Cancer is a complex disease, and a positive cancer diagnosis is often life-changing and causes many changes in their body, including their taste in certain food habits, experiencing indigestion, and loss of appetite. Cancer patients often experience intense food cravings during their treatments, and some might lose their appetite for food at all. The experience of food cravings might be different from patient to patient. If you are concerned about the link between nutrition and cancer or want to know what to eat and what to avoid for a patient diagnosed with cancer, then read further!
In this article, we’ll be discovering more about nutrition for cancer patients and what foods to eat and what foods to avoid for their best interests.
Best food for cancer patients
It’s highly important to maintain a healthy diet for cancer patients to get essential nutrients and vitamins for their daily requirements for energy. If you are someone undergoing cancer treatment, there are some foods considered essentially good for cancer patients. These foods are also known as the best foods for cancer patients.
Here are some of the best foods for cancer patients:
These may include:
A plant-based proteins
Some of the best foods to eat during any cancer treatment are plant-based proteins. These plant-based diets especially contain plant-based proteins, which offer high levels of nutrients along with some essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for the patients’ overall well-being and energy for their daily needs.
These may include:
- Whole grains
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Beans
- Legumes
- Peas
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Lentils
Healthy fats
Apart from plant-based proteins, there are some other foods that are essential for cancer patients. These often healthy fatty foods also contain healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are beneficial for cancer patients who are undergoing any cancer treatments. Foods such as avocados, olive oil, grapeseed, and walnuts help to fight against inflammation in the body and also improve the cardiovascular health of a patient.
These may include:
- Avocados
- Walnut
- Olive oil
- Grapeseed oil
Protein-rich foods
For a cancer patient, including protein-rich foods in the daily diet would work wonders for maintaining their overall strength and help to improve the immune system to fight against any inflammation and infection and speed up the recovery process. There are some protein rich foods for cancer patients.
These may include:
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Fish (salmon, tuna and sardine)
- Diary products ( Milk, cheese, yoghurt, curd)
Healthy carbohydrate foods
Foods that contain healthy carbohydrates are a good option for many cancer patients who are undergoing several cancer treatments. Try to choose minimally processed healthy carbohydrates in your diet, including whole grains, bran, and oats.
Foods rich in vitamins and minerals
Patients who are undergoing several cancer treatments need the requirements of vitamins and minerals; these play a big role in fighting against the body’s enzymatic processes while also improving the immune system and reducing the risk of inflammation. Foods which contain vitamin D are good for cancer patients.
These foods include:
- Tomatoes
- Turmeric
- Leafy vegetables (spinach, kale)
- Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,
- Oranges, lemons, grapefruits with vitamin C
- Cruciferous vegetables (Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
- Cereals
Foods to avoid for cancer patients
Patients who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment should avoid several foods because they might increase the chance of foodborne diseases. Avoid eating any raw or undercooked foods that might contain several bacteria, including E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, which often make the patient sick.
Cancer patients should avoid several foods during their cancer treatments. Some patients may develop different side effects during their cancer treatments, including vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, and mouth sores.
These foods may include:
- Raw or undercooked foods
- Unpasteurized milk, juice, and yogurt
- Soft-cooked or raw eggs
- Smoked foods, including fish and chicken
- Watermelon and cantaloupe might include the risk of listeria infection
- Lightly cooked foods such as sushi
- Avoid reheated foods (rice, pasta)
- Avoid eating some leafy vegetables (sprouts, curry leaves, and mung beans)
Consult Today
Becoming cancer-free is a long journey, but it’s possible with the support of personalized diets for cancer patients. Cancer patients experience a sudden decline in their health due to several side effects. Including some of the best food for cancer patients would help to provide enough nourishment, vitamins, and minerals to improve their treatment journey and also improve their quality of life. It would help to provide enough strength and energy to undergo different types of cancer treatments.
At Oncare, we understand the value of proper guidance in terms of their nutrition and foods. We offer advice regarding their diet for cancer patients just before any major cancer treatments for both patients and survivors. We offer more personalized guidance to each patient and their family before any cancer treatments.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Centre and book an appointment with our cancer specialists today! Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatments today!