Smokers who are trying to quit the habit are constantly trying to find a successful distraction to ease their tobacco cravings.

Some people claim it is the nicotine patches that work for them, others believe it is the simple act of playing with a pen that satisfies their habit of holding a cigarette.

If you’re trying to give up the cigarettes and conscious of your exercise regime, the latest research could be your key to quitting.

The study claims that smokers who are trying to cut down or quit should work out the next time their cravings threaten to overcome them.

Researchers combined data from 19 previous clinical trials and found that a bout of exercise helped quitters reduce their nicotine cravings.

“Certainly exercise seems to have temporary benefits, and as such can be strongly recommended,” Adrian Taylor, professor of exercise and health psychology at the University of Exeter told the Daily Mail.

Whether this tip translated into a greater chance of stopping smoking was unclear.

In the study’s trials, smokers were randomly assigned to either exercise, which included brisk walking or biking, or some kind of ‘passive’ activity, such as watching the television.

Overall, people said they had less desire to smoke after working out, although the reason for this remains unclear.

Professor Taylor said exercise may serve as a distraction, while being active might also boost people’s mood, so they don’t feel as great a need to feel better by smoking.

None of the smokers in the study, published in the journal Addiction, were using nicotine replacement patches or products at the time.