#12 - Smoking

Here is the final installment of the 12 Basic Steps for Anti-Aging Your Brain. I hope this series has been of help to you.

Smoking. It can be a touchy subject. Especially since it involves dealing with nicotine and addiction to it. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from smoking - that's not my primary goal here. I simply want to provide information on smoking and its health impact, for you and those around you, so you can make informed decisions. The choice to quit or to keep smoking is yours. I do recommend that if you don't smoke, don't start, and do your best to avoid second-hand smoke.

That being said, smoking does affect all of us in a variety of ways. Our society's view of smoking has changed over the years, and many states have enacted laws to restrict smoking in public places. Besides the physical impact of smoking, there is also the economic impact of purchasing cigarettes (or whatever else they choose to smoke). Smokers have health consequences to consider for themselves (and for people exposed to their smoke second-hand).
On average, a non-smoker lives ten years longer than a smoker. That is significant. Which is why I consider these statistics to be equally significant:

• 1 in 5 deaths is from smoking-related illness and disease.
• 480,000 deaths per year are related to smoking.
• 1 in 10 of those deaths is from exposure to second-hand smoke.

Many people don't realize how their smoking affects those around them. While smokers are in direct control of how much and how often they smoke, non-smokers who are subjected to the second-hand smoke don't have that same control. The main course of action for non-smokers is to remove themselves from the environment where they are exposed to smoking, and that isn't always possible.

The good news is this: If you do stop smoking or stop exposure to second-hand smoke, within a year, your body can recover a large percentage (80-90%) of your overall health and lung vitality.

Of course, if you are trying to quit, or if you are around a lot of second-hand smoke, there are things you can do to minimize your exposure or aid in healing your body:

• Adaptogenic herbs help with the lack of nicotine
• Taurine assists the lungs in healing
• Polyphenols help prevent the progression of some diseases
• Pulse dose (2x/day, 5 days/week) antioxidants

My advice is simple: If you smoke, do it with a friend (this is actually less harmful to your health than smoking alone), but realize that smoking may decrease your longevity. If you don't smoke, don't start. It's been proven that you are adding precious years to your life. Definitely worth it in my book.

Enjoy the video, and as always, please feel free to pass this along!

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Yoshi Rahm, DO. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or another healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.

Do not use the information provided in this article for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or another healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read in this email.

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