5 Things That Can Help You Quit Smoking This Year

Smoking is one habit you may want to consider dropping for a lot of reasons. It’s the new year and you probably plan to quit smoking as one of your resolutions for the new year simply because of the short and long term effects it will have on your health. Smoking cigarettes can cause several diseases including lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other cardiovascular diseases.

The truth however is that the thought of dropping this dangerous habit is not as simple as it seems with as much as 27 percent of the adult population of Nigeria being smokers. However, a large section of Nigerian youths estimated to be about 15 million need to quit smoking because of research studies which link smoking of cigarettes to cancer and heart diseases.

If you’re one of those people that need to quit smoking, don’t worry as it’s never too late to do so. Here are five strategies you can employ to help you achieve your new year resolution of quitting cigarettes which would help you live a longer and healthier life.

Take To Social Media
A research conducted in the University of Georgia found out that people can quit smoking by sharing their experiences on social media with 140 characters or less. The research also found that people who share their experiences on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are more likely to be successful at quitting smoking than people who look for support off the Internet.

Going on the Internet helped smokers to link up with people with whom they had like minds with. The researchers also found that the more connected you feel to like-minded people on social media on a common goal, the more likely you are to curtail your cravings and drop your habit on the long run.

Jog Instead Of Lighting A Stick
According to a scientific study published in the journal of addiction in 2015, smokers who are craving a cigarette can easily overcome the urge by hitting the pavement, running. The researchers found out that exercises have the ability to distract a smoker from wanting to take a puff. It can also help to break a sweat which can help to improve your mood while boosting your ability to control your actions. There’s also a significant reduction in you acting impulsively.

Mobile Applications
A number of mobile applications exist which can help you quit smoking. A common one is Quitpal which is free on IOS and Windows phone. This app was produced by the United States National Cancer Institute and has interesting features such as connecting you with other social media networks so friends can help you stay on track.
The application can also help you track the amount of money you save from quitting smoking and the most interesting feature yet is that it sends encouraging texts, which can help increase the likelihood of quitting cigarettes.

Eat A Lot Of Fruit And Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables have been found to be of tremendous help in curtailing the habit of smokers. A study conducted in 2012 at the University of Buffalo found that smokers that consumed lots of fruits and vegetables were more likely to quit smoking or stay off any tobacco products longer than others. The cravings for foods and cigarettes are closely linked to the same area of the brain and can often times be confused with one another. As such, consuming a diet that is rich in fibers can help to make you feel fuller and reduce your cravings for cigarettes.

Milk Should Be Your Favourite
Researchers at Duke university found that smokers that consumed milk were less likely to crave smoking cigarettes. The after taste of milk in the mouth of smokers was found to be a turn off.