As many as 21 percent of adults smoke, and a shocking 20 percent of adolescents smoke as well, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, despite warnings against the dangers of cigarettes. Tobacco, both smoked and chewed, is responsible for 30 percent of cancer deaths in the United States, the American Cancer Society reports. The addictive nicotine in cigarettes can make quitting difficult and excruciating, but you can use free remedies to stop smoking as a way to curb your need for another cigarette.
Drink Orange Juice
Quit with the help of your favorite breakfast OJ. According to Thomas Cooper, D.D.S., on MotherNature.com, orange juice can help reduce withdrawal symptoms by flushing the nicotine out of your body faster. Try three glasses a day. If you are using a stop-smoking patch, however, avoid OJ, since you technically want some nicotine to stay in your body to wean you from smoking at a slower pace.
Keep Your Mouth Full
When you're quitting smoking, you'll likely miss more than your cigarettes; you'll miss the ritual of taking out a cigarette, lighting it and the motion of putting your hands to your lips. Supplement the ritual by making sure you have something with you to keep your hands or mouth busy, suggests Smokefree.gov. Try shelled nuts or sunflower seeds that require work to eat. Chew gum or suck on hard candies to stop cravings quickly.
Avoid Smokers
For the first few months of quitting smoking, being around other smokers can be torture and an easy way to fall back into your old habits. Until you are fully recovered, you should avoid people and places that encourage you to smoke, advises the American Cancer Society. You may even want to avoid activities, such as drinking a cup of coffee or having a lunch break, that you associate with a smoke. Find alternatives for these activities and events so you don't feel tempted.
Pay Yourself
Use money as an incentive to curb your need for a cigarette. Tally up the amount of money that you've been spending on cigarettes each day. Instead of buying cigarettes, deposit that money into a savings account. At the end of a year, you'll likely have enough to take a swanky vacation or make a big purchase. Or, save it. MSN Money reports that a 40-year-old who quits smoking and deposits the money into a 401(k) could save nearly $250,000 by the time she is 70. Seeing the dollars add up in your bank account could be all that you need to stop smoking once and for all.
