Nutrition for Cysts

Cysts, or cavities filled with fluid, may occur throughout your body -- in bones, on your face, in breasts, or in your organs. These cysts can be small or large, benign or dangerous, but regardless of the type of cyst, changing your diet to tweak nutrition may help to prevent these cavities from occurring. Consult your health-care provider before self-treating for the prevention or treatment of cysts.

Vitamin C

A strong immune system may help fight cyst formation, particularly abnormal cysts, according to Dr. Marilyn Glenville, president of the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of Medicine. Glenville suggests getting adequate amounts of vitamin C to boost your immune function. You need 75 to 90 milligrams of this vitamin daily, and you can get the vitamin C you need by eating foods such as berries, citrus fruit, green peppers, spinach and tomatoes.

Fat

Watch your fat intake if you have a cyst on your liver. A study published in the September 2000 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition" looked at dietary fat on liver cysts in rats with polycystic kidney disease; researchers found that high dietary fat intake correlates to the worsening of liver cyst progression. Do not cut all fat from your diet, as your body needs it to function, but limit your fat to 20 to 35 percent of your total caloric intake for best health.

Sugar

Eating too much sugar may damage your health, putting your at risk of some types of cysts. Sally James, N.D., and Nicholas Foley, N.D, of the Ask a Naturopath website, suggest that sugar may play a role in kidney cysts. The maximum sugar intake is 25 grams for women or 37 grams for men -- a guideline set by the American Heart Association.

Zinc

Your body needs zinc to boost immune function, which helps to combat cyst growth. Include 8 to 11 milligrams of zinc in your diet each day for best health. Oysters are an excellent source of zinc, providing many times the amount you need, but you can also get zinc from other shellfish, fish and meat. Zinc is also available in cheese, nuts and beans.