Is the EU missing a trick in its battle against smoking?

Snus is a small bag of tobacco that is placed under the top lip to help smokers give up cigarettes. It is banned in most EU countries, but Sweden, where snus is widely used, has the lowest rates of tobacco-related diseases in Europe and the world's lowest rate of lung cancer in males. Snus is still highly addictive, but it is thought to be between 95% and 99% less harmful than smoking. Should the EU reconsider its stance on snus? Read more here

Stoptober: Have you taken up the 28 day challenge?

In October NHS Smokefree is supporting Stoptober, a campaign to encourage people to stop smoking for 28 days. Those who manage to stop smoking for this period are more likely to give up for good. Lauren Dickinson, 26, from London shares her experiences of taking part in a 28-day programme over the summer to kick the habit. Read more here

You can quit any time with help from the smokers clinic, just call us on 0207 882 8230, or email smokers-clinic@qmul.ac.uk

Need a cigarette? How going for a jog could ease your cravings

Smokers who are trying to cut down or quit should work out the next time their cravings threaten to overcome them, say researchers.
A study that combined the data from 19 previous clinical trials found that a bout of exercise helped quitters reduce their nicotine cravings.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194153/Need-cigarette-How-going-jog-ease-cravings.html#ixzz24pI9Lzyc

Bid to ban cigarettes for anyone born after 2000?

An international campaign to ban the sale of cigarettes to young people has been given a leg up in Australia.

This would mean that we would have a generation of people not exposed to tobacco products

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/bid-to-ban-cigarettes-for-anyone-born-after-2000-20120822-24liy.html#ixzz24GZp5FWR

Olive green packaging for cigarettes? It's minimal, man

An interesting alternative opinion on plain packaging for cigarettes; read it here

Smoking Orangutan moved to Island Rehab

Zookeepers in Indonesia have moved a smoking orangutan away from visitors to a small island to help her quit the habit. Tori, an orangutan from a zoo in Solo in central Java, has been smoking cigarettes thrown into her cage for a decade. She was moved along with her male companion, Didik. Both are now on the island within the zoo, keepers said. She started smoking by mimicking humans, they said. Tori would reportedly pick up butts that were still lit, hold them between her fingers and begin puffing. Didik, on the other hand, would stamp on the butts to put them out, local media reports said. Here at the Smokers' Clinic we are wishing Tori the best of luck for a sucessful quit!

Peers back smoking ban for cars with children present

Peers have backed plans to ban smoking in cars when children are present, but supporters admit they do not have government backing for the move. The House of Lords approved Lord Ribeiro's private member's bill to make offenders liable for a £60 fine or attendance at a smoke awareness course. The measure would need the support of MPs to become law and David Cameron has questioned whether it is justified.

He has suggested it would have serious implications for personal freedoms. Mr Cameron told MPs last year that while he backed the ban on smoking in pubs, he felt "more nervous" about proscribing what people should and should not do in private vehicles.

More here.

What do you think? Let us know.

What's in a cigarette?

Ever wondered what's in a cigarette? Answer: About 4000 chemicals. Here's a few...

What's the etiquette with electronic cigarettes?

A misunderstanding over an electronic cigarette caused a major terrorist alert on the M6 Toll motorway earlier this week. The incident showed what a novelty e-cigarettes are to many people and how easily confusion can develop. Is it socially acceptable to take a battery assisted puff on a train or in a public library? And what about in the office or at a dinner party? What do you think? Read more here

Glamorous film stars who light-up on screen 'encourage children to take up smoking'

Children who watch a lot of movies with cigarette-smoking characters are more likely to take up the habit themselves, according to a study. Read more here. What do you think?

To Quit Smoking, Try Eating More Veggies and Fruits

If you're trying to quit smoking, eating more fruits and vegetables may help you quit and stay tobacco-free for longer, according to a new study. The study found that smokers who consumed the most fruit and vegetables were three times more likely to have been tobacco-free for at least 1 month when they were contacted 14 months later than those consuming the lowest amount of fruits and vegetables. 

Several explanations are possible, such as less nicotine dependence for people who consume a lot of fruits and vegetables or the fact that higher fibre consumption from fruits and vegetables make people feel fuller. "It is also possible that fruits and vegetables give people more of a feeling of satiety or fullness so that they feel less of a need to smoke, since smokers sometimes confuse hunger with an urge to smoke," explains Haibach, the lead author of the paper. 

And unlike some foods which are known to enhance the taste of tobacco, such as meats, caffeinated beverages and alcohol, fruits and vegetables do not enhance the taste of tobacco. "Foods like fruit and vegetables may actually worsen the taste of cigarettes," says Haibach.

Have you noticed any relationship between the amount of fruit and veg you consume and the amount you smoke? If you are interested in hearing about tried and tested methods that we know can help you quit then call us today on 0207 882 8230.