smoking.
- Reduce the chance of getting chronic health issues.
- Save money. Etc,.
2. Be Active:
Sitting in one place has become a way of working for many of us. This can be a reason that can trigger nicotine cravings making you fall off the wagon. Being active is the best way to quit smoking.
Keeping yourself involved in one activity or the other such as swimming, jogging, skating, etc. can be very beneficial as it leaves little time for your cravings to pop up in your mind.
If you are not an active person, then it is high time you pick up a few new hobbies that keep you engaged and maintain your body’s health.
3. Switch to a Healthy Diet Plan:
Once you decided to quit smoking and the changes you make in your lifestyle, healthy eating habits are also necessary. Including fresh fruits and vegetables help you control the cravings of nicotine.
Diet doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself; eating healthy is the key. Try to include foods that can benefit your body’s overall health, such as lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Pineapple is one of the best fruits that help reduce the inflammation caused by nicotine’s constant use and maintain your lungs’ healthy functioning.
4. Drink Plenty of Water:
Water plays an essential role in detoxifying your body. This is the reason why we are recommended to drink at least 8 liters of water per day. Drinking an ample amount of water is the best method to stop smoking and fight against addictions.
Continuous smoking forms nicotine deposits in your body, damaging the tissues. By consuming water in large quantities, it slowly flushes out the chemical deposition and keeps yourself hydrated.
Water helps you fight the addiction and accelerates the healing process effectively.
5. Sip Herbal or Green Tea:
Green tea has health-promoting compounds making it one of the best home remedies to quit smoking. Sipping a cup of hot herbal or green tea will divert your mind from cigarettes. It also helps your body heal from the damage caused by smoking continuously. It is seen that green tea reduces the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke (1)(2).
Once you decide to stop smoking, start the habit of sipping a herbal tea of your choice or green tea.
Read: Best Herbal Teas You Should Try Today
6. Vitamin C:
The first few weeks when you stop smoking are the most challenging and stressful times. This is when people need the most support, and your body needs supplements to help quit smoking (3).
The antioxidants present in vitamin C help eliminate the toxins from your body, which is why it is also called a garbage collector. It controls the craving for nicotine by cleansing your body. It trains your body not to crave nicotine.
Vitamin C plays a vital role in fighting withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, irritability, anxiety, depression by improving nerve function.
7. Consume Ginseng:
Controlling the craving for nicotine is one of the biggest roadblocks many people face when planning to quit smoking. This is where ginseng comes to the rescue. It is one of the best natural ways to stop smoking.
According to many studies, ginseng can be a therapeutic replacement for nicotine, making smoking less appealing (4).
Ginseng can be consumed by preparing a tea or add the powder into your soup or juice. So without any delay, add ginseng to your routine and achieve your goal quickly.
8. St. John’s Wort:
St. John’s wort is one of the best herbal supplements that help you to quit smoking. It is also a herb that is commonly used to treat depression.
The rich dose of antioxidants present in St. John’s wort helps you control the craving you have for nicotine, especially when trying to quit smoking. It is an option that can be used for people who want to avoid using nicotine replacement therapy to quit smoking.
This herb’s primary use is for depression; more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in smoking cessation.
Although the usage of St. John’s wort is safe, pregnant or nursing women and kids should avoid consuming it.
Read: Effect of Smoking During Pregnancy
9. Aromatherapy with Essential Oil:
Quitting to smoke is not easy as it takes a toll on people emotionally. Stress is one of the common contributors to many people who smoke. The effects of essential oils vary from person to person.
Aromatherapy with essential oils can help calm your mind relax your body, diverting your mind from the nicotine withdrawal (5).
Some of the essential oils that can be used during an aromatherapy session are:
- Black Pepper Essential Oil
- Sweet Orange Essential Oil
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential Oil
Although there are positive effects of essential oils, more research is needed to prove their effectiveness to help you quit smoking.
10. Seek Advice From an Acupuncturist:
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that is effective in treating many health ailments. It is the most effective way to quit smoking and helps you reach your goal successfully.
According to a study, several acupoints in our body help different people in many ways. The process allows people who want to stop smoking motivated and stay on the path (6).
It is one of the natural processes that help you initially reduce the number of cigarettes and eventually quit them.
11. Practice Yoga or Exercise:
Exercise in the form of yoga has been gaining prominence among people of all ages. Yoga helps the body to relax and is considered one of the best solutions to stop smoking. It helps you control the craving for nicotine and reduces anxiety significantly.
According to researchers, yoga or exercise helps lower the blood pressure and strengthens your lungs by keeping you relaxed. It works as an alternative therapy, especially for women (7).
So, what are you waiting for? Start practicing yoga that will slowly yet effectively reduce the number of cigarettes you use every single day.
12. Use an App:
Electronic media has developed tremendously in recent years. There are apps available for absolutely everything. You can track and get motivated when you want to quit smoking with many such applications. The interface, design, and updating frequency play an essential role in designing these apps, and some of the most popular ones in the market are:
- Quit Now
- Smoke-Free
- Quit Tracker
- Easy Quit
- Quit Genius
- My Quit Buddy
- Flamy
- Stop Smoking
- Quit Smoking – Stop Smoking Counter
- Smoking Log – Stop Smoking
We all want to quit smoking for the well-being of ourselves and our family too. Unlike temporary fixes, the steps mentioned in this article will offer you a comfortable and permanent way to stop smoking naturally. We hope these tips will help you get through the challenging time and come out with flying colors.
1. Is It Safe to Quit Smoking Suddenly?
Ans: It is always a healthy option to quit smoking. But when you stop smoking suddenly, your body might go into nicotine withdrawal, making you feel irritated, moody, and severe headaches within three days. Once your body adjusts to the nicotine depletion, the functioning of your lungs improves significantly.
2. How Many Cigarettes are Too Many?
Ans: Smoking even a single cigarette per day can be harmful consequences to your body. It can also affect people around you due to passive smoking.
3. How Long Does It Take for Your Body to Adjust to the No-Smoking Habit?
Ans: Once you quit smoking, it takes two to three days for the nicotine withdrawal symptoms to reach their peak. As soon as you stop smoking, your brain chemistry needs two to three months to get back to normal.
Disclaimer: The information mentioned in this article is mere suggestions and not a replacement for professional advice. Seeking medical advice before you try anything new is recommended. The website is not responsible for the side effects that may cause.