Secondhand Smoke and Nutrition

Smoking and nutrition have long been like oil and water. They don't mix. Seems secondhand smoke's indirect damage to non-smokers goes beyond lung damage to nutrition. Science Daily has reviewed the recent research showing non-smokers living in household with smokers suffer from limited access to healthy foods. Children appear to be particularly affected by smoking parents, who divert crucial resources to smoking and cigarettes.

The data showing higher rates of food insecurity in children living in low-income households with smokers may just highlight a compounding problem, as opposed to one squarely on the shoulders of smoking. In wealthier families that feature smokers, there is less risk of financial diversion due to cigarette smoking. The detriment to children would then be primarily from breathing in secondhand smoke. In other families, including low income units, decreased access to healthy foods could be about education, awareness and overall financial limitations—regardless of smoking costs.

Still, throw one more negative effect of secondhand smoking on the pile. Children in smoking families definitely face an uphill battle when it comes to health, including diet and nutrition.