Phoebe
09-24-2004, 02:42 AM
I was told that eating carrots helped to renew the lining of the lungs faster. Is this true? If it isn't, is there anything that will aid in renewing the lining so that the healing process is speeded? Seems like maybe antioxidants should help. I hope someone knows the answer. Phoebe
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Deda
09-24-2004, 03:07 AM
Hi Phoebe- -
I've heard that eating lots of vegetables, especially yellow and orange ones, provide a lot of antioxidents. I also read somewhere that apples (have something in them) that is good for the lungs, so of course I eat an apple or two everyday. I also heard that grapes are very high in antioxidents, didn't hear which color tho, but I like green grapes. I also take CoQ-10, which is an antioxident, and touted by many as very good, (Dr. Andrew Weil), so I take that daily, as well as Vita C, E, B-Complex, and quite a few others. I drink protein shakes now daily, and just try to eat a good balanced diet. I NEVER ate very well when I smoked, as I'd rather smoke than take the time to eat. :( (STU-PID!) I've never eaten so well in my life as I do these days! And I exercise daily, walking from 3-4 miles a day, which is also good for the lungs. It's so funny how after we quit smoking, we want to start taking better care of our health, all around. And now we have the time! (not wasting time outside smoking!) :)
Good luck Phoebe!
Deda
I've heard that eating lots of vegetables, especially yellow and orange ones, provide a lot of antioxidents. I also read somewhere that apples (have something in them) that is good for the lungs, so of course I eat an apple or two everyday. I also heard that grapes are very high in antioxidents, didn't hear which color tho, but I like green grapes. I also take CoQ-10, which is an antioxident, and touted by many as very good, (Dr. Andrew Weil), so I take that daily, as well as Vita C, E, B-Complex, and quite a few others. I drink protein shakes now daily, and just try to eat a good balanced diet. I NEVER ate very well when I smoked, as I'd rather smoke than take the time to eat. :( (STU-PID!) I've never eaten so well in my life as I do these days! And I exercise daily, walking from 3-4 miles a day, which is also good for the lungs. It's so funny how after we quit smoking, we want to start taking better care of our health, all around. And now we have the time! (not wasting time outside smoking!) :)
Good luck Phoebe!
Deda
Phoebe
09-25-2004, 09:05 PM
Thanks Deda. Come next payday, I'm stocking up on Vitamins/supplements. Carrots are high in Vit A, and the red grapes are the ones that have been said to be very good for you as well as tomatoes too even in the form of catsup. Phoebe
Deda
09-28-2004, 03:42 AM
Thanks Phoebe for pointing that fact out on the grapes. Guess I'll have to acquire a taste now for red grapes. :eek: Wish I could eat the tomatoes, but I have gerd, which I'm finally getting under control now. If you hear of anything else that's good, let me/us know!
Deda :)
Deda :)
Phoebe
09-28-2004, 12:43 PM
Deda, Did you find that your Gerd bothered your throat? If so, how? ALso, did you have Gerd before you stopped smking or did it dev after? I now have some reflux and really didn't before I quit. Phoebe
ScarlettGA
09-28-2004, 12:59 PM
Phoebe - funny you mention the GERD question - I was wondering the same thing myself. I quit exactly 38 days ago and since that time any exercise brings on a burning sensation in my throat. I have been taking Pepcid AC for it and sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. I've just noticed this since I quit smoking. Why would quitting bring this on??? Anyone know? Take Care....Scarlett
Deda
09-28-2004, 04:12 PM
Dear Phoebe and Scarlett--
Well now you've got me wondering. In fact I did wonder in the beiginning, if quitting smoking had anything to do with my GERD. Actually, I think I was having some hearthburn last Sept., (before I quit), but I thought it did become worse AFTER I did quit smoking. I wondered if it was because of the nicotene gum, so I quit chewing that, and switched to using patches. I wondered too if it was stress induced, as I did have some major stress when I first quit. Well, later, when going over it with my endocrinologist, she said it was probably due to my hypothyroid, not being regulated at the time. Then I found out that it's common with hypo, after I started seeing it mentioned on the thyroid boards. So I'm not positive what brought mine on. :confused: I had big time stress too from the thyroid problems more than anything. Phoebe, I did have some funny throat sensations, and every now and then I still do, but that is also common with thyroid disorders. My thyroid gland is slightly enlarged too. It at times gets scratchy, or will feel like a pill is stuck in there. But this doesn't happen very often, and most of the time, my throat feels fine. Phoebe, and Scarlett, you might want to post on the digestive disorders board, and ask if other ppl have had this problem after quitting smoking. Also, quite often, some ppl have discovered a thyroid problem AFTER quitting smoking, as smoking masks a lot of the symptoms, and for some ppl it didn't appear until after they quit. I happen to know this is true. When I suffered one of my little relapses last Feb. :eek: I was having tons of hypo symptoms before that, and when I started smoking, in a short time, most of my symptoms dissappeared! Unbelievable, I know, but true. Now I'm finally getting my thyroid levels in the right place, and I rarely have heartburn. But I also quit drinking coffee, (I purchase acid free coffee over the net now) and I stay away from acid causing foods as much as I can. I take Protonix and drink aloe vera juice, but even that wasn't helping 2 months ago when the Gerd was at it's worst.
Hope this helped...
Deda
Well now you've got me wondering. In fact I did wonder in the beiginning, if quitting smoking had anything to do with my GERD. Actually, I think I was having some hearthburn last Sept., (before I quit), but I thought it did become worse AFTER I did quit smoking. I wondered if it was because of the nicotene gum, so I quit chewing that, and switched to using patches. I wondered too if it was stress induced, as I did have some major stress when I first quit. Well, later, when going over it with my endocrinologist, she said it was probably due to my hypothyroid, not being regulated at the time. Then I found out that it's common with hypo, after I started seeing it mentioned on the thyroid boards. So I'm not positive what brought mine on. :confused: I had big time stress too from the thyroid problems more than anything. Phoebe, I did have some funny throat sensations, and every now and then I still do, but that is also common with thyroid disorders. My thyroid gland is slightly enlarged too. It at times gets scratchy, or will feel like a pill is stuck in there. But this doesn't happen very often, and most of the time, my throat feels fine. Phoebe, and Scarlett, you might want to post on the digestive disorders board, and ask if other ppl have had this problem after quitting smoking. Also, quite often, some ppl have discovered a thyroid problem AFTER quitting smoking, as smoking masks a lot of the symptoms, and for some ppl it didn't appear until after they quit. I happen to know this is true. When I suffered one of my little relapses last Feb. :eek: I was having tons of hypo symptoms before that, and when I started smoking, in a short time, most of my symptoms dissappeared! Unbelievable, I know, but true. Now I'm finally getting my thyroid levels in the right place, and I rarely have heartburn. But I also quit drinking coffee, (I purchase acid free coffee over the net now) and I stay away from acid causing foods as much as I can. I take Protonix and drink aloe vera juice, but even that wasn't helping 2 months ago when the Gerd was at it's worst.
Hope this helped...
Deda
Deda
09-28-2004, 04:24 PM
Scarlett--
You might want to try Prilosec. You can buy it over the counter. Pepsid is an acid reducer. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor, and stops the acid from coming up, where Pepsid will just reduce the acid. I didn't have any luck at all with acid reducers. if it gets really bad, ask your dr. for a script for a stronger PPI, like Protonix, which works like Prilosec, but it's stronger. Good luck you guys, as I know GERD is so uncomfortable, at times it's downright painful.
Deda
You might want to try Prilosec. You can buy it over the counter. Pepsid is an acid reducer. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor, and stops the acid from coming up, where Pepsid will just reduce the acid. I didn't have any luck at all with acid reducers. if it gets really bad, ask your dr. for a script for a stronger PPI, like Protonix, which works like Prilosec, but it's stronger. Good luck you guys, as I know GERD is so uncomfortable, at times it's downright painful.
Deda
ScarlettGA
09-28-2004, 08:02 PM
Just so happened I went by the pharmacy today and asked the pharmacist about quitting smoking and GERD - he said he had never heard of that as a symptom of quitting smoking BUT he thought it could be from overeating as many of us do when we are quitting. I tried to explain to him that my eating and weight hadn't changed 1 ounce since I quit smoking but he just kept saying it had to be that. I guess he is the type who has to have an answer for everything. Next time I go to the doc I'll definitely ask him about it. Take Care everyone...Scarlett
Deda
09-29-2004, 05:15 AM
Let us know what he thinks, Scarlett. :) I was thinking too, since you seem to get this burning when you exercise, try not to eat anything, for at least a couple of hours before you work out. Possibly the moving about is causing any acids in your stomach to move up into your throat?
good luck...
Deda
good luck...
Deda
Phoebe
10-03-2004, 05:45 PM
That's what I'm thnking too. I know that smoking mimics eating so that gastric acids may be increased as a result since the stomach thinks it is getting ready to receive food. I remember my father telling me not to smoke on an empty stomach. Now that the smoking mouth activity isn't there, seems like that would slow, but maybe it is used to producing that much and continues to do so for a while. I donno. Also, I went to get vitamins and got a good MTV, Zinc, and my usual Flax Seed Oil. I asked abt the Co Q-10 and was told that it is made from Grape leaves. I thought I had heard that before. It is expensive though. After you quit, how long were you able to force smoke from your lungs? Phoebe
Deda
10-04-2004, 06:32 PM
Hi Phoebe--
Yes, the CoQ-10 seems a little expensive, but considering it come in a bottle of 100, (mine does), and I take 1 a day, that lasts almost 3 1/2 months, for $33.00. I buy mine at the big warehouse stores. That breaks down to around 10.00 monthly, which isn't too bad. I think they are much more costly at a vitamin shop. But I do think they are worth it, and I have noticed an improvement in my energy levels since I have started taking them.
Great going Phoebe on starting your new vitamin regiment. I'm not sure what you mean by the other question, how to force the smoke out of your lungs. I am walking a lot, as I have always read that exercise is good for our lungs, by breathing in more oxygen, and clearing out CO2.
good luck...
Deda
Yes, the CoQ-10 seems a little expensive, but considering it come in a bottle of 100, (mine does), and I take 1 a day, that lasts almost 3 1/2 months, for $33.00. I buy mine at the big warehouse stores. That breaks down to around 10.00 monthly, which isn't too bad. I think they are much more costly at a vitamin shop. But I do think they are worth it, and I have noticed an improvement in my energy levels since I have started taking them.
Great going Phoebe on starting your new vitamin regiment. I'm not sure what you mean by the other question, how to force the smoke out of your lungs. I am walking a lot, as I have always read that exercise is good for our lungs, by breathing in more oxygen, and clearing out CO2.
good luck...
Deda
Phoebe
10-05-2004, 12:57 AM
What I mean by forcing smoke from your lungs is this. I can place the back of my knuckle or the side of my hand securely over my mouth to seal it and then blow very hard without allowing air to escape. When I do move my hand, allowing the air in my mouth to escape, there will probably be smoke visible provided I do not inhale before it escapes. I had not known this would happen until I saw another who had quit months before who was able to express smoke from his lungs in the way I described. I can do that and still a little is visible occas even though it has been over 4 months. I just wondered how long that would last since as long as that smoke is in contact with my lungs, then I am still at as great a risk almost. Right? Oh, have you ever heard that Zinc lowers your immune system? I just read that on another board and had not heard it before. Phoebe
Deda
10-06-2004, 12:12 AM
Hi again Phoebe...well I tried that and I didn't see any smoke. Maybe I'll have to do it with my hubby present and see if he notices anything. Or maybe it's been too long now, and it's all cleared out? Whatever, but I'm not going to worry too much about it, as long as I'm feeling pretty well here. No cough or anything like that. Now which board did you read that about the Zinc? Was it the vita's and supplements board? That would concern me if it's true, as I take Zinc, (25 mgs) daily. Let me know...
Oh yeah, read again yesterday that apples were good for preventing lung cancer and asthma. Something about the flavasones, or something that sounds like that. Eat your apples every day. I buy the red delicious apples, a large bag, again from the large warehouse stores. (don't know if that is a generic chain store) Just eat em...
Deda :)
Oh yeah, read again yesterday that apples were good for preventing lung cancer and asthma. Something about the flavasones, or something that sounds like that. Eat your apples every day. I buy the red delicious apples, a large bag, again from the large warehouse stores. (don't know if that is a generic chain store) Just eat em...
Deda :)
bharkins
10-06-2004, 04:40 AM
I am an ex-smoker. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. I have never heard of the connection between carrots and the lungs.Smoking surpresses the appetite and when you stop, your appetite comes right back. Carrots are used as a low calorie healthy snack to satisfy your appetite and avoid excessive weight gain.
Phoebe
10-06-2004, 05:52 PM
Deda. I am hesitant to list a website on this board since it is against the rules to do so. I have been banned in the past for listing other websites here. In the thread where zinc was discussed, the poster mentioned that her doc had told her that taking a lot of zinc would lower her immune system. That's what prompted me to ask. Another responded with information she got from Creighton University's website. I have pasted some of that below. It seems that in high/toxic doses, zinc can lower the immune system. The one who posted the info pasted below is a pharmacology professor at a major university. I found this info on an Epilepsy Board on another Forum. Phoebe
Re Zinc:
Why do we need zinc?
Zinc is an important element for maintaining a healthy immune system, therefore it will allow for faster wound healing and fewer infections. Zinc is also necessary to maintain one’s sense of taste and smell, blood clotting, thyroid hormone function and insulin function. Zinc is important for normal growth and development, especially during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Zinc also is a cofactor in many processes within the body, including RNA, DNA and protein synthesis.
Where do we get zinc?
Zinc is primarily found in meat in poultry. Beef is the most common source of zinc, in an American’s diet. Oysters contain the most amount of zinc by weight. Zinc found in meat, poultry, and oysters is easily absorbed by the body. Other sources of zinc include beans, nuts, whole grains, raisins, and dairy products. However, dietary phytates, found in some of these sources, may decrease the body’s absorption of zinc.
Recommended dietary allowance?
5 mg/day for children 0-1 yr
10 mg/day for children 1-10 yr
12 mg/day for women 11 yr and older
15 mg/day for men 11 yr and older
Signs of Zinc Toxicity
Zinc is an essential mineral, but too much is not beneficial. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy and dehydration. Further signs include growth retardation, altered iron function, anemia, copper deficiency, decreased immune function, decreased HDL (high density lipoprotein), increased LDL (low density lipoprotein), and increased HgbA1C.
Due to the finding of zinc induced copper deficiency, some researchers are examining the benefits of zinc on Wilson’s disease.
Drug interactions
Captopril, chlorthalidone, deferoximine, loop diuretics, thiazides increase urinary zinc excretion.
Amiloride, ACE inhibitors, spironolactone decrease urinary zince excretion.
Chlorthalidone increases serum zinc levels.
Penicillamine decreases serum zinc levels.
Use with tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones decreases both antibiotic and zinc absorption.
Caffeine, bran, calcium, iron, protein and phosphorus decrease zinc absorption."
I agree with Rabbit and others. 25 mg or less of zinc seems appropriate.
Re Zinc:
Why do we need zinc?
Zinc is an important element for maintaining a healthy immune system, therefore it will allow for faster wound healing and fewer infections. Zinc is also necessary to maintain one’s sense of taste and smell, blood clotting, thyroid hormone function and insulin function. Zinc is important for normal growth and development, especially during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Zinc also is a cofactor in many processes within the body, including RNA, DNA and protein synthesis.
Where do we get zinc?
Zinc is primarily found in meat in poultry. Beef is the most common source of zinc, in an American’s diet. Oysters contain the most amount of zinc by weight. Zinc found in meat, poultry, and oysters is easily absorbed by the body. Other sources of zinc include beans, nuts, whole grains, raisins, and dairy products. However, dietary phytates, found in some of these sources, may decrease the body’s absorption of zinc.
Recommended dietary allowance?
5 mg/day for children 0-1 yr
10 mg/day for children 1-10 yr
12 mg/day for women 11 yr and older
15 mg/day for men 11 yr and older
Signs of Zinc Toxicity
Zinc is an essential mineral, but too much is not beneficial. Symptoms of zinc toxicity include nausea/vomiting, fever, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, neuropathy and dehydration. Further signs include growth retardation, altered iron function, anemia, copper deficiency, decreased immune function, decreased HDL (high density lipoprotein), increased LDL (low density lipoprotein), and increased HgbA1C.
Due to the finding of zinc induced copper deficiency, some researchers are examining the benefits of zinc on Wilson’s disease.
Drug interactions
Captopril, chlorthalidone, deferoximine, loop diuretics, thiazides increase urinary zinc excretion.
Amiloride, ACE inhibitors, spironolactone decrease urinary zince excretion.
Chlorthalidone increases serum zinc levels.
Penicillamine decreases serum zinc levels.
Use with tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones decreases both antibiotic and zinc absorption.
Caffeine, bran, calcium, iron, protein and phosphorus decrease zinc absorption."
I agree with Rabbit and others. 25 mg or less of zinc seems appropriate.
Deda
10-07-2004, 03:42 AM
Thanks Phoebe, that was very informative. I guess then that I'm safe taking my 25 mg zinc daily.
Have a good day..
Deda
Have a good day..
Deda
Rickhard
10-08-2004, 01:08 PM
Raw carrots are great. I try to eat three a day. I don't know there effect on the lungs, but you can't go wrong with any food that is healthy. The best food to eat to improve lung function is ground flax seed, brown or gold. Brown is a lot cheaper and it works great. The nutrients in ground flax seed helps the red blood cells to transport oxygen more efficiently. I've gone from doing 45 minutes of aerobic exercise four or five times a week to doing ninety minutes or more or aerobic exercise five or six times a week. I recently rode for two hours, sixteen minutes and thirty three seconds. The only time I rode it two hours before I started eating flaxmeal was when I was taking a liquid oxygen supplement called Oxybuild 1200. It cost me about a dollar a day to take it. My daily half cup of ground flax seed costs about eleven cents. Flaxmeal[ground flax seed is great] See my other posts. I feel so much better mentally and physically since I started eating it. I started with one tablespoon the first day and worked my way up. It's extremely high in fiber and may take a little getting used to. I'm off antidepressants[Omega 3 effect] and anti-anxiety meds. I'm off daily allergy and asthma meds. Flaxmeal is loaded with quality essential amino acids, too. It is the closest thing there is to a perfect food. Good luck.
Phoebe
10-09-2004, 02:15 AM
Thanks for the info. I take a Flax Seed Oil caplet daily. Will that provide the same nutrients as the ground? I can understand if there is a lack of fiber. Phoebe