Learning that you have cancer can be a tragic and frightening scenario. You may begin to wonder what you can do to improve your odds of beating this potentially life-threatening disease. According to J. Robert Hatherill, author of "Eat To Beat Cancer," making some dietary changes may boost your odds of eliminating cancerous cells so you can make a full recovery.
Step 1
Eat several servings of brightly colored fruits and vegetables each day, such as berries and broccoli. Hatherill suggests that a plant-based diet will help you consume plenty of fresh produce. Aim to eat at least one serving of fruits and vegetables from each color group, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white, to consume a large variety of antioxidants and nutrients that may fight cancer.
Step 2
Eat two or three servings of fish each week. Getting plenty of fish in your diet may help reduce the side effects associated with radiation or chemotherapy, note Virginia B. Morris and Sophie Forrester, authors of "A Patient's Guide to Cancer Care." Choose salmon, trout, halibut or cod as low-fat and healthy options.
Step 3
Add two or three servings of lean protein each day. Eat foods high in protein, such as skinless chicken or turkey, lean beef, nuts and low-fat dairy products, to ensure that you have plenty of energy to fight back against cancer, recommends Morris and Forrester.
Step 4
Pass on sugary foods because sugar may prevent your body from being able to fight off cancer cells as well. Keep candy, cakes, cookies and other baked goods out of your diet to ensure that your body is healthy enough to beat cancer, suggests Morris and Forrester.
Step 5
Limit your intake of saturated fat. Restrict how many servings of foods high in saturated fat you consume each week, recommends Morris and Forrester, because saturated fats can inhibit your body's ability to fight off cancer. Pass on high-fat meats, baked goods and salad dressings.
Tips and Warnings
- Talk to your oncologist about the potential benefits of drinking green tea and adding supplements to your diet because these may have a positive effect on cancer as well, reports Hatherill.
- Diet alone is unlikely to result in your beating cancer. Make sure to work closely with your oncologist to determine the treatment method that is most likely to help you make a full recovery.
References
- "Eat To Beat Cancer: A Research Scientist Explains How You and Your Family Can Avoid up to 90% of All Cancers"; J. Robert Hatherill; 1999
- "A Patient's Guide to Cancer Care: Fighting Cancer Body, Mind and Spirit"; Virginia B. Morris and Sophie Forrester; 2003
