Don't Be A Slave To Taxes-QUIT!

Don't Be A Slave To Taxes-QUIT!

As of Wednesday April 01, taxes on a pack of cigarettes are now $1.01 up from .39cents and from 19.5 cents to 50 cents per pound for chewing tobacco. Hopefully this will be the kick-in-the-initiative for those seventy percent of smokers who have reportedly wanted to quit.

What I find ironic is the proceeds from the tobacco tax will fund children’s health care. I am not opposed however if tobacco use was banned all together, healthcare costs in general would plummet and perhaps some kind of universal health care, at least for children would be more affordable for the government to implement.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cigarette smoking costs more than $193 billion in health care expenditures a year, with $10 billion associated with second hand smoke. Children, with no voice of their own are the most likely to succumb to illnesses related to second hand smoke. How wonderful it would have been if along with the new tobacco tax, Obama could have followed Ontario’s revolutionary lead to ban smoking in cars when children are present. Now that would have been a true healthcare savings.

I am sure you have heard many times that smoking is not good for you. And I am sure you are aware that there are over 4000 toxic chemical compounds that are created when you light up. Forty – three of the 4000 are well documented carcinogens that are not only consumed by the smoker, but the persons breathing in the secondary smoke. It is incredible that tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of disease, cancer and premature death in North America and yet we allow this barbaric torture to continuously drain an already non-existent health care system in the United States and an overwhelmed Canadian health care system.

Worldwide a shocking 2.5 million people die each year of a tobacco related disease. In the U.S. cigarette smoking contributes to a thousand deaths daily, and contributes to approximately 25% of cancer deaths, and 40% percent of coronary heart disease deaths.

Quitting is not that hard if you have the right tools in place such as a good grip on diet, stress, lifestyle and emotional health. Address each of these and you are on your way to successfully kicking the habit.

Support yourself with good quality foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. This may sound crazy, but whole foods are chocked full of the vitamins and minerals that have been robbed by the detriments of the toxins in tobacco products. Antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C, E, Selenium, Zinc and Coenzyme Q-10 are antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radical damage, which comes from toxins such as those found in tobacco products. Even if you are taking antioxidants the amount is probably not enough to properly fight the daily abuse. Replenish your body with a good supplement containing all vitamins and minerals, but especially these key nutrients to replenish and rebuild as you quit smoking. This will also help to reduce cravings and detoxify the toxins from your body. Drink plenty of water to rehydrate yourself. Water will also aid in the removal of toxins and decrease your cravings.

De-stress! Stress management is the key to kicking the habit for good. Stress causes many hormonal changes in the body and this will trigger your craving for a cigarette or a chew. Take a class, purchase a CD, DVD or book on stress and be proactive.

Create new habits that do not involve reaching for a butt. Go for a walk, get involved in a sport, and sign up for local events. Meet new friends, or better yet, start a support group. Do whatever it takes to quit.

According to the American Cancer Society Nicotine is a drug found naturally in tobacco. It is highly addictive -- as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Over time, a person becomes physically and emotionally addicted to (dependent on) nicotine. Studies have shown that smokers must deal with both the physical and psychological (mental) dependence to quit and stay quit. Look into the reasons why you smoke. Have you ever asked yourself why you smoke? How long have you been smoking or chewing tobacco? What was going on in your life that led to you lighting up? Emotionally, tobacco relates to not speaking up for oneself, and clouding your future and vision because you feel you can obtain it anyway. Emotionally speaking you are not following your hearts desires, and are not spending the time to nurture yourself. Perhaps it may be time to truly figure out what started this addiction and how to quit for good.

Don’t become a slave to tobacco and certainly not to taxes! If you are motivated to quit here’s a great tip. Take the money you would have spent on tobacco and put it towards a goal, want or dream. After one year celebrate and fulfill your goal want or dream. You can do this!

Start now and celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) May 31 TOBACCO FREE!

For more information visit
Health Canada Go Smoke Free
 American Cancer Society Guide To Quitting Smoking
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
I Quit! What To Do When You're Sick of Smoking, Chewing, or Dipping 

Smoke photo courtsey of Kave Wall Media
Fruit & vegetable photo PD Photo.org
Beach Surfer courtesy of PD Photo.org

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Karen Langston Nutrition and Functional Medicine and Wellness Specialist

http://www.iamworthit2.com/* Karen@iamworthit2.com
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