Pucker up to a kiss this Valentine’s day and not a puff on a cigarette. We know it’s tough, but getting rid of cigarettes in your life is one of the most rewarding things you can do.Dietitian nutritionists read ingredient lists and use them to educate their patients on what they mean. Let’s review the ingredients in cigarettes:

• 1,3-Butadiene is a chemical used to manufacture rubber. It is considered to be a carcinogenic chemical that can cause certain blood cancers.
• Arsenic is used to preserve wood. Some arsenic compounds have been linked to cancer of the lung, skin, liver, and bladder.
• Benzene is used to manufacture other chemicals. It can cause cancer, particularly leukemia, in humans.
• Cadmium is a metal used to make batteries. Cadmium and cadmium compounds can cause lung cancer and have been associated with kidney and prostate cancer.
• Chromium VI is used to make alloy metals, paint and dyes. Chromium VI compounds cause lung cancer and have been associated with cancer of the nose and nasal sinuses.
• Formaldehyde is used to make other chemicals and resins. It is also used as a preservative. Formaldehyde causes leukemia and cancer in respiratory tissues.
• Polonium-210 is a radioactive element that has been shown to cause cancer in animals.
• Tar is not one single chemical, instead it describes several chemicals that are in tobacco smoke. It leaves a sticky, brown residue on your lungs, teeth and fingernails.

These ingredients are alarming. Let’s load our bodies with fruits and vegetables instead of cigarettes. Grab a carrot, celery, or pepper stick. How about a green bean dipped in ranch dressing or sweet potato fries?

Vitamins and minerals present in fruits and vegetables help with metabolism, digestive tract health, keeping muscles strong, healthy eyesight and increased energy in daily activities. How can this compare to a cigarette?If this post has encouraged you enough to give quitting a try, please call the Illinois Tobacco Hot line at 866-973-4646 for support.