Can A Diet Protect Me From Secondhand Smoke? My father-in-law recently moved in with us. Problem is, he’s a big smoker, and even though he goes outside to have his cigarettes, I still worry that we’re breathing in his smoke. Can a dietary fix ward off the harmful effects?
You’re right to be concerned. Toxins in cigarette smoke can trigger nutrient deficiencies in the body that may result in respiratory problems, fatigue and increased susceptibility to colds and flu. The good news is that you can safeguard against such symptoms by upping your intake of ACES (vitamins A, C, E and selenium, levels of which can be depleted by cigarette smoke). Their anti-inflammatory properties boost immunity and protect the lungs and heart. Plus, these nutrients have been found to speed the removal of some by-products of cigarettes from the body. To increase your ACES intake, enjoy sweet potatoes three times a week. They’re rich in vitamins A, C and E, and when paired with selenium-rich foods like chicken and fish, they’ll fend off smoke-induced nutrient shortfalls. Or try a daily supplement like Carlson Laboratories ACES.
