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Healthy Eating Through All Phases of Cancer Treatment
Good nutrition is an important part of your cancer treatment. Eating the right kinds of foods before, during and after cancer treatment can help you feel better and stay stronger. Your diet can help lessen side effects of treatment and improve your energy and healing. The nutrition needs of people with cancer vary from person to person. Your cancer care team can help you plan ways to meet your nutrition goals.
Eating well means eating a variety of foods to get the nutrients your body needs to fight cancer. These nutrients include proteins, fat, carbohydrates, water, vitamins and minerals.
- Set a goal to eat 5-10 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. Examples of one serving would be:
- 1 cup raw leafy greens
- ½ cup for all other fruits and vegetables
- 1 medium fruit or vegetable (i.e. apple, orange)
- ¼ cup dried fruit
- ¾ cup 100% or fresh juice
All fresh fruits and vegetables need to be washed well before eating. Wash them for 20 seconds under running water and scrub with friction.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you eat grapefruit, Seville oranges (often used in jams/jellies) and star fruit or drink grapefruit juice. These foods can interfere with certain medicines and increase your risk of side effects during treatment. Other kinds of oranges and citrus fruit are safe to eat.
- Eat More Whole Grains
- Whole grains can be found in whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat crackers, oats, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, farro and millet.
- Whole grains have more protein, fiber and phytochemicals than refined (non-whole) grains.
- Choose Healthy Protein Sources
- Lean beef, pork or lamb
- Chicken or poultry
- Fish and seafood
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Nuts, seeds and nut butters
Dietary supplements are not recommended to treat or prevent cancer or a cancer recurrence. Many dietary supplements have ingredients that may interfere with certain cancer treatments and medicines. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any dietary supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, ingested essential oils, etc.
If your diet is poor or if it is hard for you to eat well during treatment, ask your doctor if you should take a multivitamin and a mineral supplement with vitamin B12 and folate.
To access the full article and more information on nutrition and cancer, click here.
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