Is it Possible to Counteract the Risks of Smoking?

Smoking is hazardous to one’s health. Smoking causes cancer. Smoking harms unborn babies. Second-hand smoke poses an increasing number of health-related risks. These are the warnings printed on the packaging of tobacco products in some countries across the world today. And yet, despite these dire warnings, some of which are accompanied by graphic pictures of diseased lungs and cancerous tongues, many individuals continue their smoking habit, or worse, begin to smoke, despite the research, in the 21^st century.

The highly addictive nature of nicotine is widely recognized, and eliminating this addiction is an arduous task requiring a strong will and great determination, albeit there are alternative techniques, such as acupuncture, NLP, and hypnotherapy that have proven successful for some individuals. Irrespective of the alternatives for cessation of smoking, the fact is that smoking is once again rising as a habit across a wide spectrum of individuals, of varying ages and socioeconomic status.

Smoking on the Rise

Estimates approximate that 1,000 individuals begin the nicotine habit each day in America. This figure accounts for a one percent rise in the number of smokers in the country in 2008, when health officials were celebrating an all time low in the smoking rate for the US. The figures make for depressing reading, particularly for health professionals and anti-smoking campaigners, who have worked tirelessly over the past 50 years to reduce the number of smoking related illnesses and deaths in countries throughout the world.

Fighting Smoking Related Illness

While the first generations to die of cigarette related cancers could not have known what fate their habit might bring, the same cannot be said for the smokers of today, which makes the decision to start or continue smoking even more incomprehensible. And while work to address the numbers of smokers will continue, some have begun to question what can be done by way of damage mitigation for those who insist upon continuing this unhealthy habit.

Supplements for Smokers

Some holistic practitioners have begun to suggest that perhaps health levels amongst smokers might be improved by education on counteracting the damaging effects of the chemicals contained in cigarette smoke, which toxins have been shown to correlate with diseases such as lung, bladder and bowel cancer, as well as an array of cardiovascular diseases.

One school of thought is that supplements should be introduced to the diet to balance the chemical intake caused by smoking. While nearly every individual would benefit from a premium multivitamin supplement, smokers may wish to consider additional supplements tailored to meet the specific needs of their weakened immune systems.

A vitamin C supplement is an excellent addition to the smoker’s regime as this nutrient is quickly depleted by nicotine in the blood stream. Other recommended dietary supplements for smokers include CoQ10 – an enzyme with antioxidant properties currently undergoing scientific testing as a possible weapon in the fight against cancers – and grape seed extract, which contains antioxidants useful in the prevention of heart disease.

Smokers Should Protect Themselves

While the best defense against smoking related illness is cease the habit entirely, smokers who find this difficult should explore alternative techniques while paying enhanced attention to their nutritional needs, supplementing their diet with vitamins and antioxidants where possible to provide the best possibility of resisting cigarette related damage.

We strongly recommend Bionx Multivitamin/Mineral Complex, to mitigate smoking related damage.