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
