Eating lots of vegetables and fruits can help you quit smoking, according to a University at Buffalo study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research . The study authors followed the habits of 1,000 smokers over the age of 25 in the United States for 14 months. And in this way they verified that the diet, specifically the high consumption of fruits and vegetables , was a common trait in those who had managed to quit smoking during that period. What the authors do not know is whether increasing the intake of vegetables allows quitting cigarettes, or if this habit arises in non-smokers after quitting tobacco.
On the other hand, the study also reveals that smokers who eat more daily amounts of fruit and vegetables tend to take longer to smoke the first cigarette of the day and are less dependent on nicotine . "We just identified a tool that can help you quit, or at least make it easier," says Jeffrey P. Haibach. According to the researcher, a possible explanation would be that consuming vegetables and fruits with a high amount of fiber helps to feel full, and that reduces the urge to smoke. To this is added that the flavor of fruits not only does not enhance the flavor of tobacco, but it even worsens it. "That is another factor that could help break addiction to tobacco," the scientists conclude.
