Breast cancer survival and recovery diet

Good health requires good nutrition. When a person suffers from cancer, diet becomes crucial. Disease increases the amount of nutrients the body needs to function properly. In the case of cancer, the treatment also depletes vital stores of nutrients. Proper nutrition through diet will strengthen the immune system and counteract side effects that the treatment may cause. Supplements need to be included in the diet to insure adequate amounts of nutrients are received on a daily basis.

Proteins

Proteins are the building blocks of tissue and muscle. Include protein rich foods like eggs, venison, seafood, and cheese. When cooking eggs and meat, make sure they are cooked thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer to insure meats are cooked completely, according to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Meats should have a core temperature of between 160 to 180 degrees F, depending on the type. Organ meats and soy products are also excellent sources of protein. Avoid foods that are partially cooked. They contain bacteria that can cause infection and further weaken the immune system. Unpasteurized dairy products also contain bacteria that may be harmful to a recovering immune system. Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, compromise the immune system to the point that even minimal exposure to bacteria can cause major health concerns

Carbohydrates

Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to good health. Wash all foods thoroughly before preparing. This will remove not only bacteria that is on the surface, but toxins and pesticides that have been used to help preserve freshness. Eaten raw, steamed or lightly cooked, vegetables provides many necessary vitamins and minerals the body needs to maintain and repair damaged cells and tissue. Use fruits and vegetables to add color and variety to your meals. Foods that are colorful are more appealing and make meal time something to look forward to, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Experiment with different tastes, textures and colors. Include different grains like kasha or quinoa. These foods provide a wide variety of nutrients and will add calories the body needs to fight off disease and recuperate after treatments.

Fats

Fats are a necessary part of any diet. The body uses good fats, like omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, in many ways. They act as a fuel for several bodily functions. These special fats also help to transport nutrients throughout the body via the bloodstream. Cancer itself may be localized to a specific area of the body. It’s treatment, on the other hand, may be systemic. Improving the body’s ability to transport nutrients allows tissues throughout the body to remain strong and avoid being damaged. Flax, borage and fish oils contain abundant amounts of these beneficial fatty acids, according to Texas Oncology. Salmon, mackerel and tuna are known to be high in fatty acids and protein, as well as other minerals that are vital to good health.

Supplements

Depending on the type of cancer treatment that is being pursued, eating can be painful and uncomfortable. Nausea and vomiting are side effects of several cancer treatments. Obtaining nutrients through the diet is difficult when foods are not able to pass through the digestive tract. Protein shakes, vitamin and mineral combinations and other supplements are available to pick up where diet leaves off. If swallowing is difficult, liquid vitamins and minerals are available. They can be mixed with protein shakes or conventional juice mixes.

Breast Cancer Survival Diet

Overview

According to Cornell University, 86 percent of women treated for breast cancer will survive at least five years. Research regarding the role diet plays in the survival of breast cancer is still in its infancy. However, it appears that a healthier plan of eating may be helpful. Consuming a healthy diet can also help to decrease your risk of other serious illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and adult-onset diabetes. Additionally, healthier eating can help you attain and maintain a healthy weight. Check with your doctor before making significant changes to your diet.

Lean Proteins

According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, women, particularly of menopausal age, should avoid obesity. Similarly, if you are a breast cancer survivor, staying at or near your ideal weight can decrease your risks. In addition, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center explains that breast cancer survivors can reap many health benefits from healthier food choices. White meat skinless poultry, low fat dairy products, lean pork and egg whites all provide amino acids that help your tissues heal, and they have less fat than other animal protein sources. If you are receiving chemotherapy treatment, be sure any animal foods you consume are well cooked to prevent food poisoning while your immune system is compromised.

Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are necessary for functioning of the cardiovascular and immune systems. According to a study published in the 1997 “Journal of Clinical Oncology,” Volume 15, found that breast cancer survivors who had higher levels of EFAs in their fat stores had a lower incidence of positive lymph node test results. Although this finding alone isn’t indicative of cancer, it is an indication of stimulation of your body’s immune response. In some cases, with biopsy testing, positive lymph node status may be an indicator of cancer. Eating foods that are rich in EFAs, such as salmon, mackerel, flax seeds and walnuts, can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and may help decrease the recurrence of cancer.

Adequate Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber is important for proper digestion, weight control and decreased risk of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center explains that the typical adult should consume between 25 g and 25 g of fiber every day. Dr. John P. Pierce, PhD., of The University of California – Davis, adds that a diet that is rich in dietary fiber appears to reduce estrogen that circulates in the body. For women who are survivors of breast cancer, an estrogen-driven type of cancer, less estrogen may mean less risk of recurrence.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are high in dietary fiber, can help you manage your weight and provide nutrients that can improve your immunity, mood and ability to heal. According to Cornell University, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower can stop the proliferation of cancer cells and the development of cancer in laboratory animals. Fruits, particularly of the citrus variety, are rich in vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant that can improve your immunity. Both fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat, so you can manage your weight while feeling full from the fiber.

Breast Cancer Recovery Diet

Overview

According to BreastCancer.org, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer can affect women of all ages, and even men. Those who have recovered from breast cancer or are currently in remission may be taking medications or undergoing continual screenings to watch for recurrence. Another way for breast cancer survivors to reduce their risk of recurrence is to change their diet and eating habits.

Fruits and Vegetables

The more fruits and vegetables, the better, when it comes to fighting breast cancer recurrence. Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, which keep the immune system strong and can even fight off cancer cells, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day will help people with breast cancer recover and will help breast cancer survivors stay healthy.

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Proteins

Protein is an important macronutrient that helps to prevent muscle wasting and helps you feel full. Meat is the most common protein-rich food that people think of, but breast cancer survivors may want to change the types of proteins that they consume most frequently. The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, or PCRM, explains that in countries where very little animal protein is consumed, such as in Japan, the breast cancer rates are very low. Fat from animal products like beef and pork may increase a woman’s breast cancer risk and recurrence rate, so PCRM recommends reducing red meat intake and eating more tofu and beans instead. Fish, shellfish and white meat like chicken are also better options for breast cancer survivors.

Supplements

Those recovering or who have recovered from breast cancer should ask their doctors about the possibility of taking supplements. Some supplements may be beneficial for cancer survivors. Science Daily explains that taking fish oil can increase the effectiveness of the medication tamoxifen, which is often give to breast cancer patients and survivors.

Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight through eating the right foods in the right portions is essential for breast cancer recovery. Johns Hopkins Medicine says that obese women have higher amounts of estrogen than women who are of a healthy weight. Since breast cancer is often hormone-related, keeping fit can boost recovery efforts. A Registered Dietitian or doctor can help to determine your ideal weight for height and can also suggest how many calories you should be eating each day to lose weight or maintain your weight. Moderate-intensity exercise for a half hour or more on most days of the week is also important.

Diet for Somebody on Chemotherapy

A study published in the October 2010 issue of “Oncology Reports,” by Alexander Strohle, Kurt Zanker and Andreas Hahn, found that dietary support for cancer patients is extremely important. The authors state cancer patients may require more “micronutrients” than people in good health. Furthermore, they say, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy could benefit from daily multivitamin supplementation, extra vitamin D and additional omega-3 fatty acids, among other nutrients.

Consume Enough Vitamin D and E

Patients with a form of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma were found to have nutritional deficiencies while being treated with chemotherapy in a study published in “Clinical Nutrition,” in August 2010. Researchers noticed lowered blood levels of the fat-soluble vitamins D and E in these chemotherapy patients. They did not find alterations in levels of vitamin A, B6, B12 or vitamin C during treatment. The authors suggest further research is needed to determine whether chemotherapy patients could benefit from specific nutritional therapy. Good sources of vitamin D are beef, cereals, eggs, fish and dairy. Vitamin E is found in cereals, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and canned tomato paste.

Choose Foods High in Flavonoids

In the March 2010 issue of “Oncology Nursing Forum,” a study suggests foods containing flavonoids may help reduce some unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy. The experiment tested Concord grape juice to see if it would reduce “chemotherapy-induced vomiting.” Subjects in the experimental group drank grape juice with meals during the week after their chemotherapy treatment. A placebo group did not drink the juice. Results indicated the subjects who drank the grape juice had fewer side effects from chemotherapy, but the results were not statistically significant due to the small number of participants. In spite of this, the researchers hope future studies will find flavonoids in foods helpful to those cancer patients experiencing nausea from treatment. Flavonoids are found in fruits and vegetables such as onions, cranberries, broccoli, grapes, tomatoes and apples.

Eat Enough Protein

Chemotherapy can cause a problem with the balance of nitrogen in the body, say nutritional researchers Olof Gudny Geirsdottir and Inga Thorsdottir, from the Unit for Nutrition Research at National University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. A “negative nitrogen balance,” they conclude, causes the body to lose protein, including from muscle. When nitrogen is broken down too quickly in the body, there will not be enough protein available for tissue growth. Therefore, chemotherapy patients could benefit from additional protein in the diet. The best sources of protein include meat, dairy, nuts and beans.

Include Healthy Fats

Patients undergoing chemotherapy may gain or lose weight depending on the individual and the type of cancer involved. Breast cancer patients are more likely to gain body fat during chemotherapy, and may benefit from a low-fat diet. Other patients who experience weight loss should still follow a healthy diet. According to the University of Michigan Health System, the healthiest fats are monounsaturated fats, which are found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds; and polyunsaturated fats, which include the omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is found in fish, walnuts and flax seed.

Consider Liquid Foods

Staying hydrated is important for chemotherapy patients, especially if they are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, says Karen Wagner, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., and Jaimie Bornstein, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.N.. Fluids in the form of protein drinks, milkshakes, or other high-carbohydrate nutritional beverages are beneficial, especially if solid food is difficult to eat, they say. Another benefit of liquid foods is that they are easy and quick to prepare, especially if the patient is feeling too tired to cook. This can help ensure meeting dietary needs