Facto encountered a viral post that claims a tiny bit of salt can help in getting rid of smoking habit.
The viral post says licking salt can help people quit smoking within a month by reducing their urge to smoke.
‘Whenever you get the urge to smoke, lick a little solved with the tip of your tongue. This will relieve the temptation instantly and has been said to kick the habit within a month’, claimed the user.
The post has also requested to spread the message as it can help someone.
Source: Facebook
You can see similar claims here, here, here and here.
Apparently, we all know the health risks of smoking tobacco, but that doesn’t make it any easier to kick the habit. Whether you’re an occasional teen smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be really tough as smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit.
Can a pinch of salt help in kicking this addiction just in a month?
FACTO CHECK
According to Mayoclinic, nicotine dependence occurs when you need nicotine and can’t stop using it. Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that makes it hard to quit. Nicotine produces pleasing effects in your brain, but these effects are temporary. So, you reach for another cigarette.
The more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel good. When you try to stop, you experience unpleasant mental and physical changes. These are symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Moreover, we were unable to find any study or research work done on the efficacy of licking salt to quit smoking.
Rather, we landed into a study which found salt to be really harmful, if taken frequently.
The same study also points towards the relationship between sodium and autoimmune diseases as well.
According to worldwide surveys, the average of daily salt intake is 10 g with most of it coming from processed food. This highlights the regrettable fact that consumers can barely exercise control over their salt intake. This is particularly important for certain populations who are considered to be salt-sensitive and in whom salt restriction would be more likely beneficial from adherence to recommendations, concludes the study.
with this, as of now it is quite evident that licking salt is no way out of your addiction.
‘Counselling and medication can more than double a tobacco user’s chance of successfully quitting. Currently however’, WHO.
Moving further, we ruled out some ways to get rid od this not so pleasing habit of yours such as-
- Start counselling
- Stick to Your Plan
- Get Support
- Stay busy
- Avoid smoking triggers
- Stay positive
- Take medication prescribed by your doctor
- Be determined
Conclusion
Licking salt to quit smoking is an anecdotal way to go for it. There is no evidence in the scientific studies and trials to prove the efficacy of the claim. Reach out to you nearby medical professional for more help. Hence, salt may add flavours in your food but alone it may do more harm than good.
