What you should eat during cancer treatment
What to eat during cancer treatment and recovery is so complicated, and there is a ton of misleading data.
Whether you’ve gone to groups or you’ve asked your oncologist, you probably did not receive much information on what to eat during cancer treatment.
The best expert to consult for what to eat during cancer treatment is an oncology-certified dietician.
Always talk to your dietician before applying any advice; this is not medical advice but rather general nutritional guidance.
Nutrition can help reduce cancer side effects, so below are some suggestions to discuss in more detail with your dietician to see what you can apply according to their guidance.
What to eat During cancer treatment
Many oncologists will tell you, “it doesn’t matter what you eat during cancer treatment; just eat anything to keep your weight up. “
While there is some general truth to this, it is misleading advice.
For starters, maintaining your weight during treatment does matter, but how you do it can make or break you.
For example, what you eat can increase or decrease your fatigue; it can reduce or increase your nausea; it can help prevent or build muscle mass.
In general, you should be focusing on maintaining a cancer-fighting diet.
A cancer-fighting diet does not mean that it will cure your cancer, but rather, it is a complementary additive to your treatment to reinforce and strengthen your body.
Remember, there’s no single food that fights cancer but rather nutritious eating habits that help fight and prevent cancer. ‘
“When it comes to diet, our oncologist was clueless.
I had to do my own research and seek independent help to know what to eat”
— Lymphoma Cancer Survivor
After a cancer diagnosis, it is common to feel fear and uncertainty regarding food.
The first thing to know about what to eat during cancer is:
There is no single food or food group that impacts fatigue.
It’s not about food, but rather overall nutrition, diet habits, and patterns of eating that helps reduce fatigue
Your fatigue-reduction diet needs to be easy to implement and anti-inflammatory.
Lastly, what to eat during cancer:
VARIETY of VEGETABLES.
In particular focusing on eating 5 servings of vegetables a day.
This should include:
1 cup of leafy green vegetable—such as kale, spinach, collared greens, Romanian lettuce, arugula, Swiss chard, and bok choy.
Leafy greens are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber to help boost brain health and lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.
1 red tomato—such as a better boy or plum tomato
Tomatoes are low in calories, rich in antioxidants, and a great source vitamin C and potassium.
They have whats called lycopene, which has been linked to reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
1 yellow—such as butternut squash, potatoes, summer squash, and sweet corn
1 orange vegetable—such as carrots yellow peppers, pumpkin, sweet potatoes
Both yellow and orange vegetables have been shown to improve vision health, your immune system, and lower risk of second cancers.
One more veggie of your liking: asparagus, cauliflower, or broccoli
Fresh Fruits is a must in your “what to eat during cancer list”
No the sugar in fruit will not feed the cancer. There’s more to fruit than sugar. In fact it has so many benefits that most of the benefit is that it helps fight cancer
Focus on 2 servings of fruit a day
1 Fruit high in vitamin C—such as oranges, kiwi, lemon, grapefruit, and strawberries
Vitamin C has been shown to help reduce fatigue and be protective against cancer.Any other fruit of your liking—such as apples, berries, avocados, and grapes
Fruits, in general, contain antioxidants that have cancer-protective properties that protect you against lung, bowel, mouth, throat and stomach cancers.
Make sure to eat WHOLE grains, NOT white grains, during cancer treatment
This should be 3 servings of whole grains a day:
Your whole grain should be whole-wheat pasta, oatmeal, and whole-wheat bread.
HOWEVER, make sure they have 3-5 grams of fiber
AVOID: refined grains such as white flour, flour tortillas, cornbread, white rice, white bread, or pretzels
The benefits of whole grains is in the fiber. Look for fiber. The key is 1 gram of fiber per 10 calories. Fiber helps reduce cholesterol, keep you full longer, and reduce colon and breast cancer risk.
D. Two servings of omega-3 fats are helpful to eat during cancer.
4 oz from oily fish, like salmon, cod, etc.
1/4 cup from nuts/seeds, like walnuts or flaxseeds
Eating enough omega-3 fats helps improve the efficacy of chemotherapy, survival, and maintain weight and muscle mass.
***Disclaimer, we recognize that what you eat during cancer is different for everyone, due to allergies, preferences, and stomach issues during cancer treatment.
That being said
1) Always talk to your oncology-certified dietician before applying any nutritional advice, as this is general and not specific to your needs.
2) Never take any supplements without talking to an oncology-certified dietician or your physician.
3) There is no such things as eating a cancer diet or fatigue-reducing diet. Rather, research shows that certain eating patterns have been shown to be helpful. ***
what Not to eat/drink during cancer treatment
We’ve heard countless stories of online coaching clients telling us their oncologist instructed them to eat McDonalds and Ice cream during cancer treatment.
This is contrary to what you’ve heard your whole life, and going through cancer treatment does not make this magically ok.
Processed junk food is inflammatory and not good for you, making you more sluggish, tired, drowsy, and fat.
Other foods to avoid during cancer:
Alcohol
Processed meats
Foods that make you sick during treatment.
Alcohol:
Contrary to popular belief, there is no “safe” amount of alcohol that does not increase risk of at least some cancers and heart disease, and any reduction in alcohol is a step toward lowering the risk of cancer.
Even 1 drink a day (whether it is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or a 1½-shot of distilled spirits) can increase your risk of heart disease by 30%.
However, the more you drink, the more your risk increases—regardless of whether it’s beer, wine, or distilled liquor.
Alcohol is linked to:
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Liver Cancer
Mouth, Pharynx, and Larynx Cancer
Stomach Cancer
This is NOT an easy step to follow, and if it isn’t, you may need to seek help if you can’t give it up.
Processed Meat:
Processed meats include — hot dogs, bacon, sausage, pepperoni, ham, corned beef, roast beef, bologna, and salami.
What makes these meats cancerous and toxic is the added chemicals to preserve it.
Research shows that even small amounts of processed meat eaten regularly increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
This only applies to meat and poultry that is smoked, salted, cured or contains added preservatives (such as nitrites).
This is different than eating ground chicken or turkey.
That being said, be mindful to keep red meats to less than 18 ounces per week.
Whether it’s fresh beef, lamb, and pork in a solid (like a steak or roast) or ground (like meatloaf or hamburger) state, these meats are linked to cancer when you eat more than18 ounces per week.
We typically recommend our online coaching clients to eat less than 12 ounces per week if they are not big meat eaters and less than 18 ounces if they love meet.
Do not eat foods that make you sick during cancer treatment.
It is common to feel nauseous and fatigued during treatment.
Even constipation, diarrhea, and and mouth sores can affect how you eat and if any of these side effects are stopping you from getting the nutrients you need, then check out this guide on How To Stop Feeling Sick During Chemo or Radiation and talk to an oncology-certified dietician if needed.
But in general, here are some tips to take away on what to AVOID if you are suffering from anything above:
Eating large meals
Greasy, fried, or fatty foods
Spicy/acidic foods and drinks
Coffee and strong tea
Energy drinks
Candy that includes caffeine (like chocolate)
Alcohol and carbonated drinks.
High-fiber foods if it nauseates you, such as:
whole-grain breads
fresh fruit
broccoli, corn, and beans.
Yes, many of these foods contradict what was said initially, such as beans.
But when it comes to side effects, it’s important to give your body what it needs without making the side effects worse.
So, it’s ok to switch foods around when needed.
Many of these foods aren’t inherently wrong but can upset your stomach making symptoms worse.
tips to help you eat during cancer treatment
When in chemo or radiation and nausea hits, the goal is to:
emphasize eating foods cool or at room temperature
eating in small amounts throughout your day
and focusing on bland foods.
This is easier said than done; so, how can you apply this?
Here are some tips that can help:
Ask a caregiver to help you meal prep if possible.
Focus on making small, manageable changes—such as adding in some fruits
Find out what vegetable or fruit you like and how you like them
Include healthy food whenever possible
Shakes and frozen meals, such as soups and chili, can be a life-saver
Eat raw, cold, or room temperature whenever possible.
Get a meal delivery service if needed.
Get started on your exercise journey
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