Nicotine, Vitamin C and UTIs.
Smoking causes free radicals to occur. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that have an odd number of electrons. Molecules do not like to be in this state which makes them unstable. These unhappy free radicals travel around the body looking for an electron to grab from other molecules so that they can stabilize their energy. Depending on where they find the electron they need, they can wreak havoc on healthy tissue.
When they interfere with collagen, they cause the notorious “smoker’s wrinkles.” When they encounter blood vessels, they can damage the blood vessel lining setting the stage for a heart attack. And when the source becomes DNA in the cells of our bodies, damage (gene mutations) may occur. It is this accumulation of gene mutations which is responsible for the formation of a cancer cell.
It’s crucial to ensure you get the right intake of vitamins and minerals to minimize the damage caused by smoking. In some cases, some vitamins can even help with quitting, particularly when it comes to the prevention of anxiety and weight gain that often goes hand in hand with the quitting process.
A non-smoker needs an average of about 1,000 mg of Vit C per day, while an average smoker may require about 3,000 mg. Smoking reduces up to 40% the body’s supply of vitamin C, thus creating a deficiency that can cause major health problems over time. Taking an extra amount of vitamin C for short periods of time can help reduce nicotine cravings, adhering to nicotine and allowing it to filter easily and sent to the liver and kidneys to be eliminated.
Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, a protein responsible for growing and repairing cells in our bodies that produce everything from skin to muscle, and from ligaments to blood vessels. It helps keep our immune system strong and reduces blood sugar. It also has the unique quality of being able to help with the regeneration of other antioxidants.
Smoking causes scars to form on the arterial walls, which take the place of normal cells in the body and they don’t replace their function. This replacement happens in the process called oxidation. Vitamin E can stop that damage from occurring as it is an antioxidant. Vitamin E is an important nutrient that helps us build red blood cells and bolsters the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria.
Cigarette smoking increases the generation of free radicals in the body which can predispose to tissue damage resulting in conditions from heart disease to cancer. Antioxidants such as vitamin C are part of our body’s defense system, acting to neutralize free radicals before they can do their damage. Sadly, these vitamins are also depleted in people who smoke yielding a bad combination; more free radicals with fewer antioxidants to fight them. Taking supplements is crucial to protecting your body from the impact of smoking.
