Dairy, Fruits And Veggies May Help Smokers Quit
Smokers reported that consuming milk, water, fruits and vegetables worsened the taste of cigarettes, while consuming alcohol, coffee and meat enhanced their taste, according to the scientists.The findings could lead to a “Quit Smoking Diet” or to development of a gum or lozenge that makes cigarettes less palatable, said lead study investigator Joseph McClernon, Ph.D., an assistant research professor of medical psychiatry at the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research.
“With a few modifications to their diet — consuming items that make cigarettes taste bad, such as a cold glass of milk, and avoiding items that make cigarettes taste good, like a pint of beer — smokers can make quitting a bit easier,” McClernon said.
No wonder smoking and bars go hand-in-hand. Problem for smokers is, it is so much easier to eat the things that contribute to smoking than those that help you quit.
At least one component of it might.
ScienceDaily: Does A Component Of Niacin Point The Way To Anti-aging Drugs?
Using the techniques of structural biology, the Wistar team demonstrated that a component of the common vitamin B3, also known as niacin, binds to a specific site on the sirtuin molecule to inhibit its activity. This observation suggests that drugs designed to prevent the vitamin B3 component, nicotinamide, from binding at this site could have the effect of activating sirtuins. Any such drug would, in essence, inhibit the inhibitory effect of nicotinamide. As in mathematics, the two negatives would create a positive result — activation of sirtuins.”Our findings suggest a new avenue for designing sirtuin-activating drugs,” says Marmorstein. “The jury is still out as to whether a drug of this kind might result in longer life in humans, but I’m equally excited by the possibility that such interventions might help counteract age-related health problems like obesity and type II diabetes.”
Hmm… nicotinamide? I’m thinking maybe that has something to do with nicotine? And maybe the nicotine/cancer link, which would also presumably affect longevity? Is there anyone more knowledgeable who can elaborate?
Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Selenium may cut prostate cancer risk in some men
Overall, the researchers found no association between serum selenium and prostate cancer risk. However, higher serum selenium correlated with a lower likelihood of prostate cancer in men who reported a high vitamin E intake (more than the average of 28 IU per day) and those taking multivitamins.Also, for smokers, high selenium levels appeared to reduce their prostate cancer risk.
So if you don’t smoke or take multi-vitamins, don’t worry. But if you do, make sure you get selenium as well. No wonder most vitamin E supplements also include selenium.