Needless to say, you don’t always need a doctor to tell you that the way you eat can either help or hinder your lifestyle. For example, how would you feel after eating a bar of chocolate versus a bowl of chicken soup if you were hungry? However, as it turns out, smokers might not have to worry too much about augmenting their diet. Especially if they know which shelf to check at the drug store. As it turns out, nutrient-rich vitamins and supplements might be able to help you stop smoking. This can be an amazing benefit given that smokers already suffer from poor health. Let’s take a closer look at some vitamins that may help you quit smoking altogether.
Multivitamin Essentials
No matter how many cigarettes you consume in a day or week, smoking in any shape or form is extremely detrimental to your health. It strips your body of essential nutrients. To regain your grade-A health and energy, your best option is to plot a healthier dietary regimen. Add some leafy greens, lots of protein, and unrefined carbohydrates (e.g. barley, oats).
As it turns out, though, food might not always be enough, so you can always add a multivitamin to kick your system into high gear. Not only that, but some nutrients in these vitamins will help you regain all that energy you lost. These vitamins can do a lot more for ones body and mind than just helping them stop smoking.
Vitamin B Complex…Not so Complex
According to medical reports, B vitamins might, in theory, put a damper on those pesky nicotine cravings and irritability. We can definitely reassure you that these lifesaving substances will do great for your body. B vitamins (including B1, B12, B6, and B9) rebuild your hair, eyes, skin, and liver. Also, all parts of your body that have sustained hefty damage from cigarette smoke.
Niacin (Vitamin B6)
Did you know that one essential B vitamin has a chemical structure that is nearly identical to that of nicotine? In fact, doctors switched its longer name from nicotinic acid to niacin to help people identify between the two substances. After all, who would be attracted to a supplement that shares a name with a nasty stimulant drug?
While science has not proven that niacin can be used as part of medication-assistance therapy for smokers, niacin does work in an especially unique way. In the same manner that opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain, niacin tags onto the nicotine receptors. This may explain why these vitamins can help you quit smoking. However, keep in mind that large doses of this B vitamin can trigger liver damage. Make sure to speak to your doctor before you consume this substance.
Seeking Treatment for Cigarette Use
Remember that addiction can be triggered by one shot of alcohol or a single puff of a cigarette, but the true danger of this sickness is that you cannot fully determine how much you have to consume before your mind forms an attachment. Social smoking is just as dangerous as chronic smoking, on many levels, but you do not have to smoke to have a good time. Remember, drugs cannot determine if you have fun and do not have control over your life.
If you are suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction, or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of alcohol withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step toward becoming a healthier person.