Proper nutrition for cancer patients

Very few cancer patients know how to eat properly. Many patients also apply strict diets such as macrobiotics or vegetarianism to limit tumor growth.

Every year, our country has about 150,000 patients die from cancer, of which 80% lose weight, 30% die from exhaustion before dying from the tumor. However, very few patients know how to eat properly. Not only that, many patients also apply strict diets such as macrobiotics, vegetarianism to limit the growth of tumors.

Extreme diet

When they learn they have cancer, many patients adopt a strict diet, completely eliminating salty foods such as pickles, grilled foods, carbonated drinks, beef... Their daily menu mostly revolves around green vegetables, cereals, fruits, milk, or very little chicken or pork.

Many people tell each other to eliminate foods such as bean sprouts, eggs, duck eggs, even water spinach, sprouts... from the daily menu because they believe that these foods are especially good for cancer cells, stimulating the growth of cancer cells. Not only that, many patients also choose for themselves more severe diets such as macrobiotic diets, vegetarianism.

There are people who are very picky about choosing food for cancer patients, such as ordering fruits from the garden, growing clean vegetables around the house, or ordering from production facilities... with the aim of absolutely avoiding floating foods, foods with a lot of chemicals, and foods out of season that are not good for the patient.

There is currently no scientific research that suggests that these foods promote the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, cancer patients can eat freely without having to abstain from any food, except for those who have multiple diseases at the same time such as cancer and high blood pressure, or cancer and diabetes... As for foods high in salt, processed foods, animal organs, grilled foods... everyone should limit their intake because they will have a significant impact on the health of the user.

Processed foods are not good for cancer patients.

Enhance nutrition

When sick, the basic energy and nutritional needs of cancer cells are higher than normal cells. Therefore, even when cancer patients are not provided with adequate nutrients, cancer cells still take energy to serve their own needs. Therefore, patients will quickly fall into wasting if they do not receive proper nutritional intervention. To ensure nutrition, patients need to eat a full range of foods that ensure the following groups of substances: protein - starch - fat - vitamins, minerals. In particular, pay attention to eating a lot of fish, vegetables, less meat. A diet rich in fish, vegetables, less meat, adding vegetable oil, drinking a lot of water and exercising, playing sports... will help the body have enough nutrients and health to fight cancer, not "providing more protein" to the tumor.

Cancer patients need to eat a full diet that ensures the following groups of nutrients: protein - carbohydrates - fat - vitamins and minerals.

Increase your body's vitamin C intake with fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, etc. and drink lots of fresh fruit juice. Pay attention to fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A because this vitamin is essential for the body. Fresh vegetables such as cabbage, kohlrabi, carrots, etc. are all good foods rich in vitamins and minerals that are very beneficial for health and can also prevent many types of cancer.

In addition, divide meals into smaller portions to help patients absorb nutrients more easily. Family members should also advise patients to exercise more, stay in bed less so that the body can be comfortable, the mind can be relaxed, and avoid thinking too much, which will help the treatment achieve better results.

Minimize side effects

During treatment, each patient's nutritional needs are different, and each person's taste is also different, so the diet cannot be the same.

People with anorexia: Need to divide meals into many small meals a day, always have food available, food that suits the patient's taste and can be eaten as soon as they feel like eating. Make sure to have enough drinks such as soup, milk, fruit juice, pureed foods... Create delicious and attractive flavors in food to stimulate appetite.

With bitter mouth: The patient feels bitter or has a fishy smell, especially with meat or foods with high protein content. To limit this condition, the patient needs to rinse the mouth with clean water before eating, can eat sour fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapefruits... to stimulate the taste buds, eliminate the bitter taste of the mouth.

With dry mouth: Patients have difficulty chewing and swallowing food... Therefore, it is necessary to puree or process food into liquid form such as soup, broth... drink plenty of water in sips to help swallow more easily. Avoid foods and drinks containing a lot of sugar, avoid rinsing the mouth with solutions containing alcohol.

For nausea and vomiting: Avoid greasy, spicy, strong-smelling foods, avoid eating strong-smelling foods in a closed room. Avoid drinking water while eating, divide main meals into several small meals during the day. Eat before you are hungry because hunger increases the feeling of nausea. Sit or lie in a semi-sitting position for about 1 hour after eating.

With constipation: Constipation in cancer patients can be due to lack of water or lack of fiber in the diet, lack of physical activity, and the effects of treatment. To help prevent constipation, patients need to eat a diet high in fiber and drink plenty of water, about 1 - 2 liters of water per day, in addition, they need to drink more juices from vegetables, tubers, fruits, lemon juice, tea... and should exercise regularly.

According to. Health and life