Quit Smoking Now and Re-Gain Your Health the Natural Way

It may be at the top of your New Year's resolution list: to finally stop smoking. And, while drugs and chemical products may seem like an easy answer, they are not without their side effects. Before you spend hundreds of dollars trying to quit smoking with medications, try the natural approach first.

Why is it so hard to quit smoking? Because it is an addictive process! Medically speaking, when you smoke you experience enhanced dopamine activity that occurs under the influence of the chemicals released by the tobacco.  When this happens, you feel calm and your short term concentration is increased.  It makes you “feel good” for a short period of time.

Unfortunately, the problem with “feeling good” is that it only lasts as long as the dopamine is present.  Your body becomes addicted because it craves more dopamine.   

On top of that, many people have given up on the thought of quitting because they have been smoking for 20 or 30 years and believe there is no point in stopping now because it is too late. This is the furthest thing from the truth. The fact is that your body will see immediate results, no matter how long you have been smoking.  It will take some time to realize the maximum benefits, but if your desire is to gain control of your health and achieve the same health of someone who has never smoked, it can be accomplished!

Before we get into some of the natural ways to aid you in your quest for a smoke-free life, here is a timeline to help you understand the process and help you keep tabs of where you are in your recovery. It will also keep you motivated to stay on track!

Timeline of health benefits for quitting smoking:

• In just 30 minutes from the time of your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse will lower. This is part of the reason people who smoke are more susceptible to heart disease. 
  
  
• 8 hours after quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide levels in your blood will drop as oxygen levels are increased. Your chances of a heart attack have already begun to decline.
  
  
• After two days, you will begin to smell and taste properly again.  Most smokers do not even realize their senses of taste and smell have changed . . . until they quit. Food will taste much better and scents will be much more intense.
  
  
• As early as day three, your breathing will start to improve.  Your bronchial tubes are finally allowed to relax, which allows more oxygen to enter, and leads to easier breathing.
  
  
• After one year, your chances of heart disease and lung cancer will decrease by 50 percent. 
  
  
• In eight to 10 years, almost all aspects of your health will improve and be near the levels of someone who has never smoked.  Of course, it will depend on how long you smoked as to what damage was already been done and cannot be reversed. But your overall well-being and your “at risk” chances will have reduced drastically.
  
  

Natural methods to help you along your smoke-free journey:

• St. John’s Wort is often used as an anti-depressant; however, it has been found to help smokers in lessening their cravings.  It works by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain. This is something to take right after you quit smoking.
  
  
• Hypnotherapy provides a psychological approach to quitting smoking.  It centers on the subconscious mind to not submit to the nicotine addiction.  During the relaxation period, the therapist has a way to instill the message to stay away from cigarettes. 
  
  
• Quitting “cold turkey” is the most natural way to quit smoking. There is no help from any other product; you simply must have a strong will and desire to quit.  And, while it is the most natural, it is usually the hardest way because there is no gradual process and you must deal with all the effects of withdrawal your body is going through. One way to help this method along is to drink a lot of water as doing so will help rid your body of toxins from the tobacco.
  

It may seem like an impossible feat at the start, but don’t lose hope. The health rewards of beating your smoking addiction are well worth the effort.