Vitamin C (amla, citrus fruits, lemon, pineapple, guava) is important for smokers too, as it can effectively help neutralise the free radicals that smoking creates in the body — and help maintain immunity.
Healthy, whole “one-ingredient” foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish are loaded with nutrients that help flush toxins from your body. The nutrients in these foods also help your cells repair themselves and contribute to new, healthy tissue growth.
Whiskey and smoke have always gone hand in hand, so any classic whiskey drink is a good candidate. Agave spirits will work as well, so a smoked tequila Old Fashioned is a crowd favorite too.
Smoking often causes a Vitamin C deficiency in the body which can further take a hit on the immunity. Kiwi not only stocks up on Vitamin C levels but also helps in eliminating nicotine from the body.
The researchers discovered that the more apples, bananas and tomatoes the former smokers ate, the slower their decline in lung function was over that time period. That's important, since ageing and smoking are the biggest established factors responsible for lung function decline, the researchers say.
If you're a former smoker, consider eating more fresh tomatoes and other fruits. Research shows people who kicked their tobacco habit and ate those foods, especially apples, had a slower natural decline in lung function.
Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E are frequently lacking in smokers' diets. Vitamins C, A, and E are powerful antioxidants needed to offset some of the damage done by inhaling massive amounts of free radicals.
Kiwifruit. Bananas tend to get all the credit when it comes to potassium-rich fruits, but a single small kiwifruit has nearly as much potassium, at 215 milligrams, as an entire banana.
Aerobic activities like walking, running or jumping rope give your heart and lungs the kind of workout they need to function efficiently. Muscle-strengthening activities like weight-lifting or Pilates build core strength, improving your posture, and toning your breathing muscles.
Give your mouth something to do to resist a tobacco craving. Chew on sugarless gum or hard candy. Or munch on raw carrots, nuts or sunflower seeds — something crunchy and tasty.
Water helps flush nicotine and other chemicals out of your body. Therefore, drinking water in sufficient quantities is a must for every smoker. However, it will make you urinate more often. Frequent urination is helpful because nicotine, cotinine and most tobacco toxins are removed from the body through urine.