Smoking affects your appetite, sense of taste and smell and ability to absorb vital nutrients. To explain why we’ve answered your questions about the impact of smoking on diet and nutrition.

Why can’t I taste my food properly anymore? Smoking a cigarette fills your brain with nicotine which affects your ability to taste flavours in your food. Meanwhile the body’s oxygen supply is reduced which leads to a dulling of flavours in the mouth.

Will smoking affect my sense of smell too? If you’re a regular smoker it’s likely that your sense of smell will take a hit. This is because smoking irritates the nasal passages and causes them to become inflamed. This will affect your sense of smell and you may find you lose enjoyment in your favourite foods.

I don’t have much of an appetite, even for my favourite foods. Is this because I smoke? Smoking will suppress your appetite because of the effects of nicotine on the brain and the nervous system. This could lead you to have a more restricted diet which may affect your health.

If I eat a healthy diet, I’ll be ok though, right? No, not necessarily. Smoking affects the body’s ability to absorb and retain a range of essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins C and D and calcium. Vitamin C is one of the body’s main antioxidants, which means it helps to prevent a number of diseases. It also helps you to absorb iron. A low level of vitamin C can cause vitamin deficiency. Meanwhile low levels of calcium can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Even if you take a vitamin C supplement and increase your intake of calcium, fruit and vegetables you cannot protect your body from the cell damage caused by smoking, which leads to diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease and respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

If I stop smoking, will that help? Yes! Within just 48 hours of quitting smoking, the carbon monoxide and nicotine within your body will have been eliminated and your sense of taste and appetite will start to return. Your body’s ability to absorb and retain essential vitamins and minerals will improve and you will once again be able to smell the roses!

Quitting smoking can be challenging, however there is plenty of free support available to help you on your journey to a smoke-free life. Contact  Help Me Quit on 0800 085 2219.