The stress that typically accompanies living with severe conditions like an aggressive cancer, can cause a loss of appetite. Stomach pain, nausea and the other gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy can also decrease the desire to eat, which leads to weight loss.
Studies indicate that patients who gain weight or maintain their pre-illness weight during cancer treatment were more likely to complete the recommended chemotherapy regimens, which resulted in better health outcomes. As a result, it is essential that when cancer patients do eat that they consume as healthy a diet as possible.
Nutritional Restoration In Cancer Diet
Proper nutrition can help patients boost their immune systems and retain muscle mass. Providing the body with essential vitamins, minerals and protein enables mesothelioma patients to deal with the demands of cancer treatment and recover quicker.
The body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients may undergo a radical change when treated with chemotherapeutic agents. To improve the appetite, patients should avoid spicy or greasy foods that can cause gastric discomfort. Try to incorporate a variety of visually appealing foods.
Patients should consume smaller portions several times during the day in response to the body’s desire to eat. Smaller meals may reduce the potential for stomach upset. Because mesothelioma patients require larger amounts of vitamins and minerals, the meals should focus on nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables and healthy fats. The popular Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diet that places an emphasis on these types of food.
In addition to vitamins and minerals, colorful fruits and vegetables are a good source of dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, water and micronutrients. They also contain antioxidants like carotenoids and phytochemicals that help prevent cell damage and boost the immune system’s ability to counter harmful bacteria and viruses.
Fruits and vegetables with more intense colors like dark leafy greens have a higher nutritional value. For proper nutritional balance, try to consume three different colors of fruit and vegetables each day. While soluble dietary fiber can help with constipation, the water content can also help prevent dehydration. Eating these foods will provide a feeling of fullness that lasts longer while providing more energy.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found mainly in vegetables as well as omega-3 fatty acids from fish like salmon help the body metabolize certain vitamins and minerals more quickly and efficiently. Healthy fats increase immune system activity, regulate inflammation and promote proper cell division. These fats and oils are also a rich source of energy. These fats and oils are also a rich source of energy.
Research indicates that monounsaturated fats guard against cancer by reducing cancer-promoting insulin and genes. Monounsaturated fat can be found in avocados, olive oil and nuts. Studies have shown that diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of cancer. Patients should consider substituting fish for other types of meat three or more times a week.
The nutritional needs of cancer patients vary from person to person. Proper exercise and eating well will help maintain the body’s store of nutrients so that patients can better tolerate treatment side effects, recover faster and experience a lower risk of infection.
