There is a question that invariably arises among those who will quit smoking, and that is the search for what to replace cigarettes in times of thirst for smoking? If you listen to different adherents of a healthy lifestyle, then you may decide that if a person asks these and similar questions, it may mean that deep down he is not ready to give up smoking, has doubts or the need forthis or for their own strength. . .
But at the same time, we must not forget that nicotine addiction in the form of cigarette smoking is not so much a physical as a mental addiction, an unhealthy desire.
It is clear that when a person is deprived of something that has firmly entered his life and is an occasion to experience positive moments, then he begins to feel pronounced anxiety, which is then transformed into the need to replace what was taken.
Besides, nature hates empty spaces, it must be filled with something. What will replace smoking in your case? What can replace the bad habit of smoking?
Advantages and disadvantages. . .
Today, smokers have no problem answering the question of how to replace smoking with cigarettes. Everyone can find something suitable for themselves, someone prefers the so-called safe cigarettes: electronic or nicotine-free; others prefer lollipops or sugar pills; for some, chewing gum or seeds are the way out.
But, unfortunately, all these substitutes have their drawbacks: lollipops spoil teeth and figure, chewing gum causes increased gastric secretion, and e-cigarettes and nicotine-free cigarettes are not always effective for withdrawal.
What is worth replacing cigarettes with and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each "substitute"?
Cigarettes will replace lollipops
Many smokers who do not know how to replace cigarettes start consuming large amounts of lollipops, lollipops or pills. This helps to fight the urge to smoke quite well, lozenges act on the receptors in the oral cavity and respiratory organs, to some extent replacing the cigarette.
Peppermint candies are especially effective - they reduce the desire to smoke, freshen the breath and contain less sugar. The popularity of sweets as a substitute for cigarettes is well-founded: they are not addictive and really help to deal with the urge to smoke.
But if you replace any desire to smoke with jam, then the number of calories, as well as sugar, will exceed all reasonable norms, and hence the problems of overweight and impaired carbohydrate metabolism.
Chewing gum against cigarettes
Chewing gum can be divided into 2 major groups: plain and special, containing nicotine. The first "works" on the same principle as candy: replacing the usual smoking with another action - chewing.
But when choosing chewing gum with the aroma of menthol or cinnamon, you should not forget that constant chewing leads to increased secretion of gastric juice, which means that it increases the risk of developing gastritis and stomach ulcers. Nicotine gum contains nicotine and, while relieving withdrawal symptoms, does not cure the urge to smoke.
The e-cigarette replaces the usual one
Today, the e-cigarette is considered one of the most effective ways to combat nicotine addiction. Completely copying the appearance of the cigarette and the ritual of lighting, it helps to combat psychological dependence and the habit of smoking and due to the fact that not cigarette smoke but steam enters the body, the damage to the body is minimized.
But, unfortunately, this drug is also not a panacea for smoking, inhaling steam can not replace the feeling of smoking, and the e-cigarette itself is common. Today, doctors and scientists are debating the benefits and dangers of e-cigarettes, but it has already been experimentally proven: the e-cigarette replaces regular cigarettes for those who want to quit smoking on their own.
Nicotine-free cigarettes - comfortable and safe?
Nicotine-free cigarettes look and work the same way as regular cigarettes, but their tobacco does not contain nicotine. Such cigarettes are a real alternative to ordinary ones, but it is recommended to use them only in the period of smoking cessation. In fact, when nicotine-free cigarette smoke is inhaled, carbon monoxide, benzopyrene, and other components that are no less harmful to health also enter the body.
Other "substitutes" for cigarettes
You can replace cigarettes with seeds, drinking straws, chewing on wooden sticks or a snack instead of a break. But each method, in addition to its advantages, has many disadvantages and whether it is worth changing one problem with another, each smoker must decide for himself.
Is it worth switching from one addiction to another?
When you quit smoking, you should not think about how to replace the cigarette, but to "revise" your incentives to quit smoking. And if an honest answer to the question "Why do I want to quit smoking" shows thatthe reason lies in anything but their own aversion to smoking, then even with cigarette substitutes, quitting may not be effective.
If the thrower finds something to replace the cigarette with, then you need to be prepared for the fact that there are no safe substitutes, which means that there may be problems caused by already taking a substitute.
Caramel or snacks - overweight, chewing gum - digestive disorders, vegetables and fruits are also not harmless and even in quantities comparable to the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
Chewing all kinds of sticks, from matches to tree branches, is also not harmless. Matches are impregnated with a combustible compound, which, to put it mildly, is not useful for humans, and the branches of trees can have side effects and simply be unpleasant to the taste.
In any case, it is important to understand that you should not chase two rabbits at once, and the harm of extra candy and a pound of excess weight is hardly greater than the harm of a day or two of smoking. And you don't have to rely on sweets for years after quitting smoking - a week, two or so.
Up to you! What do you want to get, a healthy life, albeit with mild complications in the first stage, or years of smoking?