On the path to a healthy, smoke-free life, nutritious food is your fuel. It not only sustains you and gives you energy, it can also be restorative - undoing some of the harm that smoking has done. You will delight in the new flavors that you can taste, now that your taste buds aren't dulled by cigarettes.
To combat your cancer risks, smokers and nonsmokers alike can benefit from the antioxidant properties of certain foods, especially fruits and veggies. The health of our bones also depends upon fruits and vegetables. This is important news for those who have smoked, since cigarette smoking can lead to bone loss and osteoporosis.
Smoking may also kick start the premature wrinkling and aging of the skin. A well-balanced diet, rich with vitamins and minerals, can help you contend with the damage done to your skin by the bad habit. Vitamin C, in fact, is a great defense for your skin against the free radicals produced by smoking.
Even though food portions have increased over the years, you don't have to clear your plate to get your money's worth. Figure out which foods will give you the most energy and that "full" feeling - but with the fewest calories, including fiber-rich snacks like veggies or popcorn.
To get the most nutritional benefit out of your new smoke-free nutrition choices, seek a healthful variety of meals and snacks.