Natural Foods & Cancer Patients

Your diet is an important part of your cancer treatment. Whether your treatment includes surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these, your diet needs change when you have cancer. Incorporating more natural foods in your diet before, during and after treatment can speed the build-up of healthy cells and also help prevent some of the treatment's side effects, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Beginning Natural Foods

Cancer therapies tend to be more effective if your body is well-nourished, according to the National Cancer Institute. If you are not already following a natural foods diet, you should consider that an important goal during treatment is to get enough calories from foods that your body can easily absorb and digest. You can and should incorporate more unprocessed foods during therapy, but you should also be mindful that some types of therapy will make you more susceptible to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores and constipation. In the days following a treatment, your body may reject high fiber and raw foods. You might also develop an aversion to certain foods.

The American Institute for Cancer Research, or AICR, says if you are unable to eat enough food or the right types of food, your body will use its stored nutrients as a source of energy. This can weaken your body's natural defenses and its ability to fight infection.

Benefits

Natural foods are minimally processed and are free of pesticide residue and additives like antibiotics, hormones, flavorings and food coloring.

Reducing the amount of processed foods and increasing the amount of natural foods in your diet will help optimize your therapy while reducing your exposure to pesticides and bacteria when your body is vulnerable to them.

The AICR suggests that organic produce may be a good option for cancer patients concerned about pesticide residue on conventionally grown foods. The AICR warns, however, that organic foods are more expensive and you should not buy them if it means you have to cut back on other fruits and vegetables. The advantages of including more vegetables and fruits in your diet outweigh any potential risks from pesticides, according to the AICR.

Strengthen Immunity

One of the most serious potential side effects of some types of cancer treatment is a low white blood cell count which makes your body more vulnerable to infection. During the days and weeks after chemotherapy your body's immune system may be weakened leaving it less able to fight off infection from foreign substances like bacteria and harmful chemicals. Your choice of foods can lessen your exposure to infection-causing organisms.

Some immunity boosting foods are carrots, lentils, fruit and vegetable juices, beets, apricots, kale, whole grains and beans.

Managing Side Effects

Feeling fatigued from cancer and treatment can make it more difficult to eat healthy. On the other hand, eating healthy foods can help reduce fatigue.

Plant or animal protein and whole grains generally provide more sustained energy than refined carbohydrates, according to the AICR. The institute suggests the ideal diet during cancer treatment is plant-based and includes the calories needed to maintain a healthy weight and meet any increased nutritional requirements during treatment.

Eating well can also help lessen nausea, vomiting, constipation and loss of appetite which are all common side effects of cancer treatment. The AICR recommends that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Each colorful fruit or vegetable has its own protective phytochemicals, such as beta carotene, absorbic acid, or vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin E.

Safety Considerations

Because some types of cancer therapy leave you more vulnerable to infection, the National Cancer Institute advises that all raw fruits and vegetables should be scrubbed well before eating. NCI also recommends that you use only pasteurized juices, milk products and honey during treatment to reduce exposure to bacteria. The institute also suggests to avoid purchasing food from bulk food bins for the same reason.

Some natural vitamins and supplements can be dangerous in large quantities and can interfere with cancer therapy, according to the NCI. The institute warns that St. John's Wort , an herb, used by some people to ease depression, and vitamin C can reduce the effectiveness of some forms of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Your physician will recommend what to eat and what to avoid based on the type of therapy she recommends. It's a good idea to bring a list of questions with you when you discuss your treatment plan with your doctor.