Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is an extremely difficult time physically, mentally, and emotionally that can have severe implications on your body’s nutrition. Maintaining a healthy diet during chemotherapy or radiation helps to support your body and mind as you go from diagnosis to treatment and recovery. Both chemo and radiation can leave you feeling nauseous with vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, reduced appetite, etc, often leaving your body in a state of unease and making it difficult to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients.
Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians (45% of men and 43% of women) is expected to develop cancer during their lifetime, and with the aging population growing, this number is projected to increase by 25 percent by 2030, making living with cancer an issue that touches a great many of us. No matter what treatment plan you are under with your oncologist, supportive care is available. And one aspect of supportive cancer care we are often asked about is nutrition.
The Role Nutrition Plays During Cancer Treatment
Cancer treatments have a direct correlation with significant gastrointestinal symptoms that cause the body to undergo adverse reactions such as weight loss, energy loss, and more, potentially affecting treatment efficacy and tolerance. Focusing on eating highly nutritious foods and avoiding foods that can cause inflammation or stress in the digestive tract are vital to maintaining a healthy body weight as well as boosting your mental and emotional state.
Crucial factors for long-term health after a cancer diagnosis include weight management (balancing calorie intake with appropriate exercise), and the consumption of a nutrient-dense diet.
Foods To Avoid
Some nutrient-rich foods we have come to love can also cause digestive issues, gas, bloating, and general stomach upset. Others can harbour toxins that can adversely affect physiologic function (Wang et al 2011), aggravate allergies, or adversely affect other individuals with gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Test out avoiding or limiting the following foods from your diet and see how you feel:
- Dairy Products:
- Meats: Beef, Pork, and Game Meats (Venison, Rabbit, Moose, etc.)
- Gluten-containing grains: Barley, Rye, Oats (gluten-free is acceptable), Wheat, Spelt, and Kamut
- Acidic Fruits: Oranges, Grapefruit, Honeydew melons, Cantaloupes, and Kiwis
- Peanuts: they universally contain small amounts of a known carcinogen called aflatoxin
- Eggs: mainly egg whites
- Onions & Garlic: general digestion irritation
Foods To Include
There are a multitude of healthy choices when planning your dietary needs during chemotherapy or radiation therapy. When possible, choose organic to avoid pesticides and herbicides, and always wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming.
In times of significant gastrointestinal distress, all fruits and vegetables should be cooked in order to break down insoluble fibre that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Juicing is another method of removing this fibre while also getting the raw vitamins, enzymes, and phytonutrients.
- Dairy Alternatives: Rice or Almond Milk, Rice-based ice creams, Sorbets (no milk/cream)
- Meats/Meat Alternatives: Chicken, Turkey, Fish, Lamb, Tofu, Tempeh
- Grains (avoid whole grains as they are harder to digest): Rice, Gluten-Free Oats, Quinoa, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Millet
- Fruits & Vegetables (non-acidic)
- Legumes: Fresh green beans, Wax beans, Peas
- Nut Butter: Almond, Cashew, and Macadamia nut butter
Drinks To Add To Your Diet During Chemo
Often a liquid is easier to stomach compared to solid food. If you are experiencing extreme gastrointestinal issues, try the following to up your nutritional intake without the added digestive pressure.
Ginger Tea:
One of the most effective natural spices for reducing nausea and vomiting is Ginger Tea (Pillai, Sharma, Gupta, and Bakhshi 2011). It is simple to make and can be very helpful to take.
Recommended Intake:
• Use 1” of fresh raw ginger
• Wash the ginger and remove the skin
• Slice thinly and place into boiling water for 7 minutes
• Add agave, xylitol, or honey to sweeten to taste
Drink 3 cups of this per day when gastrointestinal upset is high
Protein Smoothies:
Protein powders can be effective supports for individuals who are having a difficult time keeping up their nutrient intake during active treatment. Douglas Laboratories Ultimate Protein Plus is a gentle hypoallergenic protein powder formula combined with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Recommended Intake:
Use up to 3 scoops per day in rice or almond milk.
Soups and Broths
Soups and broth are some of the best foods to eat during treatment as they are easy to digest, help to neutralize acids in the system, and are full of healthy nutrients. Homemade is always better as you can control the ingredients.
Vegetable Alkaline Broth Recipe
DIRECTIONS:
Prepare one cup of each of the following (chopped):
• Celery – celery root preferable
• Green beans – well-scrubbed fresh, frozen acceptable
• Zucchini
• Potatoes (especially during winter months)
• Carrots
The above can be varied according to the season and availability. For variety and flavour one or more of the following may be added:
• Fennel
• Parsley root
• Garlic clove
• Bay leaf
• Cloves
• Juniper berries (traditionally aids in elimination through the kidneys)
• Nutmeg
Cover with water and simmer (do not boil) for 60-90 minutes. Strain and discard the vegetables, add a small amount of sun-dried sea salt. ENJOY!
A Note on Fats and Oils
Healthy fats are a vital component when it comes to healing the body, and it is very likely that your naturopathic doctor will have recommended an essential fatty acid supplement during your treatment; however, the right dietary fats can be effective nutritional supports during cancer treatment as well.
Butter
Butter is a relatively gentle fat that contains medium and short-chain triglycerides that can be helpful for feeding the cells of your gastrointestinal tract.
Olive Oil
Olive oil can also be used to add on top of vegetables for flavor and extra calories. Take care to not use too many oils and fats as large quantities can be irritating.
General Nutritional Recommendations for cancer patients
Cancer treatment in the form of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment is one step on your journey to recovery. By including foods and drinks rich in vitamins, minerals, etc., you increase your nutritional intake, support your digestion and ensure more consistent weight management. The following general recommendations will help guide you along your journey.
- Eat Organic as much as possible: organic produce normally contains fewer pesticides and herbicides (these chemicals can harm the nervous system). In addition, organic produce has been shown to have increased levels of vitamins and minerals.
- Eat “Free-Range” as much as possible: Free-range means first that the meat has not been subjected to hormones, antibiotics, and inorganic grain feed. Second, it usually means that the animal was treated humanely while being reared.
- Avoid Canned Food: The canning process can cause heavy metals like Lead, Cadmium, Tin, and Iron to leak into the food. These metals can be hard on the body.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Reverse Osmosis filtered water is the best water to drink as it has low levels of inorganic minerals, low levels of chlorine, low oxidation levels, and is pH balanced.
You should drink at least 1.5 – 2.0 L of water/day (8-10 glasses) in order to adequately flush the system. This does not include coffee, tea, juice…Only water!
- Eat Slowly: Take time to eat. Stop working. Turn off the TV and chew your food. Digestion begins in the mouth and cannot be completed properly without the breaking down process done by the teeth.
At the Marsden Centre we believe in the importance of patients receiving the very best in supportive cancer care both during and after conventional treatment. If you are looking for support during your cancer journey, we are here for you. Give us a call.
Resources
Stephanie Barrera, M.S., R.D. and Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, PhD., R.D., Nutrition During and After Cancer Therapy. Oncology (Williston Park). 2009 Feb; 23(2 Suppl): 15–21.
Wang J, Joshi AD, Corral R, et al. Carcinogen metabolism genes, red meat and poultry intake, and colorectal cancer risk. International Journal of Cancer. 2011.
Pillai AK, Sharma KK, Gupta YK, Bakhshi S. Anti-emetic effect of ginger powder vs placebo as an addon therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2011; 56(2): 234-238.