According to a recent government survey, people who stop smoking are likely to gain weight, but the average increase is relatively small—under ten pounds. It is believed that ex-smokers gain weight for two reasons— they burn about 100 fewer calories per day and they consume an extra 200 to 300 calories a day (mainly in carbohydrate snacks). Although it isn’t known exactly why ex- smokers eat more, it may be because that in the absence of nicotine, the brain releases a smaller amount of the chemical serotonin, which influences both appetite and mood.
Some recent studies suggest that serotonin-enhancing drugs, may cut down on weight gain in ex-smokers. The studies are, however, not conclusive, and more research is needed. For now, the best recommendations for people who stop smoking are as follows:
1) Get more exercise to counter the slow-down in metabolism which occurs after giving up nicotine.
2) Cut calorie intake by trimming fat from your diet.
3) When you have a craving for sweets, try eating hard candy or chewing gum.
Control
4) Sip cold water to suppress your appetite. Spicy Foods And Weight One of the keys to maintaining a desirable weight is the ability to control the to eat too often, and too much. New research suggests that consuming spicy foods such, as Szechuan, Mexican, Thai, or Indian, may help satisfy your appetite before you ve eaten too much. Such spicy foods appear to satiate the appetite better than does less spicy foods It is almost impossible for most people to overeat when dining on spicy foods, possibly because the flavors are so intense they don’t need to eat as much.
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