Quitting smoking is hard work but it gets easier everyday as the body loses it's dependency on nicotine and the health benefits begin almost immediately.

Your diet can mean all the difference to success in quitting. Many people have been successful in the quest to stop smoking by going on a live juice fast.

For best results start with a three day liquid cleansing diet with fresh fruits and vegetable juices and miso soup to neutralise and clear the blood of nicotinic acid and fortify blood sugar. Add magnesium rich foods like dark leafy veggies, whole grains, sea foods, sea vegetables and legumes. Avoid junk foods, sugar, white flour products and processed foods that aggravate cravings. Also avoid oxalic acid forming foods like chocolate and spinach that bind up magnesium in the body and eliminate coffee. Take a cup of green tea instead, to help to reduce body carcinogens.

A simple Epsom salt bath using half a pound of salt per bath will help pull nicotine and tar from the skin to prevent its introduction into the blood stream. Shower or bathe normally after the Epsom salt bath to rinse them off.

Dry with a white towel. The brownish residue from the skin usually enforces the desire and need to stop smoking.

Exercise is also useful in helping the body to eliminate toxins from smoking.

Start with a brisk ten minute walk and increase by five minutes each day.

Nothing replaces willpower, but these herbs and supplements can support you as you kick the habit.

St.Johns wort is an antidepressant that may help reduce smoker's anxiety.

Kava, valerian, chamomile, and skullcap help calm the nerves and control cravings.

Keep in mind that the acute cravings for cigarettes usually only last three to five minutes, focusing on this fact makes it easier to wait it out. Also remember that it gets easier and easier as time goes by. When cravings strike, try taking a walk, doing some sit-ups or deep breathing exercises for more body oxygen, until the desire decreases.

There are several natural products on the market that can help you deal with your smoking withdrawal such as Natra Bio Smoking Withdrawal Relief.

For nicotine toxicity take daily: 2 cysteine 1000mg 2 glutamine 1000mg 4 vitamin C 1000mg 4 evening primrose oil Milk thistle protects the liver from harmful toxins from cigarette smoke.

CoQ10 aids oxygen flow to the brain and protects the heart tissue and the lungs.

These supplements are recommended also if you cannot help being a passive smoker.

Ex-smokers worry of weight gain should keep in mind that dietary fibre helps prevent obesity by slowing down the eating process, increasing excretion of calories, improving glucose tolerance and controlling the appetite by triggering the release of appetite supporting hormones.

I'll leave you with some inspiring advice from world renowned Yogi, Paramahansa Yoganada.

"Bad habits are the worst enemies you can have. You are punished by those habits. They make you do things you do not want to do and leave you to suffer the consequences. Bad habits are constantly telling you that you cannot succeed in conquering them, but you can do it. Make up your mind to succeed.

The mind is everything, it is all powerful. Mind can control life and death.'' *** Camilla Macpherson is co-owner of Nature's Chi Health Store in Hamilton.