According to a study, published in the journal ‘Nicotine and Tobacco Research’, milk may help quit smoking. The study claims that consuming milk makes the taste of cigarette bad and by making a few modifications to the diet, it is easier to quit smoking.

The study is said to be the first to explore the taste-altering effects of food and beverages on cigarette palatability. It examined 209 smokers and asked them to name items that worsen or enhance the taste of cigarettes.

Nineteen per cent of them reported that dairy products, such as milk or cheese, worsen the taste of cigarettes; 14 per cent reported non-caffeinated beverages, such as water or juice; and 16 per cent reported fruits and vegetables.

The co-investigator, Mr. Jed E. Rose of the Duke University Medical Center Study said that identifying which components of foods and beverages ruin the taste of cigarettes could lead to new treatments to deter smoking.

The researchers are now looking at the possibility of using the chemical silver acetate, known to alter the taste of cigarettes, to help smokers quit.