Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Thank you for not smoking.

As you may have noticed, I don't post that much - probably because I am talking to you guys all the time and I don't want to be preachy or redundant but today I had another email from a friend who keeps telling me she's "smoking a lot" and I just thought someone might need this so here is an excerpt from my response:

"When you smoke, it sets off a cascade of free radical damage that becomes oxidative stress. Diseases begin to develop as more and more oxidative stress accumulates in one organ. When enough damage occurs, an actual disease can be identified like cancer, diabetes, stroke, etc...those are just a few examples of the vicious diseases of aging you might face.

But, aside from all the really, REALLY scary health risks to smoking - it will also really make you age badly. Old smoker skin isn't pretty, my love. You would probably live longer and look better if you ate bacon every day.* If you won't stop for your health, do it for your beauty which are, btw, the same thing. True beauty comes from the inside, and I ain't just talking about your sparkling personality.

Load up on your anti-oxidants in the meantime. I'm not a total killjoy, have a cigarette once in a while, like when you're out with friends...but really smoking smoking, no, it has to stop."

*In defense of Bacon, I must say that the friend I was writing to is a Vegetarian (as I typed that I had a giggle!!) and has scorned me specifically for eating bacon. I admit it, I like bacon, but I don't eat a pack a day.