Omega-3 Supplements May Help You Cut Nicotine Cravings
Nutrition and Immune System
November 25, 2023
Decoding Stool Colors: Understanding What They Reveal About Your Health
December 16, 2023
For smokers seeking to break free from the harmful habit of smoking, a new and promising solution has emerged: Omega-3 supplements. Beyond their well-known benefits for brain function and type II diabetes management, Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to play a significant role in reducing nicotine cravings.
A groundbreaking study from the University of Haifa's School of Criminology department sheds light on the potential of Omega-3 supplements to help smokers cut down on cigarettes and improve their chances of quitting altogether.
Understanding the Connection between Omega-3 and Nicotine Cravings
The study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, revealed that Omega-3 supplements have a direct impact on reducing nicotine cravings. Dr Sharon Rabinovitz Shenkar, the head of the addictions program at the University of Haifa and the study's author, emphasizes that Omega-3 is an easily accessible and inexpensive dietary supplement with no side effects, making it an attractive option for those struggling to quit smoking.
Cigarette smoking not only leads to severe health issues like cardiovascular dysfunction, immune system dysfunction, and cancer but also depletes essential fatty acids in the brain, particularly Omega-3. Depression, mental health conditions, and stress tolerance are all correlated with an omega-3 deficiency. As stress and tension are commonly associated with the urge to smoke, the connection between Omega-3 deficiency and nicotine cravings became a focus of this study.
The Study's Methodology and Results
The study involved 48 smokers aged 18 to 45, diagnosed with moderate nicotine dependency, who smoked an average of 14 cigarettes per day for over a decade. Two groups of individuals were randomly selected, and one group received Omega-3 capsules while the other received a placebo.
Throughout the study, the participants were asked to take five Omega-3 capsules daily for thirty days, and they reported a remarkable compliance rate of over 94 per cent. Importantly, they were not required to stop smoking during the study period.
Various scales that measured elements connected to smoking cravings, such as lack of control over tobacco use, expectation of relief and satisfaction from smoking, and the number of cigarettes smoked per day, were used to quantify nicotine seeking and consumption levels. The results were intriguing:
- After thirty days of Omega-3 supplementation, the group taking the capsules demonstrated an average reduction of two cigarettes per day, representing an eleven-percent decrease in cigarette consumption. Notably, this reduction occurred even without any changes in their smoking habits.
- Even after another thirty days without Omega-3 supplementation, the desire to smoke remained significantly lower than the initial levels. The effect of Omega-3 on reducing nicotine cravings persisted beyond the period of supplementation.
- In contrast, the group receiving the placebo showed no significant changes in nicotine craving levels or cigarette consumption during the sixty-day study.
Why is Quitting Smoking Difficult?
Quitting smoking is an arduous task due to the physical addiction caused by nicotine. When smokers inhale nicotine, it triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, the "feel-good" hormones, leading to physical dependence. Over time, smokers develop a tolerance to nicotine, requiring more cigarettes to achieve the same effect. While there are several FDA-approved drugs to help reduce cravings, many smokers seek natural solutions to overcome the habit's harmful effects. Omega-3 supplementation offers a promising avenue for those attempting to quit smoking.
Omega-3 Foods and Daily Consumption
To incorporate Omega-3 into your diet, consider consuming foods like fatty fish, grass-fed meat, seeds, nuts, and oils such as olive and sunflower. For a more concentrated intake, Omega-3 supplements, often in the form of fish oil capsules, can be added to your daily routine. The recommended daily dosage is usually around 3 grams from both foods and supplements, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
