Smoking cigarettes fills your body with toxins and can damage almost all your organs. The smoke and nicotine fills your body with toxins that, over time, can prove fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), side effects of smoking cigarettes account for an estimated 443,000 deaths each year in the United States. Once you decide to quit smoking, there are steps you can take to detox your system and get the cigarette smoke and nicotine out of your body.
Drink plenty of fresh water. Drinking eight to 12 glasses of water a day helps flush the toxins out of your system. Drink 100 percent fruit juices to give you a little variety.
Add exercise into your daily routine. When you exercise, your body sweats and helps repel the toxins out of your system. Exercising 15 to 30 minutes a day helps expel the toxins from your body.
Refrain from consuming foods high in sugar and fat and reduce your intake of pre-packaged or highly processed foods. These items make your body work harder to process them. When your body works to break down the foods, it slows down the detox process.
Consume more fiber by eating whole grains or adding a fiber supplement. Fiber makes you feel full and reduces the chance of overeating. Fiber is also important for regular bowel movements, which help remove toxins and waste from your body.
Incorporate fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of nutrients that keep your body working properly.
Consume more vitamin A and herbal teas. Cigarette smoke is said to deplete your lungs of essential vitamin A. Taking vitamin A helps heal your lungs and improves your breathing, which helps clear tar from your lungs. Drink herbal tea such as thyme, cardamom and fenugreek. These teas feature expectorant properties.
Tip
Always consult your primary care physician before beginning any detox program.
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Writer Bio
Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.