If you are about to try a smoking cessation program, it is important to speak with your doctor about the options for smoking cessation and also the natural ways in which you can restore energy. Because most smokers fail to quit smoking due to the physiological impact of nicotine reduction, using vitamins and other forms of alternative medicine may provide for a more successful outcome.
When deciding to quit smoking, one of the most important vitamins to your health will be the complex B vitamins. Each of the B vitamins is vital to your everyday health but, in a smoking cessation process, they become more important by helping to balance your physiological systems.
One of the most common side effects of a smoking cessation program is the nervousness and change in heart rate that is experienced in the first 48 hours after you’ve had your last cigarette. To offset this risk, your complex B vitamins, containing the vitamin B1 known as thiamine, will be important. Thiamine is essential to maintaining a healthy heart rhythm and to regulate your nervous system.
In addition to thiamine, your body will also need complex B vitamins that contain vitamin B2 as this is the vitamin, known as riboflavin, which will help your body restore healthy red blood cells. With healthy red blood cells, you’ll get more oxygen and feel more alert while in the smoking cessation program.
Vitamin B3, known as niacin, and vitamin B5, known as pantothenic acid, are crucial to your metabolism. While you may find that you are hungrier when in the smoking cessation program, eating healthy foods will be important and these complex B vitamins will aid in getting the nutrients to your tissues for appropriate use.
And, finally, vitamin B12 may be your most important part of the complex B vitamins. Vitamin B12 is vital to your energy levels and is often used by vegetarians as an energy booster. So, be sure, if you get no other B vitamins, which you are, at least, using vitamin B12, known as cobalmin, to regulate your body’s energy.
The process to quit smoking is not an easy one. To make the process more manageable for yourself, consider using a multi vitamin that contains all of the complex B vitamins you need. By boosting up on B vitamins before you even start the smoking cessation process, you can give your body a jump start in negating some of the side effects experienced as you stop smoking.
Sources: The Unofficial Guide to Quitting Smoking, by Donna Howell, pp. 241-242.
