How I quit smoking cigarettes for good!

The first time I quit smoking was over 20 years ago. I had just purchased a carton of cigarettes not long before and I gave all my friends a pack and told them I was quitting. Of course it wasn't long before I was bumming those some cigarettes off my friends!

September 23, 2009, marks one month since I quit smoking cigarettes for the last time. In honor of the day I would like to share some of what I've learned about quitting over the years. So here are a few key strategies to help YOU quit:

1. Keep track! Count how many cigarettes you smoke each day. Just knowing how much you smoke will encourage you to cut back, which is an important step towards quitting. One way to do this is on a scrap of people you keep in your cigarette pack. Just make a mark every time you light up. Even easier is to start with a known number and count the remaining cigarettes at the end of the day.
   
   
2. Set a goal! Now that you know how many cigarettes you smoke each day, start by reducing the number of cigarettes. If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day, try cutting back to 16. If you smoke 10, try 8 or even 6. If you smoke less than 5, just give it up! I don't suggest that you go cold turkey if you smoke a pack-a-day or more. Sooner or later, you will, but going cold turkey from smoking 2 packs a day is a lot tougher than going cold turkey from a half pack, or less. Believe me, I know this. Smoke a few cigarettes less each week until you get it down to a half-pack or less. In the meantime, you exercising self-discipline, and building on your success. Build on your successes and flush your "failures"!
   
   
3. Change brands OFTEN! Smoking is a deeply embedded habit. The smell of an unlit cigarette, the feel of your favorite lighter, the taste of the smoke when you first light it up, even the color of the package is all internally associated with our enjoyment of smoking. You can begin to undo these associates - without subjecting yourself to nicotine withdrawals - by simply changing up the habit. If you smoke menthols, smoke regulars instead. If you smoke one brand, try another. If you smoke lights, try "full flavor" cigarettes (seriously). Try a different brand every day. You can also use nicotine gum - even if you don't quit smoking - as a way to break up your smoking routine and lessen the grip of the habit. There's nothing quite like hot coffee and a fresh piece of Nicorette! Save a few cigarettes for after meals (and sex, of course).
   
   
4. Make a PUBLIC declaration! Tell everyone you know that you are going to quit! Once you've cut back to 4-8 cigarettes a day and you're ready to really give it up, TELL EVERYONE! If you can't do this, you know in your heart that you're not serious about quitting. Put yourself on the hook! Tell your family, friends, coworkers, even your spouse! You'll be amazed by how much support you receive and when it's not going well, those little words of encouragement make a HUGE difference! Sometimes all it takes is a little lift to keep you on track. Get all the support you can to get yourself past those rough spots. As an added benefit, you might even inspire someone you know to quit too! The life you save may not be just your own!
   
   
5. NEVER give up! There is no such thing as failure when you are trying to quit smoking! Everyday without cigarettes is a success. Everyday you smoke less than you did before is a success. Everyday you are even AWARE you are smoking too much is a success because it brings you closer to making a decision to quit. If you quit and started smoking again, then quit again! If you can start smoking after quitting, then you can quit smoking after starting. If you can't bring yourself to quit for good, quit for a month, or a week, or a day. Quit smoking before noon. Quit smoking after dinner. Every little step strengthens your "quitting muscle" and makes it easier the next time. Keep quitting and quitting and quitting until you finally quit for good!

Above all, never give up! I've quit hundreds of times. If nothing else, each time my body got a break from the nicotine and toxins that come with smoking. Better yet, I may have smoked my last cigarette. When will you smoke yours?

All about mercury poisoning. Part 2 of 2.

For people who have mercury poisoning, the first step is to stop further exposure to the toxic metal. If they have silver-amalgam dental fillings, there may be good reason to consider replacing them with composite fillings. If they live in an urban area, they may want one or more air purifiers. Plants can also be a great air purifier. The common spider plant is one of the best! Most people are aware of the mercury risks in many fish and seafood. There are many species that are very safe to eat and others not so much. For fish lovers, the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California has an excellent resource called “Seafood WATCH”.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defines chelation as "the formation or presence of bonds (or other attractive interactions) between two or more separate binding sites within the same ligand and a single central atom." Simply put, a chelating agent is ingested or injected, which bonds to another compound (in this case toxic heavy metals) and neutralizes the other compound, allowing it to be eliminated naturally. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a common oral chelating agent and is also a powerful antioxidant. Chlorella is single-celled algae that has been shown to enhance immune functions and lower cholesterol and blood-pressure, is often used for chelating mercury. Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS) is commonly used when oral chelating agents have not worked or mercury levels are very high, by way of a series of injections in your largest muscle – the indispensable gluteus maximus.

Fasting is a common detoxifying practice. When the digestive system has nothing else to do the body begins to throw out the garbage, desperate for anything it can use to make glucose. The liver, kidneys and other internal organs get a long vacation and all the “crap” starts moving the other direction. There are many accounts of dramatic recoveries from serious and chronic disease as a result of a long-term water fast. I’ll definitely be covering this topic again!

Last but not least, alkaline water is said to help the body eliminate toxins. The so called “ionized” water is said to permeate the cell walls more efficiently and eliminate waste and toxins at a cellular level. According to Wikipedia “drinking ionized water would not be expected to alter the body's pH”, but the article overlooks the stress incurred to the body by the process of offsetting a very acidic diet. Obviously water is essential and I will explore the importance of pH in great depth shortly.

All about mercury poisoning. Part 1 of 2.

Mercury poisoning is a condition in which the body has absorbed toxic quantities of mercury compounds. Mercury (Hg) is an elemental metal that has many industrial applications. If you are of a certain age your mother probably used a thermometer with mercury in it. As the temperature went up, the mercury expands and fills the gauge. I once had an old thermostat that used a mercury switch. But not all mercury pollution comes from humans. Volcanoes and other natural sources account for about half of the mercury in our atmosphere. Coal-fired plants contribute another 40% in the US and the rest comes from other industrial activities such as mining, cement product and waste disposal.

Pure mercury is uncommon and mercury is more often found in other forms.Elemental mercury is not easily absorbed by skin contact or ingestion. Mercury salts are more readily absorbed through the skin and digestive system and can lead to serious health consequences. Methylmercury is the largest source of mercury contamination as it has contaminated our food supply and accumulates in fish other food products. Many people are aware of the mercury found in fish and other seafood; the smallest fish accumulate mercury found in the plants and insects in their diet and as they are consumed by larger and still larger fish, the amount of mercury we are exposed to increases. (So a good rule of thumb is to eat smaller fish and avoid the largest such as shark and tuna.)

Dental amalgams are a known source of low-level mercury exposure, but the American Dental Association (ADA) states “Dental amalgam has been studied and reviewed extensively, and has established a record of safety and effectiveness.” The ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs claimed in 1998 "There currently appears to be no justification for discontinuing the use of dental amalgam." An article on medicinenet.com states, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is little scientific evidence that the health of the vast majority of people with dental amalgam is compromised, nor that removing amalgam fillings has a beneficial effect on health.” However in the same article they say “Mercury from dental amalgam is a major source of controllable mercury released to the environment and likely will remain a significant concern into the future.”

Really? It’s okay to have it in your mouth all your life, but if we bury it in a landfill it could contaminate our drinking water. Really?!?

Symptoms for mercury poisoning vary depending on the type mercury compound a person is exposed to. Methylmercury poisoning is indicated by itching, burning or pain; skin discoloration, pink cheeks and fingertips; swelling and peeling skin. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), symptoms of elemental mercury poisoning are “tremors; emotional changes (e.g., mood swings, irritability, nervousness, excessive shyness); insomnia; neuromuscular changes (such as weakness, muscle atrophy, twitching); headaches; disturbances in sensations; changes in nerve responses; performance deficits on tests of cognitive function.”

In my next blog I will discuss various treatment options for mercury poisoning, including chelation, ionized water and fasting. Until then, your comments are always welcome!

Gearing up for the big fast!

It's been almost 4 weeks since I quit smoking cigarettes and only 3 days since I quit drinking coffee. The goal is to (somewhat) gradually ween myself off of the "crap" so I can do a 7-day water fast.

Why would I do this? Generally, I'm a health freak and I'm convinced there's merit to the practice of fasting (more to come on that). Specifically, I found out that I have mercury poisoning and I want to lower that as much as possible as soon as possible. I believe fasting could be the answer.

My doctor also suggested chlorella and I've read some good thing about that. Apparently it's an amazing superfood we should all be taking and be sure you get it in tablet form. I found out the powder is pretty hard to consume unless you mix it with your food, such as a shake, which gives it a decidedly "fishy" flavor (it is just an algae after all).

Furthermore, I'll be continuing my health education. I'll be reading (and rereading) my library of books on health and nutrition, searching for commonality, and discussing the differences. I aim to keep an open mind and explore various topics, starting with some basics such as the most common diseases and how to prevent them, moving onto looking at some specific nutritional supplements, water purification and alkalization, heavy metals and other toxins, and even the future of medicine, including bio-tech and nano-tech.