Every February 4, the world commemorates world cancer Day.
According to World Cancer Research Fund, there were an estimated 18 million cancer cases around the world in 2018. Of these, 9.5 million cases were in men and 8.5 million in women.
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To live with cancer, a patient requires a healthy eating habit during and after cancer treatment.
The National Cancer Institute on cancer.gov explains that the effects of cancer and cancer treatments make it hard for cancer patients to eat well.
This leads to malnutrition and this can further cause the patient to be weak, tired, and unable to fight infection or finish cancer treatment.
Eating the right amount of protein and calories is important for healing, fighting infection, and having enough energy.
Meanwhile, cancer and cancer treatments may cause side effects that affect nutrition. Common nutrition defects in cancer patients are called Anorexia and cachexia.
The cancer institute explained that nutrition therapy is used to help cancer patients keep a healthy body weight, maintain strength, keep body tissue healthy, and decrease side effects both during and after treatment.
This is because cancer and cancer treatments may affect taste, smell, appetite, and the ability to eat enough food or absorb the nutrients from food.
According to WebMD.com, cancer patients are advised to stick with a balanced diet with lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. They should limit their sugar, caffeine, salt, and alcohol.
In a suggestion by www.nm.org, it was emphasized cancer patients should eat Broccoli as it is a strong source of vitamin C, potassium, fibre, magnesium, beta carotene (vitamin A) and folate.
Also, dark leafy greens should be taken often due to its vitamin K, fibre, folate and carotenoids content.
In addition, tomatoes should be consumed often as it offer vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium and lycopene.
WebMD emphasized foods that should be consumed frequently for someone who has cancer are; Lean meat, chicken, and fish. Also, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds are good. other foods which helps are cheese, milk, and yogurt.
“Try to eat at least 2 and half cups of fruits and vegetables a day. Include dark green and deep yellow veggies, and citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. Colourful foods like these have many healthy nutrients. Just be sure to wash them thoroughly. Drink plenty of liquids all day. Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, and poultry. Don’t eat foods or drink beverages that are unpasteurized.”
Men and women who have cancer have been advised to avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and milk products.
Arizona Oncology Foundation stresses people who have cancer should avoid processed, baked or red meats, salty, sugary, or oily foods.
In addition, alcoholic beverages, deep-fried foods, grilled foods and foods with a lot of preservatives should be avoided altogether.
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