COMMON SENSE
Hello, my dear friends of life in my heavenly Turkey, whose health is precious, whose hearts are kind, whose souls are beautiful, and who are full of awareness.
In our “Year of Awareness” article, we mentioned that one of our readers had lost 20 kg. Don’t even ask, it happened. Our email inboxes are overwhelmed. We love you all. Now, let’s get to the latest news. I’ll write it down without keeping you in suspense. As of yesterday, Ms. Ebru has managed to reduce her weight by 23.2 kg.
Now, here we go again.
She gave birth to two children in a row, then lost 23 kilos in 3 months. And on top of that, she got toned. Is that even possible? I asked her again if she smoked. Just one cigarette, of course. The answer came instantly: “- I don’t even know what it tastes like, sir.”
The popular urban legend that cigarettes suppress appetite, help with weight loss, keep you full, and prevent weight gain – claims like “I quit smoking and now I’ve gained weight” – are scientifically false, my friends. Tell me this instead: How much courage do you have to confront yourself?
With every breath you take, do you know how many cells die in your brain, let alone your lungs? Those students in middle schools, high schools, universities, campuses, and cafes around schools, puffing away on cigarettes and hookahs like chimneys… I just say it’s a waste of all that effort. Long live popular culture.
What stage has Turkish youth reached in education and research and development in recent years?
What does it produce intellectually?
What are you aware of?
Is anyone curious?
I’m appealing to teachers, authorities, and parents. Taking selfies isn’t enough. A little awareness, please. Everything a person eats, drinks, and uses is reflected in their behavior and lifestyle. For those who say, “Come on,” let me explain: some scientific studies and medical research in the fields of physiological psychology and psychopharmacology classify nicotine as a “narcotic.”
To those health-conscious friends who want to quit smoking and get rid of this insidious enemy; first, admit this: You are using drugs, plain and simple. It’s just a step up, a promotion. Oh, and don’t forget. You can’t quit, can you? You’re addicted. So, what are you addicted to?
If you accept the answer you gave yourself internally, you’ve already gone halfway to getting rid of this poison.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) beautifully said in one of his hadiths: “There are two blessings that most people do not appreciate: physical health and free time.”
Remember what our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said: “A sound mind resides in a sound body.”
Oh, youth! Oh, the rising generation! Mothers and fathers! Educators, guardians! And all those with sound judgment! Reconsider how you spend your health and time.
WEEKLY AWARENESS NOTE
Smoking reduces vitamin C and consequently vitamin E levels in the body. Eat foods like black grapes, green peppers, mangoes, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, blackberries, grape juice, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, leeks, bananas, strawberries, turnips, and leafy greens. While not highly effective against the countless harms of nicotine, build a defense. There’s an option that can help you hate nicotine: regular use of water-soluble (effervescent) vitamin C can reduce your ability to smoke. However, you must be very careful. Certain components in vitamin C, when combined with the effects of smoking, can lead to cancer more quickly. The scientific community is divided on the issue of vitamin C. Their consensus is that smoking and vitamin C should absolutely not be used on the same day. So you have a powerful weapon, but timing and willpower are crucial. Also, be sure to get a chest X-ray. You can determine which vitamin and mineral supplements to take with the help of an expert.
Uğur Uğural
