What we eat and how we treat our bodies on a daily basis have a very powerful effect on our health and quality of life. Following a healthy diet could impact your cancer survivability. Building a diet from health-giving foods requires no doctors' appointments, waiting rooms, or health insurance, yet it provides the fundamental building blocks needed for a healthy immune system. While proper nutrition is not intended as a replacement for traditional treatments, eating health-giving foods may help stimulate your immune system, deter cancer growth and lessen the negative side effects of traditional therapies.
Many nutrients found in plant foods have been linked to reducing cancer risk. For example, diets rich in the phytochemical lycopene may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, fiber-rich diets have been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, and choosing a diet low in fat helps to prevent breast and other types of cancer.
Although cancer can affect many different parts of the body, the foods that prevent cancer and deter cancer growth are generally the same from one to the next. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes all have important nutrients, particularly substances called phytochemicals which may strengthen or enhance the body's immune system. Some research has shown that people who eat a diet free of animal products and one low in most fats have a significantly lower cancer risk. Such a diet might also inhibit cancer growth in those individuals already diagnosed with cancer.
A healthy diet always has less than 20 percent of the calories coming from fat. Carbohydrates should be complex and selected from foods with low glycemic indices. Cancer cells exclusively metabolize glucose (sugar) for their energy, so the avoidance of sugar and highly refined carbohydrates that easily turn into sugar is a "must" for any anti-cancer diet.
Protein should be mostly from plant, not animal, sources (e.g. soy). Omega-3 fatty acids in the form of flaxseed, flax oil or fish oil should be taken daily in adequate amounts. Alcohol, caffeine, smoking and trans-fats (all foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils and fats) should be avoided or eliminated.
Loss of appetite can be a side effect of cancer, which in turn causes weight loss. Without proper nutrition, the body becomes weak and it is harder to fight caner cells. There are some methods that can help stimulate appetite. They include:
Eating small meals five to six times a day.
Limiting liquids around mealtime to avoid feeling full quickly. Take liquids at least 30 minutes before meals.
Eating high-protein foods such as cheeses, milk, yogurt, eggs, beans or meats, nuts, puddings.
Helping family members plan meals you would like to eat.
Eating high-protein, high-carbohydrate snacks between meals.
Drinking juices or milk shakes between meals.
Eating in pleasant surroundings in the company of friends and family.
Avoiding the area where food is being prepared if aromas bother you.
Serving cold foods if odors bother you.
Planning light exercise before meals.
Trying new recipes.
Drinking a glass of wine or juice before meals.
Avoiding cigarette smoke or smoking, which can affect your sense of smell, thus changing sense of taste.
Other methods of appetite stimulation includes the use of medications approved as appetite stimulants. The medications are Megace (megesteral acetate), Marinol (drenabinol), Seroshin (recombinant human growth horemone).
Megace is a hormone that has been shown to help increase appetite and weight. Some of the common side effects are high blood pressure, a rise in blood sugar, fluid retention, bloating, constipation, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, and blood clots.
Marinol is an antinausea medication that increases appetite and improves mood. Common side effects include dizziness, confusion, and sleepiness.
Serostim is a growth hormone that increases weight and reverses muscle wasting. It is usually well tolerated, but side effects include headache, fluid retention, nausea, and allergy.
Evaluating Your Nutrition
Management of weight loss or lack of appetite is aimed at increasing food intake. To monitor your success you may want to keep a food diary to keep a record of what and when you ate. This can help pinpoint what situations and foods work the best for you. You may also want to record your weight regularly to note any unusual changes and to feel good about your successes.
Be sure to notify your nurse and/or physician if you are unable to drink fluids, you feel dizzy when standing, you are unable to take solid foods, or there is a significant change in your diet habits.
More Good Foods
You may wish to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes in your cancer fighting diet.
Fruits
Fruits are rich in fiber, Vitamin C and beta-carotene. Typically, fresh whole fruit has more fiber and nutrients than fruit juice.
Vegetables
Vegetables contain a host of antioxidant phytochemicals, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, iron, calcium and fiber. Include dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, collards, kale, mustard and turnip greens, chicory, spinach and leaf lettuces in your meals daily. Colorize your diet with red, orange and yellow vegetables like carrots, squashes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, peppers. Gourmet mushrooms (not button) like porta bella and oyster mushrooms contain specific immune system nutrients.
Whole Grains
Grains include bread, pasta, cereals, corn, millet, barley, bulgur, buckwheat, grits and tortillas. Grains are rich in fiber, minerals and B-vitamins, however, processing removes much of a grains nutrient value. Choose whole grains and avoid refined white four and its products.
Legumes are another name for beans, peas and lentils. These foods are good sources of fiber, protein, resistant starches, iron, minerals and B-vitamins. Beans, when combined with whole grain rice, pasta or bread, are as complete a protein as meat. Soy beans are complete protein by themselves (read more about Mesothelioma).
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