Public health researchers at the University of Buffalo believe that increased consumption of fruit and vegetables could help smokers kick the habit.
Fresh produce makes the taste of tobacco less appealing and, according to the results of a study of 1,000 smokers, those who ate more fruit and vegetables were three times more likely to be tobacco-free for at least 30 days at follow-up 14 months later.
Fresh produce eaters also smoked fewer cigarettes per day, waited longer in the morning for their first hit and scored lower in nicotine dependence tests.
The results of the study are published in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal.
