How to make your body nicotine-free with proven methods

Nicotine — the primary compound in tobacco products — is one of the most frequently used addictive substances worldwide. This stimulant is known to produce numerous undesirable effects, including nausea and increased heart rate. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 40 million US citizens smoke cigarettes. And data regarding Europe is equally worrying.

While making the decision to stop smoking is a challenging step, many of those who choose to kick this damaging habit discover that it’s not that simple. Insufficient dedication, withdrawal symptoms, and lack of a supporting system all play a significant role here, and each of these elements can pull a person back into the addiction.

With this being said, there are some methods you can explore to lead a nicotine-free lifestyle. Whether switching to vaping products or using nicotine patches — they are several methods that can help you overcome your addiction and successfully tackle smoking cessation.

Vaping

The popularity of vapes is rising, and for a good reason. Many people feel much better after transitioning from regular tobacco products to vape pens, as the latter are not as harsh for the lungs. Additionally, vaping can become a vital stepping stone in your process of quitting smoking altogether.

Brands like Zeus Juice or Zing! offer various flavours and strengths of vape juices, so you can choose ones that suit your taste. Using these vape juices, you can slowly lower your nicotine intake until you reach the point where you only smoke nicotine-free juices. Then you can stop smoking or enjoy your smoke break without exposing yourself to the side effects of nicotine use.

Nicotine Patches

Another method to address nicotine dependence is using nicotine patches. They are usually a part of nicotine-replacement-therapy (NRT) — a type of stop smoking treatment where you take nicotine in other forms than through smoking. It allows you to manage unpleasant withdrawal symptoms without exposing yourself to harmful chemicals present in tobacco smoke.

Using patches is straightforward and does not require a lot of hassle. All you have to do is place the patch on the skin for a whole day and replace it with a fresh one the day after. Thanks to it, nicotine enters your bloodstream in small amounts throughout the day, preventing you from suffering nicotine withdrawal symptoms like headaches and dizziness.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient technique and a critical component of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting thin needles into the body at strategic points to treat pain. However, it is also widely used to improve overall wellness and deal with various other conditions.

Although it might be surprising for some, acupuncture has been proven to help people quit smoking. For instance, in a prospective multicenter observational study from 2016, researchers found out it reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

During acupuncture sessions, the researchers inserted acupuncture needles in various parts of the patients’ ears. These needles remained there for about 20 minutes. Moreover, each study participant was provided with a tiny ball they could later use to stimulate the acupuncture point by pressing on it.

The results of this study were astonishing. The drop-out rate was high (above 43 per cent), and the average relapse time was much longer than reported in the case of other smoking cessation methods. Overall, the researchers concluded that acupuncture was a safe and effective method to help smokers quit.

Lifestyle Changes

A stressful lifestyle is among the most prominent reasons why people pick up smoking in the first place. An unfulfilling social life, disturbed work-life balance, problems at school, and numerous other issues can put a tremendous strain on your mental health, leading to unhealthy habits involving cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.

But, just like your lifestyle can lead you down the path of smoking, it can also help you drop this habit. If you are willing to make some lifestyle changes, you can make your process of giving up smoking much more manageable.

Things you can do include:

• Make sure you drink enough water — Most sources recommend drinking eight glasses of water each day. It is an indispensable part of quitting smoking, as it can help you manage cravings.
• Exercise regularly — Doing some exercises will help you remove nicotine from your body. Besides, it will give you something other to focus your mind on than the stressors you encounter during your everyday activities.
• Get enough sleep — Sleep deprivation can lead to severe health issues, such as mental health disorders and make you more susceptible to nicotine cravings. It also works the other way around, as many ex-smokers experience disrupted sleep during the first few weeks after quitting.
• Meditate — As meditation and deep breathing have been linked with smoking cessation, you might want to try these methods yourself. They will help you re-focus on your goals and de-stress during the day.

Behavioural Therapy

Trying to quit without any sort of outside help is a challenging task. This is why it is advisable to inform your family and friends about your decision to stop smoking. They can offer you mental support and help you stay in line during moments of weakness.

Alternatively — if you wish to seek support from a professional — you can opt for behavioural therapy. Your therapist will help you identify the triggers and address them accordingly. Furthermore, they will advise you on dealing with emotional health and behaviour issues ex-smokers experience.

Whether you undergo therapy with or without the use of medications, it can help you transition to a long term non-smoker. You will also become more aware of the mechanisms that lead to this habit, lowering the chances of relapse.

The Bottom Line

Quitting smoking is a significant step towards living a more fulfilling and healthier life. Nevertheless, it needs to be done with care to ensure long-lasting results. While perfectly viable for some people, going cold turkey is a suboptimal route to take.

Instead, you might be better off focusing on other methods to address the issue. For example, you can switch from tobacco products to vapes, try acupuncture, or sign up for behavioural therapy. Furthermore, you could go for nicotine-replacement-therapy (NRT) and use nicotine patches. Making a few valuable lifestyle changes may be a big help as well.

Regardless of the method you choose, remember that you do not have to go through the process of kicking the habit alone. Many people have already managed to quit or are in the same spot as you. Use their help to motivate yourself and prepare the right game plan for making your body nicotine-free.