Are nutritional supplements helpful for smoking cessation?

Ideally, we should get our nutrition from the foods we eat, but in reality, most Americans do not get the recommended levels of many vitamins and minerals from their diets. It is always a personal choice whether or not you take nutritional supplements, and it is a good idea to consult with your physician or nutritionist as you develop your nutritional plan. Pick nutritional supplements carefully because this industry is not regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so that the quality of similar types of products can vary greatly.

Some nutritional supplements are considered to be anti-cancer nutrients, and they can be helpful to smokers. These include vitamins C, E and B-12, Selenium, calcium, and fiber. Be sure to discuss any supplements you take with your doctor to make sure that they do not interact with other medications or supplements that you may already be taking.

In addition to being a smoker, you may also fall into other high-risk groups that have special needs for vitamins and minerals, such as:

• Women using oral contraceptives,
• Women who are pregnant,
• Women who are postmenopausal,
• People on weight loss diets,
• Runners and other athletes,
• People who consume more than two alcoholic drinks per day,
• Patients in hospitals,
• People exposed to environmental pollutants, and
• Older adults.

Relying on only nutritional supplements to provide your daily nutritional needs is not enough. Nutritional supplements only contain the nutrients that we have identified through our research, and there are many others that are present in the foods we eat that we do not know about yet. Your food intake should focus on providing you with a sound nutritional diet by eating a variety of foods. Be sure to include healthy dietary strategies that will give you this highly nutritional diet, such as eating more vegetables and fruits, moderating fat intake, and eating whole grain breads and cereals.