So what do you think about the title?
Is Nicotine Good For You?
Bet you never thought the Healthy Vegan would come out with something like that did you? Well, sit tight, I’m about to tell you all about what I’ve just discovered.
Back in the 60’s when the tobacco companies were trying to stop the Surgeon General’s warning going onto the packets, they came up with some really ludicrous arguments including that smoking was good for you.
They claimed that smoking stopped Parkinson’s Disease something the was poohooed and totally dismissed as being a huge ploy on the part of the cigarette companies.
Now comes the weird part. Over 5 dozen studies since the 70s have indeed shown that tobacco smoking does in fact lower the chances of Parkinson’s Disease quite dramatically.
But don’t go thinking that I’m about to take up and start waving the flag for cigarettes – not at all. We all know that smoking is linked to lung disease and emphysema in fact 80 – 90% of lung cancers in the USA are caused by smoking.
Not only that, but there is a right toxic mix in the cigarette with over 7,000 chemicals are added to the tobacco!!!!
So the researchers decided to find out why and it seems that it is the actual nicotine in the tobacco plant that is the beneficial part. Tobacco comes from the Nightshade plant family and so does Bell peppers, tomatoes and potatoes.
Wouldn’t it be much nicer to introduce peppers into your diet – having them a bit more often? Let’s face it, you can’t go past a gorgeous red Bell pepper filled with a plant protein like lentils or quinoa and baked. Then pour over a nice tomato sauce add some gorgeous fresh dark greens like kale and spinach and you’ve got a bang up nutritious meal.
Honestly, I learn something new every day!
