Mel Braham, health and wellness specialist at B-well CBD, has revealed the most effective ways to quit smoking ahead of Stoptober, and his tips can be found below.
Mel said: “It is disappointing to see that almost half of smokers have been smoking more during the pandemic; it makes this year’s Stoptober campaign even more poignant than usual. There are many tips and tricks you can implement to help quit smoking this Stoptober:
Physical Activity:
Physical activity can help distract you from tobacco cravings and reduce their intensity. Even a short burst of physical activity such as running up and down the stairs can make a tobacco craving go away. Getting out for a walk or jog can quickly cut cravings and may help your brain produce anti-craving chemicals.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy:
Nicotine replacement therapy is a medication that provides you with a low level of nicotine, without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke.
It can help reduce unpleasant withdrawal effects, such as bad moods and cravings which may occur when you stop smoking. It is available in many forms, including nicotine patches, tablets, chewing gum and nasal sprays. Patches release nicotine slowly and therefore can be worn for long periods of time. However, for a quick fix, inhalators, chewing gum and sprays act more quickly and may be better for helping with cravings. If you like the routine of holding a cigarette, there are handheld products like the inhalator or e-cigarettes that you can hold instead.
CBD Oil:
CBD has been proven not to be addictive and can be a fantastic alternative for people who are seeking to quit smoking or eliminate their consumption of nicotine. CBD is known to have many benefits such as anti-inflammation, enhancement of sleep, anti-anxiety properties and many more; vaping CBD is therefore a much healthier alternative to smoking.
Diet:
It’s also worth considering your diet and food and drink intake; eating habits can be one of the first things to change when a person quits smoking, in large part due to the hand-to-mouth cravings being substituted for something else. Making healthy food choices will help keep your weight down, help to reduce stress, and help to minimize nicotine withdrawals.
Daily Routine:
You may also want to change up your daily routine and add activities to replace your regular smoking breaks. The times you normally reach for a cigarette, aim to have a distraction activity planned in, such as walking the dog, instead.’
