If quitting smoking is one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2018, make sure you read our top tips to support you through the quitting process, and what you can do to stay quit.
What happens to the body when you stop smoking
The minute you decide to stop smoking you are already doing your body a big favor. A project of the Stanford Prevention Research Center has released some interesting smoking facts which outlined some of the immediate and long-term benefits of quitting smoking. As soon as you put out that last cigarette, your body will begin a series of positive physiological changes. [1]
Within 20 minutes
Your blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will lower and return to normal levels.
Within 8 hours
A smoker’s bad breath will disappear, carbon monoxide levels in your blood will fall and oxygen levels return to normal.
Within 24 hours
Your risk of heart attack decreases.
Within 48 hours
Your nerve endings start to regroup, your sense of taste and smell improves.
Within 3 days
You’ll be able to breathe easier, making exercise a lot more appealing!
Within 2 to 3 months
Your circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Your lung capacity increases by 30%.
Within 1 to 9 months
Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep your lungs grow back, increasing your lungs ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs and reduce infection. Your energy also increases.
Within a year
Your risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who smokes.
Within two years
Your heart attack risk falls to essentially normal.
Within 5 years
The lung cancer risk of a former pack a day smoker falls by almost half. Your risk of having a stroke reduces. Your risk of developing mouth, throat or oesophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.
Within 10 years
Lung cancer risk is similar to that of someone who has never smoked. The precancerous cells are replaced with healthier cells.
With 15 years
Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as someone who has never smoked.
Ready to stop?
So you’ve made the decision to quit smoking – well done! Quitting smoking is one of the most challenging things you do, so it’s important that you have a plan to help you quit – and stay quit.
The following tips may help:
- Get support – you are five times more likely to quit if you have support[2]
- Socialise with non-smokers
- Avoid situations that make you want to smoke – many people find avoiding alcohol really helps
- Make your home smokefree and throw out all ashtrays
- Try nicotine patches or lozenges
- Clean your teeth with minty fresh toothpaste
- Put up a list of reasonsfor quitting somewhere you can see it
- Plan what to do when you are around other smokers – eg chew gum
- Practise saying "I don't smoke", "I am a non-smoker", or "I'm not smoking anymore"
- Plan something that you will buy yourself as a reward for all the money you have save
What happens after you quit smoking?
While quitting smoking is incredibly challenging, staying quit is perhaps even more difficult but it is absolutely achieveable with the right help. So, how do you support your body through the quitting process and stay smoke-free?
Quitting smoking will ease the burden on your lungs and respiratory tract, and push your body into a state of detoxification. Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, at least 70 of which are linked to cancer. Although the body does a great job at detoxifying itself and works constantly to eliminate toxins, when it is metabolising such a large number of toxins, it could benefit from a little help[3].
Xtend-Life’s Lung Support Plus can help strengthen the lungs and respiratory system and support the detoxification process as your body adjusts to no longer smoking. With four medicinal mushrooms and pure New Zealand Grape Seed Extract, Lung Support Plus helps provide a healthy flow of oxygen to all body cells. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to support overall health and promote healthy lungs and airways. Grape Seed Extract is a powerful antioxidant which helps protect the lungs and airways from toxins. These are mobilized during the detoxification process created by quitting smoking.
The power of medicinal mushrooms
Xtend-Life’s Lung Support Plus contains four medicinal mushrooms which work in a range of ways to support the body as you quit smoking.
Organic Chaga Mushroom Powder - Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a parasitic fungus that forms a hard, blackened crust on hardwood trees, particularly birch and beech. Found in Russia, Northern and Eastern Europe, Korea and parts of North America, Chaga is known by many different names – the ‘Gift from God’ in Siberia, the ‘King of all Plants’ in China and the ‘Diamond in the Forest’ in Japan. It has earned a reputation as one of the most valuable medicinal fungi.
Chaga has been used for more than five centuries to treat a range of health conditions. A general health elixir, Chaga contains over 200 phytonutrients, B complex vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. It strengthens the immune systems and helps prevent inflammation. A powerful antioxidant, Chaga helps protect the respiratory system and the rest of the body from toxins and free radicals. Chaga contains betulin and betulinic acid, both of which may have potential anti-cancer properties.
Organic Cordyceps Mushroom Powder - Cordyceps, also known as caterpillar fungi, is a capless mushroom which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years. It holds an esteemed position in the Chinese pharmacopoeia – in fact, in ancient times Cordyceps was so revered that it was worth four times its weight in silver.
Cordyceps is believed to enhance the body’s uptake and utilization of oxygen, supporting its long history of use in preventing altitude sickness. Great for strengthening the lungs during the winter months, Cordyceps can help relieve symptoms of coughs and colds, and is beneficial in protecting against the impacts of environmental pollutants. It is also recommended for respiratory ailments such as asthma.
Organic Reishi Mushroom Powder - A woody textured mushroom, Reishi is scientifically known as Ganoderma lucidum, from the Greek words ganos (“brightness, sheen”), derma (“skin”) and lucidum (“glowing”). Reishi’s Chinese name, Ling Zhi, means “herb of spiritual potency”.
Reishi’s health-giving properties come from its body, spores and mycelia, which contain around 400 different bioactive compounds including Beta-D-Glucans, ganoderans, nucleotides, fatty acids, proteins/peptides and trace elements. These compounds have a number of pharmacological effects including inflammation management and anti-aging.
Reishi has been used extensively across Asia for over 2000 years. Known as the “mushroom of immortality”, Reishi was used in China by Taoist monks to promote a centered calmness while promoting longevity and resisting ageing.
A powerful antioxidant, Reishi helps boost the immune system and destroy bacteria and unhelpful fungus. It strengthens the lungs and respiratory tract and supports optimal liver function, enhancing the elimination of waste and toxins. This makes Reishi ideal for supporting the body during the quitting smoking process.
An adaptogen, Reishi helps naturally boost energy levels and is commonly recommended during times of stress.
Organic Turkey Tail Mushroom - Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolour or Coriolus versicolour) is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Versicolor means 'of several colors', referring to the fungus’ characteristic bold colors which have been compared to those of a wild turkey.
Turkey Tail has been used in China for thousands of years to boost vitality and energy, ward off cancer and support the spirit. Traditional uses also include invigorating the spleen, eliminating dampness and treating coughs and dyspnea.
In modern holistic medicine Turkey Tail is renowned for its powerful immune boosting benefits, and is commonly recommended as a winter tonic to ward off colds and flus. Turkey Tail has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties and can support the healthy function of the lungs and other organs.
Grape Seed Extract
Grapes have been cultivated for at least 8,000 years, primarily for winemaking. Grape seeds contain very high levels of oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), which have potent antioxidant properties, helping to protect cells from free radical damage. Grape Seed Extract is particularly beneficial for promoting healthy circulation and blood flow.
Xtend-Life’s Oxifend® Grape Seed Extract is sourced from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in Marlborough, New Zealand’s premier wine making region. New Zealand grapes have been shown in laboratory analysis to be higher in antioxidant potency than grapes from other parts of the world. This is due to their adapting to the higher radiation from the sun due to the ozone hole over the southern part of New Zealand. Oxifend® Grape Seed Extract's very high polyphenol content makes it ideal to support the body while quitting smoking, as it helps to protect cells from free radicals mobilized during the detoxification process.
References:
[1]The Stanford Stop Smoking Program: Interesting Smoking Facts http://stopsmoking.stanford.edu/facts.html
[2] Quitline.co.nz
[3] Quitting Time: Natural Stop-Smoking Aids. https://www.betternutrition.com/features-dept/natural-stop-smoking-aids
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