Tweaking your diet to stay healthy can be a challenge on its own, especially when you need to lose some of those hard-wired habits to snack on unhealthy treats and consume processed foods. Add cancer into the mix, and the magnitude of the problem reaches a whole new level – your body and your mind need all the help and support you can give them to fight this disease.
One of the most effective ways to elevate your health during treatment and while you’re battling cancer is to adapt your diet and your overall lifestyle. Introducing some health-boosting habits can help improve your immune system and your resilience during this challenging journey.
Keep your weight in check
Being either over or underweight can prevent your body from fighting cancer properly. Having too much weight on your frame can cause a myriad of health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes, which can lower your odds against cancer. Then again, losing weight is a common setback caused by cancer treatments, so you should make sure to keep an eye on your weight and adapt your diet.
- Choose nutrient-dense, caloric foods if you notice your weight is dropping due to chemo. This will help you with your energy levels, but also your health and resilience.
- Skip empty calories like sweets, because they’ll only play havoc on your health and not help you manage your weight for the long haul.
- Although fresh and versatile veggies and fruits should be in the spotlight, add calorie-dense nuts, seeds, lentils, beans, wholegrains, and even protein-packed eggs, while lean meats can help, too.
Avoid alcohol and sugar
Are you aware that you might be consuming too much sugar or alcohol every day? Most people don’t even realize that sugar is lurking on many labels of their favorite products that don’t even sound sweet (think: tomato sauce, ketchup, or similar store-bought sauces).
For starters, it’s important to educate yourself on what different foods contain, when you’re buying something that’s not fresh. You should also start a diet journal to keep track of your macronutrient intake and correct your eating habits over time. Do your best to swap sugary foods with natural snacks such as fresh fruit (dates are very sweet, have plenty of fiber, and they pack quite a flavor punch), and of course, eliminate sugar, especially during your chemo treatment.
Choose anti-inflammatory foods
Cancer, along with other diseases that could affect your wellbeing, cause inflammation in your body, which means your body is desperately trying to fight that inflammation. To have the right ammo for this process, you should consume anti-inflammatory foods.
- Berries, such as blueberries and strawberries
- Oranges and other citrusy fruits
- Olive oil
- Tomatoes
- Omega-3 rich fish like salmon or mackerel
- Spinach, kale, and other leafy greens
These inflammation-fighting foods are your biggest allies in fighting cancer, they’ll help elevate your energy levels, ward off viral and bacterial infections, and also contribute to your mental health and wellbeing.
Help your immune system fight back
Through keeping your gut healthy with the right fiber-packed foods as well as probiotic supplements, and with the help of a versatile menu, you can provide your body everything it needs during treatment. Sometimes, your cancer treatment can be tough on your body in and of itself. You might experience weight loss, secondary infections, and a slew of health problems.
When your body needs immune support, vitamin and mineral combos like the Fab-4 Bundle with vitamin D, probiotics, and essential fatty acids can help your body stay resilient.
Detox your body thoroughly
Although your diet serves to prevent diseases and to help fend off chronic health issues, what you do in your life and eating habits will also make a difference in preventing toxin exposure. Did you know that, for example, long-term toxin exposure can disrupt your endocrine system and hormone production?
Whether those are heavy metals like lead or mercury, BPA found in plastic, parabens from beauty products, or pesticides from food, these toxins have a detrimental impact on how your body functions. Eliminating pesticide-laden foods from your diet and sticking to clean, organic foods, local and seasonal groceries, and switching to natural beauty, cleaning, and other products can help you keep your body strong.
Your situation is unique, and your doctor will surely give you the best possible advice on how to keep your body strong during treatment and during post-cancer care. However, should you need any further help and support in adapting your lifestyle during this journey, book a consultation with us today!
