Diet and Nutrition for Cancer Patients

Symptoms related to a cancer diagnosis can affect every aspect of your life and change your physical, mental, and emotional reality in a concise amount of time. Maintaining overall wellness, comfort, and energy while managing cancer symptoms that often affect appetite and cause nausea is not the easiest thing to do. Diet and nutrition for cancer patients are, therefore, an essential part of the care process.

Diet Tips for Cancer Patient Comfort

A healthy diet matters for every person on Earth, but it is even more important after a severe illness diagnosis and treatment process. Chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and other options for cancer take a lot out of you physically. This necessitates a nutritional response focused on maintaining healthy body weight and getting enough protein to keep everything functioning optimally.

Some excellent options to reach these goals include lean protein from meats and fish, eggs, dairy products like milk and cheese, healthy oils like olive oil, and delicious vegetables and whole grains. While every physician and nutritionist will undoubtedly tell you to avoid junk food, excess sugar or salt, or fatty foods for your overall health and well-being, cancer treatment is not the best time to start a health regimen or weight loss diet. You do not need the stress of eating perfectly clean if you have a taste for something else.

Managing Nausea During Treatment

Unfortunately, many cancer treatments that can help you overcome this disease also make you feel like not eating anything. Nausea is a big problem for many undergoing chemo or radiation treatments. How do you get in enough nutrients if eating anything makes you feel sick?

Focus on getting the highest nutrient foods possible. In some cases, foods like meat, cheese, and well-seasoned foods can make your stomach feel even more uncomfortable. Try some of the classic simple foods that work best to combat nausea. These include yogurt, toast and crackers, rice or plain potatoes, plain chicken breast, clear liquids, and bland vegetables and fruits.

Get Sufficient Nutrients When Appetite is Low

If you or the person diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment finds it very difficult to get insufficient nutrition with either nausea or a drastically lowered appetite, consider supplementation or meal replacements as an option. For example, many fortified protein shakes or similar products on the market today are designed to give you a delicious boost the protein, vitamins, and minerals in a highly palatable way.

Many of the diet and nutrition tips for cancer patients focus on getting nutritious food whenever you can. If you feel hungry, eat a bit more than you usually would. Eat more frequently than you typically do in smaller quantities that are less likely to upset your stomach. Always have favorites on hand for treatment days when eating may feel more difficult.

If you feel that you need some advice or guidance, please, reach out LifeChoice directly, call 847-777-8888 and we will help as we possible can.