Important Notice: In any case, the following information should replace medical treatment against cancer. If you are undergoing ccancer treatment, it is strongly important that you talk to your doctor before taking any food or herbal supplement.
During cancer treatment, you may have no or lack of appetite which makes it difficult for your body to get enough nutrients it need. Therefore, it is important to increase your chance of covering by eating a balanced diet. Even if it cannot lead to cure, a good nutrition is a real support to chemotherapy. In your diet, there are foods you need to increase the intake. However, some treatments may require a special diet. In case not, this nutrition guide can help you in your fight cancer. No information on this website, however, should replace your doctor’s or nutritionist’s recommendation.
Balanced Diet during Chemotherapy
A healthy and balanced diet, combining with a healthy lifestyle, contributes to your well-being. It also enhances your energy and boosts your immune system, which tends to be compromised by cancer treatment. In addition, a diet consisting mainly of cruciferous vegetable improves your sleep, elevates your mood and helps maintain normal weight, which is important since chemotherapy can cause weight loss. To begin, it is important to:
- Eat about three meals daily
- Eat a varied and balanced diet
- Do not eat on the run but take your time to properly masticate the food
- Avoid or limit your intake in foods that are too fat or too sweet
- Avoid GMO fruits and vegetables (please see Monsanto)
- Supplement your diet with a immune booster if necessary
- Drink plenty of fluid during the day
- Drink at least one glass of cruciferous vegetables juice (you need a juicer) every day
- Drink at least one glass of juice of fruit that are rich in antioxidant (you may need a juicer)..
Eat foods rich in protein
During your cancer treatment, whether radiotherapy, surgery and / or chemotherapy, you have a good chance of losing your appetite, which can also reduce your weight. To better assess the consequences, monitor your weight regularly. If weight loss occurs, increase your protein intake.It is therefore important to:
- Eat enriched meals if necessary
- Split your food intake in small meals
- Eat high-protein foods: sweet potatoes, eggs, cottage cheese, fish, and cereals – these foods provide strength and energy while helping you maintain your normal weight.
This advice is particularly important not only to prevent abnormal weigh loss but also fatigue, a common side effect during cancer treatment. By a diet rich in protein, you allow your muscles to rebuild and stay strong. As long as you can – if not proscribed by your doctor – do regular physical activity that will undoubtedly facilitate better rehabilitation. Do exercise preferably in the morning in fresh air.
Eat regularly and avoid skipping meals. It is important, however, to give your stomach time to rest. Take the juice between meals. If your intake of protein causes you to gain weight, eat more fruit and consume less protein. In case of abnormal weight loss/gain, seek medical advice.
Diet after cancer surgery
After surgical treatment of cancer, you may need a special diet. For example, in case of surgery at the mouth, the pharynx or esophagus, swallowing of solid foods may be difficult or even banned by your surgeon for weeks or so. In fact, even if you can eat, it is recommended to consume liquid diet before returning gradually to a normal diet. It is also important to avoid all foods that may irritate the oral mucosa.
Ablation or reduction of the stomach may cause serious anatomical consequences. Normally, thebolus (mass of food) remains in the stomach to undergo mechanical and chemical transformations before being digested by the body. A diseased stomach may not be able to do these works. Therefore, after gastric surgery, be sure to eat soft meals that are easy to chew or swallow while avoiding foods that can cause irritation and flatulence.
If you have a colostomy, surgical procedure to create an artificial opening between the colon and abdomen (stoma), your foods must be soft enough to not disrupt your digestion or irritate your gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea and constipation are gastric problems to avoid.
Diet after chemotherapy
After chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy of the upper gastrointestinal tract, swallowing can be difficult. It is therefore recommended to give priority to soft or liquid foods that do not require a lot of saliva secretion. It is also important to avoid too acidic foods (lemon, grapefruit, and others) too dry foods (bread, fried chicken, and others), too crisp foods (potato chips, rice, and others). Avoid all drinks that are too hot, too cold or too spicy. Alcoholic beverages should be completely eliminated.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause some nausea or vomiting. Because these reactions are often the result of a hypersensitivity to certain smells, it is better to consume foods that do not have strong odors or too spicy. In general, warm or cold meals often cause fewer nauseous reactions. The treatment may disrupt the functions of digestion and absorption of the organism, which can cause diarrhea or constipation in some patients.
Cancer treatment can also cause dehydration, and gives you dry mouth. To avoid this serious problem, drink plenty of fluids and moisturize your mouth regularly. In case of constipation, proper hydration is also indispensable. To facilitate your transit, you can increase your intake in fiber-rich foods, green vegetables, lentils, and others. In addition, to avoid constipation, nausea or vomiting, you can eat an apple in the morning before breakfast and one at night before going to bed. This will also help you sleep better.
Diet after radiation therapy
After radiotherapy in the head, mouth or neck it is likely that patients suffer from dry mouth. To avoid and treat this problem, be sure to drink plenty of water, rinse your mouth frequently with a bicarbonate solution prescribed by your doctor. You can also chew sugar-free gum. The dry mouth can lead to canker sores or irritation which you can prevent by adopting a perfect oral hygiene. Most of the times, no special diet is recommended after radiotherapy – For more information, talk to your doctor.