The Best Food Choices For Cancer Treatment

Undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or any other cancer treatment for that matter,  can and does hit your body hard but this can be improved. Choosing healthy food options can assist cancer patients with recovery, make them feel better before, during and after treatment. The key is to go for balanced eating and avoid extreme dieting, as it can deprive you of key nutrients.

Food Before Cancer Treatment

Start having healthy foods even before your treatment begins as one can never know how it affects you or what side effects you could have. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get good nutrition whenever you can as it can help you feel better and help your body stay stronger.

It’s also a good idea to plan for the days when you won’t fee like cooking; stock the fridge and pantry with nutritious healthy foods. You can keep dry fruit, yogurt boxes, freeze raw vegetables after chopping them, and microwaveable brown rice or other whole grains which are easy options. Make batches of some of your favourite food and freeze them as well for later.

During Treatment

There will be days when you feel hungry, and others when you don’t.On your good days, try and eat loads of protein which will keep your body stronger and repair damage from treatment.High-protein foods like lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds, cheese, milk, quinoa and yogurt

Try to have about 2 cups of fruit and vegetables a day and have dark green and deep yellow veggies, and citrus based fruits like oranges and grapefruits. Colourful foods like these contain healthy nutrients.

Drink a lot of liquids through the day, water is always a great choice. You can go for fresh-squeezed juice too. It’ll give you extra vitamins along with the liquids your body requires for being hydrated.

Make sure you don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, and poultry or consume foods or drink beverages that not pasteurised. Remember to always eat when you get hungry. If big meals become difficult, you can go for five or six small meals instead of two or three big ones.  Yogurt, cereal and crackers, and soup are good choices. A snack or small meal right before a chemo session can help keep nausea away.

You may have heard of a lot “special” diets that they will help treat cancer or keep it from coming back. Unfortunately there is no diet that can cure cancer. There’s also no solid research that shows that any eating plan lowers the chance of cancer coming back. The best bet is a balanced diet with lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Limit sugar, caffeine, salt, and alcohol as well.