If you have been smoking for many years, the chemicals in cigarettes have also caused damage to your lungs, liver, brain, heart, and arteries. When you choose to quit smoking you have taken the first step in reversing the damage to your body. Here are some other keys to begin the journey of restoring your health and body.
A Healthy Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet fills your body with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals to repair cellular damage caused by smoking. As a former smoker, you should eat well-balanced meals full of vegetables, fish, fruits and whole grains. Limit your intake of fast food, fried foods, processed foods and foods high in saturated fats. Consume meats in moderation. Drink lots of filtered or bottled water daily.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is very vital antioxidant, which protects cells, organs, and arteries from cigarette smoke damage. Vitamin E also lowers your risk of heart disease and cancer. Foods high in Vitamin E are sunflower seeds, nuts, eggs, milk, watercress, sweet potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, and dark green leafy vegetables.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is an extremely important antioxidant. It helps the flow of oxygen to the brain. Since smokers at risk for heart disease and heart attack, CoQ10 gives former smokers the protection for their heart and lungs. Foods with Coenzyme Q10 are salmon, sardines, mackerel, beef, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, almonds, peanuts and spinach, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, sweet peppers, avocado and carrots. Coenzyme Q10 supplement is also recommended.
Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids
Studies have revealed that anytime that smoking depletes the body of Vitamin C. The result of a depletion of Vitamin C exposes you to colds, flu’s, viruses and bronchitis. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that guards the immune system from environmental radicals and viruses. It is important to eat more foods rich in Vitamin C like spinach, strawberries, grapefruit, oranges, kiwi, papaya, pineapple, green vegetables, broccoli and bell peppers. Vitamin C is available as a powdered supplement and in liquid form. This is also effective in restoring the body’s immune system fully.
Vitamin B Complex
Smoking weakens your body's ability to repair and develop healthy cells. Vitamin B complex is essential for sustaining healthy cell activity and development. This vitamin is also for proper liver function, permits the nervous system to work properly and repairs damage to the lungs. Foods with a high B complex content are fish, liver, whole grains, eggs and green leafy vegetables. The Vitamin B complex liquid supplement is also effective.
Grapeseed Extract
Research shows that this supplement repairs and heals the lungs from cigarette smoking. This can be found at your local health store.
As you continue to taking care of your body, eat the right foods and get the right nutrients, your health will be restored from many years of smoking.
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