In New York City tonight..am so glad that people cannot "smoke" in restaurants here..I have been so spoilt living in "smoke-free" California..
Did you know that in 1990, the city of San Luis Obispo, California, became the first city in the world to ban indoor smoking at all public places, including bars and restaurants.
In America, the success of the ban enacted by the state of California in 1998 encouraged other states such as New York to implement bans. California's smoking ban included a controversial ban of smoking in bars, extending the statewide workplace smoking ban enacted in 1994. As of April 2009 there were 37 states with some form of smoking ban.Some areas in California began making entire cities smoke-free, which would include every place except residential homes. More than 20 cities in California enacted park and beach smoking bans.
Enough Californian pride..Let's get a little serious here and learn more about smoking and why it is one of the things in the world that I just can't stand..
How does smoking cause cancer?
Cigarette smoke is packed full of roughly 4000 compounds, many of which are toxic and can cause damage to our cells. Some are carcinogenic (cancer-causing).
The three main ingredients of cigarette smoke are:
1.Nicotine
2.Carbon monoxide
3.Tar
Nicotine is not carcinogenic. It doesn't cause cancer. But it is a highly addictive and very fast-acting drug. Once inhaled, nicotine reaches the brain in less than 15 seconds. Most smokers are addicted to nicotine and crave cigarettes to feed their addiction. This is the key ingredient that keeps people buying cigarettes and keeps the tobacco companies in business.
Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odourless poisonous gas. It is taken up by the bloodstream quickly and impairs the smoker's breathing. The gas is also emitted by car exhausts, faulty boilers and fires and is very dangerous in badly ventilated spaces. Inhaling too much carbon monoxide causes coma and death by asphyxiation.
Tar is a substance made up of various chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. Around 70 per cent of the tar in cigarettes is deposited in the smoker's lungs.
Other harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke include
ACETONE, more commonly used in nail polish remover
AMMONIA, used in the dry cleaning industry
ARSENIC, a deadly poison used in pest control and insecticides
BENZENE, a cancer-causing agent used in the production of fuel and chemicals
CADMIUM, a very poisonous chemical that can cause liver, kidney and brain damage, used in batteries
FORMALDEHYDE, a known carcinogen used to preserve dead bodies
One of my friends,Dr Steven Bailey,author of Juice Alive ,a book I highly recommend has very interesting juice recipes that work like magic on many health issues.
My recipe for smoking cessation is part of the book.
Juice one medium apple,one celery stalk,one and 1/2 tsp highest lignan flax oil and 1/2 tsp of turmeric.Use organic ingredients.
Consume 4 to 6 times throughout the day whenever you have a craving.This drink will make smoking repugnant and significantly reduce cravings..
This blog entry is dedicated to a 'few' of my friends who "still" smoke..D'uh !! rather than being "smoking" hot..Come on people,it is time to 'wake' up and smell the roses..rather than 'stink" of a dry-cleaned,cockroach with a cheap manicure,drunk on insecticides and looking to be preserved..
Just got off the phone with my pal,Nandu who plans on giving up smoking by next weekend..(That will be the eighth wonder !!)..anyways,let's all wish him luck..
