Learn what foods bring the best nutrients to nourish your body and fight cancer.
Good nutrition is very important when you have cancer. Adequate nutrition will help you cope with side effects, maintain your strength, weight, and energy level, and help fight cancer and infections. Essential nutrients can help you optimize nutrition and promote your recovery and quality of life.
1 - Complex Carbohydrates
Complex carbohydrates are high in protein, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and more. They are rich in fiber, regulating glucose levels, promoting a healthy gut, and supporting the immune system to fight inflammation and diseases. Their slow absorption helps our body have steady energy levels.
Whole grains
Beans, peas, and lentils
Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
Starchy vegetables
2 - Healthy Fats
Consuming healthy fats in your daily diet provides essential fatty acids for your body. Healthy fats are good for your heart, energy, organ protection, and nutrient absorption, help the immune system and reduce cancer risk.
Olives and olive oil
Avocado and avocado
Nuts and nut butters
Seeds and seed butters
Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, trout, cod, and more
Dark chocolate - 70% or higher total cocoa content
3 - High-Protein Foods
Choose foods high in protein to help repair damaged cells and tissues, support your immune system, and prevent muscle loss. A high-protein diet is vital to maintain good nutritional status and may also contribute to achieving clinical benefits.
Plant-Protein: beans, lentils, and peas, soy foods, nuts and nut butter, seeds and seed butter
Animal-Protein: fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, Greek yogurt, cheese, milk
4 - Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to fight inflammation caused by cancer.
Fish and other seafood: salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, trout, halibut, anchovies, herring
Plant-based: walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, navy beans, edamame
5 - Plant-Based Foods
Eat a wide selection of plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, peas, herbs, spices, nuts, and seeds, to obtain vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and natural antioxidants. The anticancer activities of plant-based foods are related to the actions of phytochemicals and nutrients.
6 - H2O
Water is best when it comes to hydrating. If the water does not taste good, try infused water or electrolyte drinks.
Staying hydrated during treatment is essential to help minimize treatment side effects since it removes waste and toxins from the body, based on NIH research.
No single food can protect you against cancer by itself. But research shows that a diet filled with a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and other plant foods helps lower risk for many cancers.
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