Alternatives to Cigarettes

It took many years before society acknowledged that smoking was indeed harmful. It wasn’t until 1970 that President Richard Nixon signed a bill prohibiting cigarette ads from appearing on television and radio. That was around the same time that Congress passed a law requiring cigarette manufacturers to place warning labels on their products. Decades later, cigarette smoking among American adults is at its lowest rate in generations. In 1965, over 40 percent of people smoked. As of 2015, only 17 percent of people do. Rates are higher in the Midwest, and someone with a GED is more likely to smoke than someone with a master’s degree. Also, men are more likely to smoke than women. Altogether, a great deal of progress has been made but there are still plenty of people who want to quit traditional cigarettes but struggle to make that commitment stick.

Vaping and E-juice

The rate of people smoking cigarettes is low, in part because people now turn to alternatives, such as vaping. People who vape use an electronic cigarette, or e-cig, filled with e-juice. E-juice comes in a variety of flavors now that it has had time to develop, the best dessert e-liquids are available.  There are common flavors like strawberry and vanilla, as well as more imaginative flavors, such as glazed donut. As cigarette taxes rise, cheap e-juice seems like a better choice.

No one should compare e-cigarettes to health food, but available evidence indicates it’s safer than smoking. For one thing, e-juice doesn’t contain tobacco, just the nicotine. One should use vaping as a bridge away from smoking cigarettes, though. It shouldn’t be used by teenagers as the first step on the path to buying a pack of Winstons.

The regulations around vaping are inconsistent right now. However, vape fans should watch for increasing restrictions. Just because vaping inside your local bar is legal now doesn’t mean it will be in another year or two. As vaping becomes more popular, look for state and national regulators to pay more attention to it. However, it’s still a worthy alternative for people who come up empty when they try things like patches, pills, or even hypnotism.

Exercise and Hobbies

Once you decide to quit, you’ll need something to distract yourself from thinking about tobacco. It’s addictive, after all, and the more you think about it, the more you feel your resolve weaken. The more your resolve weakens, the more likely you are to start smoking again. Resist the urge and focus on other, happier things.

Now might be a great time to redecorate your house with new art and using a company such as Simple Canvas Prints to create custom canvas prints can help you relive some of your happiest memories. Many smokers decide to quit the habit once they become parents. So, maybe you need a few photos of your kids on the walls to motivate you to keep pushing forward, even when the cravings hit their most intense.

Most Americans don’t get enough exercise, and there’s no time like the present to correct that. Don’t feel like you have to go all in and run a marathon. Even taking a long walk every other day can provide some cumulative, significant health benefits. Occupy your mind and body. Stay busy and productive, and before you know it, you’ll have gone weeks, months, or years without lighting up. Ignore the short-term pain in favor of the long-term benefits.