Did you know that 14 percent of adults over the age of 18 smoke cigarettes? While this is a huge decline from 2005, in which 20.9 percent of people smoked cigarettes, there are still a lot of people out there who smoke and who want to quit smoking.
But quitting smoking is no easy feat. In fact, it is estimated that it takes 8 to 11 tries to quit smoking before you succeed.
For many people, the hardest part of quitting smoking is dealing with the cravings. Even if someone hasn’t touched a cigarette in months, when a craving strikes, it can be really hard to say no.
Luckily, there are some healthy things you can do to help keep your cravings at bay. What are they?
Read on to learn the top three healthy things to do to help fight cigarette cravings.
1. Replace the Cigarette With Something Else
For many people, the urge to smoke cigarettes comes from the urge to do something with their mouths.
The problem is that in place of cigarettes many people turn to munching on potato chips or other kinds of junk food.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to find a healthier alternative.
One of the best things to do is to drink water in place of smoking. Drinking water helps you feel full, it flushes out toxins in your body, and it keeps your skin and whole body hydrated.
You could also try chewing on some sugar-free gum, or if you really want to replicate the act of smoking cigarettes, consider vaping. Vaping is like smoking, but without all of the nasty chemicals.
And there are many vape/e-liquid flavors that actually taste good. You can learn about where to buy e-liquids online here.
Lastly, consider munching on healthier foods, like fruits and vegetables. Carrots and celery sticks are especially good because they have that satisfying “crunch factor” to them.
2. Keep Your Hands Busy
When trying to fight cravings, it can also help to keep your hands busy. Even if you aren’t one who normally works with your hands, there are a lot of things you can do that you probably don’t even realize.
For example, you could draw, write in your journal, play a musical instrument, garden, knit, sew, or read.
Journaling can be especially useful when trying to quit smoking cigarettes, as it can help you uncover triggers that you may not even realize exist. Every time you journal during a craving, write down where you are, who you’re with, and how you’re feeling. Chances are, you’ll start to recognize patterns regarding when your cravings occur.
3. Move Your Body
From better cardiovascular health to improved mood to weight loss, there are about a thousand reasons to start exercising.
If you’re still in search of a good reason to finally buy that gym membership, here it is: exercising can actually help fight cigarette cravings.
That’s right, according to a number of different studies, even just small bouts of exercise can help one fight off cravings and deal with symptoms of withdrawal.
And don’t worry, exercise doesn’t have to mean running endless miles on the treadmill. You could go swimming, dancing, rock climbing, hiking – really, whatever you enjoy to get your body moving.
As you can see, there are a lot of simple things you can do to fight cigarette cravings and improve your health at the same time. Comment below if you have any questions!
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