If you’re trying to quit smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables will make you three times more likely to succeed. via UniversityBuffalo
When you smoke a cigarette, the nicotine that enters your bloodstream will last on average 6 to 8 hours. The majority of that nicotine will get eliminated in the urine.
It takes around 48-72 hours for the stored nicotine to be metabolized and leave your body. 20-30 days is how long the nicotine by-product cotinine can continue circulating in your bloodstream after your last cigarette.
And while nicotine makes cigarettes very addictive, there are a few things you can eat to help you quit smoking.
Adding the following list of foods to your diet will help you flush out nicotine and with it, it’s addictive behavior.
1. Grapefruit Juice
A 2006 study found that drinking one liter of full-strength grapefruit juice (34 ounces or about 2 pints) will increase the rate by which the kidneys remove nicotine from blood plasma by 88%, as compared to when drinking 1 liter of water.
2. Cranberry Juice
A controlling factor in determining renal clearance rate is the pH level of urine produced by our kidneys. The more acidic our urine, the quicker nicotine is removed from the bloodstream.
That being said, grapefruit has a pH range of 2.9-3.3 while cranberries range between 2.3-2.5, making the red little fruits more acidic. And also more effective.
3. Broccoli or Spinach
Folic acid has been shown to reduce pancreatic islet cell impairment induced by nicotine.
Another study revealed that treatment with folic acid can reduce toxicity caused by nicotine.
There are a number of foods which contain high levels of folic acid.
Dark green vegetables such as collard and turnip greens as well as spinach.
Consuming raw or cooked broccoli is another great source of natural vitamin B9.