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Anti-Smoking Diet

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Have you tried the patch or anti-smoking medication, but still can't fight the craving for a cigarette? If you're like many people who made it their New Year's resolution to quit smoking…you may have already failed. What you might not know is there are foods proven to help--and hurt--when you're trying to kick the habit. Amanda McKinney has quit smoking in the past…but it never lasted very long. "I was pregnant in '05. I did quit then, and I thought that had cured me and right after I had her I started up again," Amanda remembers. Amanda says there are times when she craves a cigarette and just can't fight it. "Well, yeah I do have a cigarette in the morning with my coffee. That's like a big deal." A new study from Duke University found foods like coffee, alcohol and meat make cigarettes taste better. Researcher Joseph McClernon isn't sure why, but it could be part of a psychological addiction. "So if a smoker knows that their cup of coffee in the morning makes their cigarette taste really good…then that cup of coffee can serve as a trigger to smoke again once they quit," McClernon explains. The survey also found that some foods make cigarettes taste worse: Things like dairy products, water, juice, fruits, and vegetables. Notice the foods that make cigarettes taste bad are all considered healthy: Fruits, vegetables, milk and water. That means smokers have several low calorie options when they're trying to quit. "A lot of times people tell us that the reason that they don't quit smoking is because they are worried about gaining weight," McClernon says. Another thing that helps the urge for a cigarette pass: Exercise. "Exercise can help smokers ward off cravings for cigarettes and also ward off some of the withdrawal symptoms that smokers experience when they quit smoking," McClernon points out. Amanda has already added family exercise to her routine. "Well, we actually started playing basketball, and on those nights no, I didn't have one in the evening," she recalls. She is also going to try to change her diet to help fight the urge to light up! Doctor McClernon admits changes in diet and exercise aren't always enough. He recommends people also use the patch or anti-smoking medication. Duke University researchers say their findings could lead to an 'Anti-Cigarette Diet'….or a lozenge to help smokers quit.

Next Article in 4 Your Health: 4 Your Health: The pros and cons of the alkaline diet

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