Did you know that each cigarette destroys 25 mg of vitamin C, essential for its virtues antioxidants ? Numerous studies have shown that the smoking population is largely deficient in vitamin C, which leaves the door open to all sorts of pathologies.

Vitamin C and selenium help neutralize toxins such as cadmium that are absorbed with smoke. Cadmium is the enemy of zinc, so smokers need more zinc. Smoking also reduces magnesium levels. If you are a smoker, you are at risk of vitamin B6 and B12 deficiencies. It is advisable to increase your dietary intake of calcium, magnesium and selenium.

Smoking: smokers frequently have a small appetite

Smoking speeds up the metabolism of caffeine, so you may need more and more coffee. Be careful about increasing your need for caffeine.

Smoking can inhibit pancreatic enzymes, creating digestive problems.

If you are trying to smoke less, you may find that sunflower seeds (containing oils and B vitamins) have a soothing effect.

If you are trying to quit smoking, help yourself to some foods that lower the craving for nicotine:

• Boiled flakes or oat bran have long been used by Ayurvedic medicine practitioners in India to treat opium addiction. Once this addiction is overcome, smokers lose interest in cigarettes.
• Alkaline foods, such as spinach and beet greens, tend to put nicotine back into the bloodstream. This would decrease the need for the drug.
• Other foods, such as meat, which make the urine more acidic, tend to wash away nicotine and thus increase the urge to smoke.
• A diet rich in alkaline foods and low in acidic foods should help to gradually break this bad habit. It would appear that the use of these foods has no effect on those who would go through cold turkey.
• A study by Dr. Daughton showed that smokers who were given baking soda to increase their body's alkalinity had an easier time quitting smoking.
• If you use nicotine gum to curb your cravings, be aware that acidic foods can make it completely ineffective and may even cause you to smoke more to get the nicotine you want. Therefore, avoid consuming acidic foods or beverages for 15 minutes before chewing the gum. The beverages particularly targeted here are colas, coffee, fruit juices and beer.

Smoking: help with heavy smoking