FOOD & CIGARETTES
Food Can Decrease the Intensity of Nicotine Dependence
One of the hardest habits to break is by far smoking.
Besides the fact that nicotine is addictive, it’s very difficult to let go of the routine of taking a smoke break.
Quitting smoking requires a whole lot of will power, commitment, and determination. There are dozens of methods for quitting: from going cold turkey to gradually reducing daily intake and from nicotine patches and gum to hypnosis and prescription medicines.
However, the best of methods is actually at everyone disposal: Food
A study, conducted at Duke University states that certain foods boost the taste of cigarettes while other foods make cigarettes taste awful.
GINSENG
Studies have shown that ginseng, when taken weekly, prevents the “pleasure” neurotransmitter dopamine from being released when smoking a cigarette.
4 foods make cigarettes taste horrible:
• Non-carbonated beverages (water and fruit juice)
• Fruits (apples, oranges and bananas)
• Dairy Products (milk and cheese)
• Vegetables (carrots and celery sticks)
VITAMIN C
Oranges, lemons, and pomegranates are loaded with vitamin C, which cigarettes have been shown to deplete from the body system.
MILK
According to a Duke University study, smokers who drank a glass of milk prior to smoking thought that the cigarette tasted terrible, with a bitter aftertaste.
VEGETABLES
Vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumber, zucchini, and eggplant also make cigarettes taste awful, on the other hand, holding them as sticks can keep the hands busy.
Peas and corn increase craving.
The glucose in them can increase smoking craving by stimulating the areas of the brain responsible for pleasure and satisfaction.
FOODS WITH NICOTINE CONTENT
Stop the smoking but keep the nicotine
Most people who smoke are aware of the hazards of smoking and wish they can quit; but nicotine addiction makes quitting real difficult.
Younger smokers who stop can have a normal life expectancy, and even older smokers who stop add years and quality to their life expectancy.
A study performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that some foods that we consume on a regular basis contain measurable levels of nicotine.
These foods are loaded with vitamins and minerals, they also contain other compounds that promote good health and help preventing cancer and lowering cholesterol.
Vegetables with Nicotine
Ingestion is different from inhalation or smoking
Here are a few common vegetables and plants, mostly from the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, shown to have nicotine content.
Average explains how much nicotine is present in every 1 gram of food.
TOMATO
Average of 7.1 -7.3 ng/g wet weight.
Findings also show that the nicotine level decreases as the tomato ripens. Tomatoes are found to possess a nicotine alkaloid called tomatine.
BLACK TEA
Have up to 100 ng/g nicotine concentration. Instant teas show higher nicotine content with a concentration of up to 285 ng/g.
POTATO
Average of 15 ng/g wet weight. Nicotine is higher in green and sprouting potatoes 42.8 ng/g compared to the 4.3 ng/g in ripe potatoes. Pureed potatoes have higher nicotine content 52 ng/g.
It contains a nicotine alkaloid called solanine, which is highly concentrated on its skin. High levels of solanine are actually fatal posing considerable health risks.
PEPPER
Common peppers have a solanine concentration of 7.7 – 9.2 mg per 100 grams.
CAULIFLOWER
16.8 ng/g of nicotine are found in a cauliflower which is not part of the nightshade family
EGGPLANT
It has a concentration of 100ng/g of nicotine. It is second highest next to tobacco among the nightshade family where nicotine alkaloids are commonly present.
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