NEW YORK: Milk not only does the body good it may also help you quit smoking, says a study. Consuming milk makes the taste of cigarette bad and by making a few modifications to the diet one can make quitting bit easier, said the study published in April 2007 issue of the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

The study is said to be the first to explore the taste-altering effects of food and beverages on cigarette palatability.

The study 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% reported non-caffeinated beverages, such as water or juice; and 16% reported fruits and vegetables.

Forty-four per cent of them reported that alcoholic beverages enhance the taste of cigarettes; 45% reported caffeinated beverages, such as tea, cola and coffee; and 11% reported meat.

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

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.

The additive could be given in the form of a gum or a lozenge as part of smoking cessation treatment, according to a science portal, EurekAlert.