Eating healthy during cancer treatment

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Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other cancer treatments can be hard on a person's body. However, during treatment, combined with choosing healthy foods in your daily diet can help people feel better and help speed recovery.

1. Eat well during treatment

What should I eat during cancer treatment? In fact, for these cases, it is advisable to try to eat enough nutrients in both quantity and quality. A healthy diet helps the body function at its best. This is even more important if you have cancer. You will be treated with a stockpile medication to help maintain your strength, energy levels, and defenses against infection.
A healthy diet can also prevent body tissues from breaking down and building new ones. People who eat well are better able to cope with the side effects of treatment. What's more, you can even handle some drugs in high doses.
In fact, some cancer treatments work better in people who are well nourished and get enough calories and protein. Here are some ways that are applied to answer the question of what cancer patients should eat?
You should try new foods often. Some things you've never enjoyed before may become appetizing during treatment. Choose from a variety of plant-based foods. Try eating beans and peas in place of meat a few times a week. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables each day, including citrus fruits and vegetables that are dark green and dark yellow. Colorful vegetables and fruits and plant-based foods are rich in natural health-promoting substances. Try to stay at a healthy weight and be physically active. Small changes in body weight during treatment are normal. Limit the amount of salted, smoked and sour foods you eat. Limit or avoid red or processed meat If you can't do any of the above during this time, don't worry about it. Ask your doctor or dietitian for help with any problems you have. Sometimes it is necessary to change your diet to get more fluids, protein and calories and they will help you with this.

2. Some things to do to eat healthy during cancer treatment

2.1. Snack when necessary Cancer treatment should eat what? To answer this question we need to know that during cancer treatment, your body often needs extra calories and protein to help you maintain your weight and heal as quickly as possible. If you're losing weight, snacks can help you meet those needs, maintain strength and energy levels, and help you feel better.
During treatment, you may have to rely on snacks with fewer healthy calorie sources to meet your needs. Remember this is only for a short time, and once the side effects go away you can go back to a healthier diet. You can also try the following tips to easily add snacks to your daily routine:
Eat snacks throughout the day. Have a variety of protein-rich snacks available that are easy to prepare and easy to eat. These include yogurt, cereal and milk, half a sandwich, a bowl of hearty soup, cheese and crackers. Avoiding snacking can make any treatment-related side effects worse. For example, if you have diarrhea, avoid popcorn and raw fruits and vegetables. If you have a sore throat, don't eat dry, rough snacks or acidic foods. If you can eat normally and maintain your weight without snacking, don't include them.

2.2. Some quick and easy snacks Grains (hot or cold) Cheese (aged or hard cheese, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ...) Biscuits Crackers Cheese dips , beans, yogurt or peanut butter Fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, dried) Gelatin made from juice, milk or fruit Granola or sugar blend Homemade smoothies and shakes Ice cream, water frozen fruit and yoghurts Juices Microwave snacks Homemade, flavored or instant breakfast dough muffins Nuts, seeds and nut butters Popcorn, Pudding, milk eggs Sandwiches (such as egg salad, grilled cheese, or peanut butter) Soups Sports drinks Vegetables (raw or cooked) with olive oil, sauces or dressings Yogurt (low-fat or Greek) 2.3 . How to get more calories and protein in your meals Eat a few snacks throughout the day, instead of 3 large meals. Eat your favorite foods at any time of the day. For example, eat breakfast foods for dinner if they appeal to you. Eat every few hours. You should not wait until you feel hungry to eat. Eat your biggest meal when you feel the most hungry. For example, if you are most hungry in the morning, make breakfast your main meal. Try to eat high-calorie, protein-rich foods with each meal and snack. Do light exercise or go for a walk before a meal to increase appetite. Drink high-calorie, high-protein beverages like milkshakes and canned liquid supplements. You should drink most of your fluids between meals rather than during meals. Because, drinking too much water with a meal can make you feel too full. Try homemade or prepared puddings and nutrition bars.

2.4. Protein-rich foods Dairy products and dairy products
Eat cheese with toast or crackers. Add shredded cheese to baked potatoes, vegetables, soups, noodles, meats, and fruit. Use milk instead of water for hot cereals and soups. Include cream or cheese sauces on vegetables and pasta. Add powdered milk to creamy soups, mashed potatoes, puddings and casseroles. Add Greek yogurt, whey protein powder, or cottage cheese to your favorite fruit or smoothie mix. Eggs
Keep cooked eggs in the refrigerator. Chop hard-boiled eggs and add to salads, casseroles, soups, and vegetables. Make a quick egg salad. All eggs should be thoroughly cooked to avoid the risk of harmful bacteria. Pasteurized egg substitute is a low-fat substitute for regular eggs. Meat, poultry and fish
Add cooked meat to soups, casseroles, salads and omelets. Mix diced or flaked cooked meat with sour cream and spices to make a dipping sauce. Beans, legumes, nuts and seeds
Sprinkle nuts or seeds over desserts like fruit, ice cream, pudding and custards. Do the same on vegetables, salads and pasta. Spread peanut butter or almond butter on toast and fruit or mix with milkshakes. 2.5. Calorie Foods Butter
Melt cooked potatoes, rice, pasta and vegetables. Stir melted butter into soups and casseroles and spread on bread before adding other ingredients to your sandwich. Dairy products
Add whipping or whipped cream to desserts, pancakes, waffles, fruit and hot chocolate; fold it into soups and casseroles. Add sour cream to baked potatoes and veggies. Salad
Use regular (non-fat or dietary) mayonnaise and salad dressing on sandwiches and serve as a dip with vegetables and fruit.
Sweets
Add honey and jelly to breads and crackers. Add jam to the fruit. Use cream as a topping on the cake.

2.6. Physical activity Physical activity has many benefits. This activity helps you maintain muscle mass, strength, endurance, and bone strength. Not only that, physical activity can also help reduce depression, stress, fatigue, nausea and constipation.
Besides, it can also improve your appetite. So, if you're not already exercising, talk to your doctor about a goal of getting at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity, like walking, each week. If your doctor approves, start small (maybe 5 to 10 minutes a day) and when you can, work up to a goal of 300 minutes a week.
Listen to your body during training and rest when you need to. Now is not the time to motivate yourself to exercise. Do what you can when you want.
>>> Nutrition advice for cancer patients

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The article references the source: cancer.org