Ready to quit smoking? It’s time to look into alternatives so you can leave smoking behind permanently. Smoking not only endangers your health, but also the health of those around you, the general air quality in your home, vehicle, or vicinity, and your wallet. Smoking is an expensive and destructive habit, and yet, millions of people all over the world continue to smoke despite warnings and limitless information.
You’re one of the thousands that want to say no to smoking once and for all. In order to get there, you might need some help in the form of these alternatives. Quitting cold-turkey isn’t for everyone, so we’ve put together short list of smoking alternatives that can help you ween yourself off of nicotine or replace your smoking habit with a less deadly one.
Here’s our list.
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1. Tobacco-Free Chew
Tobacco free chew looks, feels, and tastes like tobacco. Its rich textures and bold flavors will leave you feeling like you’re getting the real deal, and that’s the idea. You’re leaving behind the deadly chemicals and toxins that accompany cigarettes. Tobacco free chew does still contain nicotine, however.
Most people replace their smoking habit with tobacco free chew, but some use it to successfully quit nicotine use altogether. It’s effective for both, not to mention affordable. You’ll spend thousands of dollars per year on cigarettes, especially with the average cost of a single pack falling in at about $5.70.
Tobacco free chew is an excellent and affordable alternative, and you’ll find it online and in some stores. With tobacco use declining around the world, it’s nice to see a viable alternative for those who still want to use nicotine without the risk of smoking.
2. CBD Oils
CBD oils have taken the world by storm. In 2018, the federal government removed a nearly five-decade ban on hemp production, causing a storm of new products and farms to develop almost overnight. While CBD products have been around for quite some time, it wasn’t until the federal ban was lifted that they truly took off.
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Since then, CBD has gained notoriety for its safe and effective uses. Cannabidiol is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in Cannabis, of which hemp is a specific strain. Cannabinoids are special compounds that interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system and offer many health benefits.
From anxiety management to pain management, skincare, inflammation control, appetite stimulation, and more, there are dozens of uses for CBD oil. You can also find CBD gummies, lotions, tinctures, edibles, and topicals.
There’s research to suggest that CBD might even be effective at helping to treat depression and addiction. Some smokers have chosen to vape CBD oil or take it orally to help relieve withdrawal symptoms from nicotine or replace the habit altogether.
A growing body of evidence shows that CBD is completely safe and carries few to no side-effects, making it the perfect alternative to smoking.
3. Nicotine Gum or Patches
Nicotine gum or patches deliver a small dose of nicotine to the body in a way that doesn’t compromise the user’s health like cigarettes do. Nicotine is an incredibly addictive substance, and ditching it altogether is difficult, to say the least. Most smokers will end up trying gum or patches instead of going cold-turkey to avoid the worst of the withdrawal symptoms.
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Millions have found success with nicotine gum and patches, but truth be told, it affects everyone differently. Some users find they need more gum or higher-dose patches just to get by, while others manage to ditch nicotine altogether after just a few uses.
Be sure to follow the instructions on your packaging and consult with your doctor if you experience any major side-effects form your gum/patches. While it’s rare, some have experienced serious complications from using nicotine gum and patches.
4. E-Cigarettes
E-Cigarettes are generally presented as a “healthier” alternative to smoking cigarettes. It’s important to take the use of the word “healthier” lightly, as it can easily be misused. The truth is that e-cigarettes still contain chemicals like nicotine, and while they don’t contain tobacco, they can still be addictive.
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E-cigarettes can certainly be used as a replacement for cigarettes and might be able to help you quit nicotine altogether. They’re not officially recognized as a stop smoking aid by the FDA, however, so keep that in mind.
Final Thoughts
Quitting smoking is a great decision, and these four alternatives might be able to help. Be conscious of your habit replacements, however, as you don’t want to replace one bad habit with another. The best option is to work on removing nicotine altogether from your lifestyle, and instead, focus on developing a healthy exercise and sleep routine for optimal health. Good luck on your journey!