What to know: Some people swear oatmeal helps stave off the urge for nicotine. In addition, foods that produce alkaline urine will reduce nicotine excretion, which allows the drug to linger in the blood and postpone cravings. In contrast, acid-forming foods speed nicotine excretion and could worsen cravings.

What to do: Have oatmeal for breakfast or fill your plate with alkaline-forming foods, such as spinach, raisins, figs and almonds.

What to avoid: Acid-forming foods, such as meat, soft drinks and fatty snacks. If you're using nicotine gum to curb your cravings, avoid soft drinks, coffee, fruit juices and beer, which reduce absorption of - and intensify cravings for - nicotine.