Smoking is a pretty unhealthy habit and it's accepted by even the heaviest smoker that it's bad for your health.

But have you ever stopped to think about the good reasons for kicking the fags? If you haven't, here are 10 reasons to help you stop!

1. Look younger and brighter

Smoking dehydrates your skin and deprives it of oxygen, so you'll notice your skin start to become smoother and brighter if you stop smoking.

What's more, the term 'smoker's face' has actually been added to the dictionary. It's used to describe people who have a face that looks a lot older than they are.

This typically means lines around the lips, shallow lines on the cheeks and a kind of grey colour to the skin. So quitting will reduce lines and wrinkles on your face and even your eyes will start to look brighter.

How about that - a face lift without the need for cosmetic surgery!

2. Extra sensory perception

Your sense of taste and smell will improve dramatically once you stop smoking.

The food you eat can be transformed by not smoking, as you experience things in a totally different way - your sense of smell and taste work in harmony when you eat, so by stopping they will both be heightened.

It may also help you to cut down on the amount of sugar and salt you eat as well. In an effort to improve the taste of food, many smokers load up on these two.

Too much sugar and salt can contribute to an increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

- Next: Why your teeth will look a whole lot whiter after you kick the fags

More help and advice

- Get tips and advice on stopping smoking
- Read Emma's story of how she managed to quit smoking
- Could your teenager be smoking?
- Get the facts on pregnancy and smoking
- Get more help on quitting from the NHS

By Rob Mansfield

• Next: Ten benefits of stopping smoking - Part 2

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