| Why
is smoke cessation such a challenging butt to overcome? Some people
fear the weight gain factor. Although, smoking cigarettes may
help maintain weight, it’s no secret that smoking leads to an
anomaly of chronic conditions (lung cancer, emphysema, and heart
disease). When the pros and cons of kicking the nicotine habit
are evaluated, the medical conditions associated with prolonged
use outweigh smoking. Gaining
a few extra pounds versus smoking diminishes the significance
of overall health. It’s easier to lose weight versus curing
oneself from a terminal disease. Not to mention, weight gain
is not an inevitable aspect of giving up cigarettes. The reason
many people gain weight after quitting smoking is because they
tend to overeat and replace cigarettes with food consumption.
Nicotine
and Metabolism
Nicotine heightens the metabolism rate. Since, it acts as a
stimulant as well as a sedative. Directly, after the first inhalation
of nicotine, an adrenaline rush triggers the liver to release
glycogen (sugar) that raises the blood glucose level moderately.
Once the cessation of nicotine occurs, the metabolism slows
down. As a result, when the same food is consumed, the body
utilizes less calories and then stores more fat.
As
nicotine diminishes the appetite, it directly affects the activity
of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These substances control
the neural transmissions in the areas of the brain. It shuts
the appetite off and on. Nicotine raises the activity of dopamine
and serotonin verisimilar to the way sweet foods affect the
brain. Shortly, after smoking a cigarette, a smoker’s appetite
is suppressed.
Use
these strategies to help quit smoking:
•
Taper your cigarette habit
• Use a nicotine patch to diminish the habit
• Replace the habit of smoking with drinking water
• Focus on the perks of giving up the habit (saving money and
improving overall health)
• Avoid social situations that will tempt you to smoke.
• Eat healthy and make exercise a part of your daily routine |
