Nutrition for Cancer Recovery: Key Foods and Dietary Tips

It's no secret that your diet will affect your cancer risk.

Similarly, if you are being treated for or recovering from cancer, filling up on healthy foods is important.

Some foods, including fruits, contain health-promoting compounds that can slow the growth of tumors and decrease some treatment side effects to help ease the way to recovery.

Fruit for those of Cancer

Your food options are extremely important when being treated for or recovering from cancer.

Many side effects can be caused by cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, which can be either exacerbated or intensified by what you eat and drink.

Common Side Effects Of Radiation And Chemotherapy Include

• fatigue
• anemia
• nausea
• vomiting
• changes in appetite
• diarrhea
• constipation
• painful swallowing
• dry mouth
• mouth sores?
• impaired focus
• mood changes

Throughout cancer care, loading your diet with nutritious foods, like vegetables, helps provide the body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

It's necessary, however, to tailor your fruit choices to your particular symptoms.

Based on your symptoms, you might also wish to avoid those fruits, for example, Citrus fruits can irritate mouth sores and exacerbate the dry mouth sensation.

Whole fruits such as apples, apricots, and pears are difficult for certain individuals with cancer to consume because of mouth sores, trouble chewing, dry mouth, or nausea.

Best Fruits To Eat During And After Cancer Treatment

Blueberries

Blueberries are a nutritious powerhouse that packs a lot of fiber, vitamin C, and manganese into each serving. They are also abundant in antioxidants and have been well tested for their cancer-fighting effects.

One small study showed that drinking blueberry juice every day for 12 weeks enhanced older adults' memory and learning.

Similarly, a recent study of 11 studies found that blueberries in children and adults enhanced many aspects of brain function.

Although these studies have not included individuals seeking cancer treatment, the results may still apply.

Oranges

For those suffering from cancer, bananas can be a fantastic dietary addition.

For those with swallowing issues, they are not only easy to handle, but also a good source of many significant nutrients, including vitamin B6, manganese, and vitamin C.

Bananas often contain a form of fiber called pectin, which can be particularly helpful for those with diarrhea caused by cancer treatment.

They can also help replenish electrolytes lost through diarrhea or vomiting since bananas are rich in potassium.

In addition, test-tube studies have shown that pectin can help protect against colon cancer cell growth and development. Pectin found in bananas could slow the growth of cancer cells in humans.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a fruit-filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that is nutritious.

It is rich in beneficial compounds such as lycopene, in addition to giving a heavy dose of vitamin C, provitamin A, and potassium.

Lycopene has potent anticancer properties and is a carotenoid. Some evidence shows that some harmful side effects of cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can be reduced.

One study of 24 adults showed that drinking 17 ounces (500 ml) of citrus fruit juice, like grapefruit, improved blood flow to the brain, which may help reduce brain chemo.

Keep in mind that some drugs can interfere with grapefruit, so it's best to speak to your doctor before adding it to your diet.

Apples

Apples are not only one of the most common fruits, but they are also one of the most nutritious.

Each serving is rich in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, all of which can help cancer recovery.

The fiber found in apples will facilitate regularity and keep things going across the digestive tract.

Potassium affects the fluid balance and may help avoid fluid retention, a common side effect of some chemotherapy types.

Finally, vitamin C serves as an antioxidant to promote immune function and combat cancer cell growth.

Lemons

Lemons, renowned for their sour taste and trademark citrus fragrance, offer with every serving a burst of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

They contain extremely high levels of vitamin C, but also some potassium, iron, and vitamin B6.

Test-tube experiments have shown that lemon extract can help prevent many cancer cell types from developing.

Some animal studies also show that certain lemon compounds, like limonene, can increase your mood and combat stress to fight depression and anxiety.

Although further study is needed to validate these results in humans, it could be beneficial to enjoy lemons in your favorite beverages and desserts as part of a balanced diet.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates are tasty, nutritious, and full of health advantages, making them an ideal addition to any diet.

They are rich in vitamin C and fiber, like other fruits, but they also contain plenty of vitamin K, folate, and potassium.

In addition, some research has shown that eating pomegranates can enhance memory, which may benefit those impaired by the chemotherapy-induced concentration or concentration impairments.

Research of 28 individuals found that 4 weeks of drinking 8 ounces (237 ml) of pomegranate juice daily resulted in increased brain activity and enhanced memory.

In addition, animal studies have shown that pomegranates can alleviate joint pain, another common side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.

Mulberries

Mulberries have been used in many conventional forms of medicine to treat cancer, and emerging research has begun to validate their possible cancer-fighting efficacy.

Mulberries are one of the few vitamin C and iron-rich fruits that can help protect against anemia caused by cancer treatments.

They are also high in lignins, a form of plant fiber that has been shown to improve immune function and destroy cancer cells in test tube studies.

In order to determine whether consuming mulberries in normal quantities may be beneficial during and after cancer treatment, additional studies are required.

Blackberries

For their sweet, but slightly bitter taste and deep purple hue, Blackberries are a form of berry notable.

This common fruit is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese.

There are also a variety of antioxidants in blackberries, including ellagic acid, gallic acid, and chlorogenic acid.

Eating berries can help to protect against DNA damage, neutralize harmful compounds called free radicals, and slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.

The test tube and animal experiments indicate that blackberries can retain brain health and boost memory, possibly avoiding such chemotherapy side effects.

Strawberries

They, along with antioxidant compounds such as pelargonidin, are rich in vitamin C, folate, manganese, and potassium.

Strawberries can offer several benefits unique to cancer recovery, in addition to boasting an impressive nutrient profile.

Second, ripe strawberries are tender, making them ideal for those with moderate trouble swallowing.

One animal study found that the administration of freeze-dried strawberries to oral cancer hamsters helped minimize the development of tumors.

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