How to Quit Smoking Naturally

In the US today, cigarette smoking causes one-third of all cancer fatalities and one-fourth of all fatal heart attacks. In addition to this, there are many illnesses and diseases that are a direct result of cigarette smoking. This includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, assorted respiratory ailments, angina, peptic ulcers, heartburn, and diarrhea. A recent estimate is that smoking is a factor in more than 15% of all of the deaths occurring annually in the US. Obviously, smoking is a high-risk behavior with deadly consequences. Smokers can expect to shorten their lives by approximately ten to fifteen years. Intellectually most people will agree that smoking is a very harmful activity. Overcoming the addictions associated with cigarette smoking can be an overwhelming prospect, however. It can be done, though, and it can be done naturally without substituting other harmful ingredients that can further jeopardize one's health.

For every cigarette smoked, over 4,000 toxic chemicals are inhaled into the body. Over forty of these chemicals have been directly linked to cancer. Nicotine is one such chemical and is considered extremely addictive because with ingestion it facilitates the natural release of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. In so doing, it also stimulates the production of adrenaline, which elevates blood pressure and heart rate.

Nicotine can be ingested by chewing, sniffing, or smoking. When ingested it creates a relaxed feeling. With continued use, the body develops not only a physical and psychological addiction to nicotine, but a drug tolerance as well. This means that more nicotine will be required to achieve the same feelings of relaxation. This also means that if nicotine ingestion is stopped, withdrawal symptoms will result.

Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms

-Anger
-Anxiety
-Craving
-Difficulty Concentrating
-Frustration
-Irritability
-Elevated Appetite
-Elevated Blood Pressure
-Headache
-Reduced Heart Rate
-Feelings of Restlessness
-Stomach Irritability

Smoking cigarettes places nitrogen dioxide ozone in the body. This chemical damages DNA and reduces the amount of vitamin C available for use by the body. When DNA is compromised and vitamin C is reduced the body will not be able to fight off illness and aging will be accelerated.

Aside from the physical addiction to the chemicals in cigarettes, there is also an emotional addiction to smoking. Many smokers smoke in response to stress, boredom, and anxiety. For this reason, people who are in the process of quitting smoking may benefit from counseling or a support group for smokers. Subliminal or hypnosis recordings are effective tools to stop smoking as well.

Tips to Quit Smoking

-Acute cigarette cravings typically last no more than five minutes.
-Nicotine cravings will become more manageable with each passing success of not smoking.
-Try exercising or taking a walk when cravings occur.
-Avoid other people smoking.
-Completely eliminate alcoholic beverages while quitting smoking.
-Drink large amounts of water.
-Increase the amount of raw fruits, vegetables, and fiber in the diet.
-Eliminate saturated fats, processed foods, and refined sugars from the diet.
-Consider a colon and/or liver cleanse.
-Avoid stress during the quitting process.

After quitting smoking, the lungs must be given adequate time to heal and regenerate. During this time, it is important to be very careful about one's environment and the surrounding conditions.

Suggestions to Help Lungs Repair:

-Wear a mask if working with strong chemicals.
-Avoid air filters that emit ozone into the air. These may further damage the lungs.
-Do not attempt to dry up lung mucous. Mucous is the body's method for expelling toxins from the lungs.
-Avoid second-hand smoke at all costs, as well as other strong toxic chemical odors.
-Avoid dairy foods because they produce excess mucous. Mucous producing foods place added stress on the lungs.
-Aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme, ginger, horse radish, and cayenne may help one feel better.
-Get lots of fresh air and outdoor exercise every day.
-Yoga may also helpful.

Great Tips to Quit Smoking Cigarettes

Write a list of the reasons why you want to stop and keep them with you. Refer to them when tempted to light up. Even though your Camel brand has been next to you for so many years. You may wish to read a separate leaflet in this series called 'Smoking - The Facts'. This gives the reasons why smoking is so harmful and lists the benefits of stopping.

Set a date for stopping, and stop completely. (Some people prefer the idea of cutting down gradually. However, research has shown that if you smoke less cigarettes than usual, you are likely to smoke more of each cigarette, and nicotine levels remain nearly the same. Therefore, it is usually best to stop once and for all from a set date.)

Tell everyone that you are giving up smoking. Friends and family often give support and may help you. Smoking by others in the household makes giving up harder. If appropriate, try to get other household members who smoke, or friends who smoke, to stop smoking at the same time. A 'team' effort may be easier than going it alone. Even though there are cigarette stores online where you can easier, be on the same position.

Get rid of ashtrays, lighters, and all cigarettes.

Be prepared for some withdrawal symptoms. When you stop smoking, you are likely to get symptoms which may include: nausea (feeling sick), headaches, anxiety, irritability, craving, and just feeling awful. These symptoms are caused by the lack of nicotine that your body has been used to. They tend to peak after 12-24 hours, and then gradually ease over 2-4 weeks.

Anticipate a cough. It is normal for a 'smokers cough' to get worse when you stop smoking (as the airways 'come back to life'). Many people say that this makes them feel worse for a while after stopping smoking and makes them tempted to restart smoking. Resist this temptation! The cough usually gradually eases.

Be aware of situations in which you are most likely to want to smoke. In particular, drinking alcohol is often associated with failing in an attempt to stop smoking. You should consider not drinking much alcohol in the first few weeks after stopping smoking. Try changing your routine for the first few weeks. For example, don't go to the pub for a while if that is a tempting place to smoke and drink alcohol. Also, if drinking tea and coffee are difficult times, try drinking mainly fruit juice and plenty of water instead.

Take one day at a time. Mark off each successful day on a calendar. Look at it when you feel tempted to smoke, and tell yourself that you don't want to start all over again.

Be positive. You can tell people that you don't smoke. You will smell better. After a few weeks you should feel better, taste your food more, and cough less. You will have more money. Perhaps put away the money you would have spent on cigarettes for treats.

Food. Some people worry about gaining weight when they give up smoking as the appetite may improve. Anticipate an increase in appetite, and try not to increase fatty or sugary foods as snacks. Try sugar-free gum and fruit instead.

Don't despair if you fail. Examine the reasons why you felt it was more difficult at that particular time. It will make you stronger next time. On average, people who eventually stop smoking have made 3 or 4 previous attempts.