Tips for a Healthy Diet During Cancer Treatment

Posted by Alvin Smith on May 24th, 2022

When you or your loved one is undergoing cancer treatment, it is natural to feel overwhelmed as there is nothing you can do to make things better. Food and nutrition, however, are something you can exercise control over and feel more confident and prepared about your upcoming treatment sessions. Proper nutrition is an important part of life but when your body is undergoing heavy medications and cancer treatments, it becomes even more important to pay attention to your nutrition. Cancer treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological immunotherapy and/or surgery can put the patient at an increased risk of malnutrition. 

This is why your food choice needs to be wholesome and different from what you are used to eating if you are undergoing such treatments. The aim of this special diet is to ensure that your weight remains constant and you have enough energy to go through the entire day without burning out. You will need a high-calorie and high-protein diet that minimizes weight changes, allows you to heal properly and keep your energy levels in check. 

In certain cases, the dietary recommendations that your dietician gives you may seem the opposite of what a healthy diet looks like. Your diet plan may include foods like Milk, cream, cheese, cooked eggs, sauces and gravies, butter, margarine and oil. But keep in mind that your diet needs to be high in calories and protein to help you heal faster and stay energetic. 

Check out the nutrition guide shared by Dr Advani - the best cancer specialist in Mumbai to better understand how your food choices can help you deal with cancer.

Plant-based proteins are your best friends:

Plant-based proteins are some of the best foods to include in your diet if you are undergoing chemotherapy or any other form of cancer treatment. Dr Suresh Advani shares that they offer clean and highest levels of vitamins and minerals. Plant-based protein can be found in vegetables as well as beans, seeds and nuts. If you are a meat-eater you can also opt for lean sources of protein like chicken or fish. 

Include healthy fats and carbs:

Monosaturated and Polyunsaturated fats also have benefits for our bodies. Nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios), whole eggs, coconut oil and desi ghee are good sources of good fats that your body needs. Dr Suresh Advani shares that consuming these regularly helps combat inflammation and improves cardiovascular health. 

Don’t forget your vitamins and minerals:

Vitamins and minerals play an important role in the body’s enzymatic processes. They play a significant role in boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation, shares the best cancer specialist in Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Whenever possible, try to consume foods that are rich in Vitamin D like milk, orange juice and yoghurt to help your body heal better.

What foods to avoid during cancer treatment?

1. Avoid lightly cooked or raw fish in dishes like Sushi

2. Stay away from soft-cooked eggs or foods that contain raw eggs (like homemade mayonnaise)

3. Processed foods like cheese and other dairy products

The fruits and vegetables we get in the market are often latched with chemicals, preservatives or wax to keep them shiny and fresh for longer. When you consume them, it is recommended to follow proper precautions to get rid of all the harmful chemicals to reap the maximum benefits. The best cancer specialist in Mumbai shares that some cancer treatments also make you vulnerable to infections. This is why you need extra care to ensure the food you eat shields your body from within.

Precautions with food to avoid getting infections:

• Keep hot dishes hot and cold dishes cols. Put the leftovers in the fridge immediately after you have finished eating. 

• Make sure to scrub all the fruits and vegetables that you will be eating raw, 

• Fruits like berries that cannot be scrubbed need to be soaked in water before you rinse them thoroughly under running water and eat or store them.

• You can scrub vegetables and fruits with rough surfaces like oranges, watermelons or potatoes with a brush before you cut or peel them. 

• Make sure to wash your hands properly each time you touch raw meat, chicken, turkey, or fish. 

• The eggs you eat should be hard, not runny and the meat should not be pink from the inside.

• Eat nuts that are shelled and roasted. 

Careful food choices will make your immune system stronger and equip your body against the impact of cancer and heavy doses of medication, suggests a cancer specialist in Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. In a nutshell, try to make food choices that fuel you with enough calories and protein to maintain your weight and rebuild the tissues that cancer may have harmed.