Consuming cheese, water, and broccoli may diminish the taste of
cigarettes, according to the April issue of Nicotine & Tobacco
Research on Thursday.
The research also found that cigarette taste is enhanced after
eating meat or drinking alcohol or beverages that contain
caffeine.
Taken together, the discoveries raise the possibility of fashioning
a so-called "smoker's diet" -- one that could help make quitting
easier.
"Smoking is not just about nicotine addiction, it's also about
taste and sensory qualities of smoking," said study author F.
Joseph McClernon, an assistant professor in the department of
psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical
Center in Durham, N.C., U.S. "So, anything we find that can disturb
or disrupt the smoking experience might make it easier for a smoker
to quit."
McClernon and his colleagues found that fruits and vegetables,
dairy products, and non-caffeinated drinks (such as water and
juice) were among the foods most commonly cited as worsening the
taste of a cigarette.
On the other hand, caffeinated drinks, alcohol and meat were most
often highlighted as improving taste.
They also found that younger smokers were more sensitive to foods
that worsened taste, whereas those who smoked fewer cigarettes were
more susceptible to taste-enhancing foods. Those who smoked
non-menthol brands were more sensitive to either kind of
influence.
The researchers suggested that clinicians might want to consider
advising dietary changes for patients trying to kick the
habit.
