How to Eat: Good Nutrition During Cancer Treatment

In the last article for our How to Eat series, we talked about anti-cancer foods that are high in antioxidants. However, since cancer is one of the most common illnesses, we also want to follow up with some nutrition points for anyone undergoing cancer treatment. You are likely going through chemotherapy and/or radiation, as well as taking prescription medication like Zofran or Reglan to help minimize the effects. Cancer treatment is hard on the body, and while it helps kill the cancer cells, it also damages or kills healthy cells, leading to side effects like mouth sores, lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. As you can imagine, such side effects do not motivate a cancer patient to eat well, much less eat at all. But eating well during cancer treatment is of utmost importance. Malnutrition can further weaken the body, while eating the right foods is an important way to build up the vulnerable immune system, strengthen the body, and repair and protect muscles and organ function. If you or someone in your life is going through treatment, here are some basic points for how to eat during cancer.

1. You need calories. At the core, food provides calories that our body converts into energy. We need energy for daily activity, for proper body function, for normal sleep cycle, and mental and emotional capacity. If you have no appetite, or want to avoid diarrhea, constipation or vomiting, ask your doctor about simple foods that you will be able to keep down, and start there. Make a schedule and eat what you can whether you feel hungry or not – your body needs it. Weight loss is a common result of cancer treatment, and getting adequate calories will help minimize the severity of weight loss.

2. No-appetite foods. Remember to set alarms or allow friends and family to remind you to stick to a consistent eating schedule, since your body may not feel hunger. On the other hand, maybe you do feel hunger, but are deterred by mouth/throat sores or digestive problems. Try eating carbohydrates like whole grain toast with almond butter, oatmeal with blueberries or banana slices, or soups. If there are days where chewing and swallowing food is really too draining, try a green smoothie or a meal supplement drink that your doctor approves to provide the proper nutrients.

3. Stay well hydrated. If your treatment is causing a lot of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, don’t forget that you need to drink more water than usual. Side effects that cause dehydration could further lead to limited or dark urine, dry mouth, and headaches. Be vigilant about getting enough fluids. You may find that water has a strange or metallic taste (due to your taste buds being altered during chemotherapy). This may deter you from drinking, but try small tricks like making infused water with lemon or cucumber. Include herbal teas and coconut water to your daily liquids to help stay hydrated.

4. Hit your 3/3. To make eating more simple, you may want to have a baseline of minimum daily goals. For example, cancer patients should definitely try to make a plate that is one third animal products like lean meat, poultry, or yogurt. The other two thirds should be plant-based products like dark leafy greens, vegetables, or whole grains. For example, try a quinoa salad with chicken breast or vegetable soup with carrots, spinach and wild grain rice. If eating a regular sized meal is too overwhelming, switch to eating smaller meals but more often throughout the day. Keep your meal prep easy or don’t hesitate to ask for help from your friends and family. Snacking can be easy by keeping containers of precut veggies or nuts and granola on you.

Besides the principles above, here are some quick cancer nutrition guidelines.

Go For:
– Lean meat such as fish, chicken or turkey.
– High protein foods including eggs, turkey, salmon, beans, and nuts.
– Colorful foods like eggplants, peppers, kale, legumes and carrots.
– Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits.
– Healthy fats such as nut butters, avocado, olive oil, and nuts.
– Whole grains like quinoa, steel cut oats, barley, and 100% whole grain breads and pastas.

Avoid:
– Spicy foods.
– Alcohol.
– Sugary products including sweetened drinks, candy, pastries, and cereal.
– Processed meat (bacon, luncheon meats) or red meat.
– Trans fats including margarine, fried food, or anything made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.

We hope this has given you a simple framework for how to approach your daily eating during cancer treatment. Fatigue is a major part of the treatment process, and it is important to get rest, so be sure to let your support system help with food preparation. This can be a great article to share with family members who can help with grocery shopping and meal preparation. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor about any questions and to ask him or her what is best for your nutritional needs.