They conducted a survey of 1,000 smokers who wanted to kick the habit. The results showed those who consumed the most fruits and vegetables were three times more likely to be tobacco-free for a least 30 days 14 months later than those who consumed the least amount of these foods.
The researchers aren’t sure why this diet may dampen the urge to smoke. But they have several theories. “It’s possible that fruits and vegetables give people more of a feeling of satiety or fullness so they feel less of a need to smoke, since smokers sometimes confuse hunger with an urge to smoke,” speculated Jeffrey Haibach, the lead author of the study published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
Furthermore, these foods “may actually worsen the taste of cigarettes,” he added. After all, a cigarette and a coffee go hand in hand. The same can’t be said for a carrot stick.