The Star E-dition

What to eat during cancer treatment

STAFF REPORTER

THIS Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are looking at how adequate nourishment can help the body heal in the best way it knows how, particularly as various forms of cancer treatment often come with side effects that affect one’s ability to eat.

Kim Hofmann, a registered dietitian and Virgin Active’s expert on nutrition, delves into how nutrition may help the healing process.

1. Eat a wholesome, homemade, predominantly plantbased diet

It is advisable to eat wholesome, home-made foods that are not excessively processed and do not contain large amounts of salt, sugar and preservatives. Try home-made versions of hummus, fava bean dip, guacamole, nut butters and unflavoured cottage cheeses – even if you scrape a little on to a cracker or toast to begin with.

Eating a predominantly plant-based diet that incorporates small amounts of white meats may be easier to digest than large amounts of red meats.

Fruit, vegetables and legumes should be the largest consumed food group during this time.

Incorporate wholesome foods into your diet, such as wholegrain carbohydrates.

2. Have food prepared for you or delivered

When you experience nausea, the smell of food may make the sensation worse. Eat smaller meals throughout the day, instead of forcing yourself to eat larger portions.

4. Not too hot, cold or spicy

Try seed crackers, wholewheat toast, oats, porridge, and plain yoghurt.

Make your oats using fat-free or low-fat milk, and add fruit, such as grated or puréed apple, mashed bananas, berries, and nuts and seeds. 5. Drink enough liquids. Green tea has positive effects during the healing and recovery process. Add freshly cut or frozen fruit and herbs to your water or tea. Grated ginger or ginger ale may relieve nausea.

Home-made smoothies may help you eat enough calories – add a vegan protein powder. Puréed soups are another way to get in more calories.

Foods to avoid:

s !LCOHOL n IT MAY INTERACT WITH treatment s /VERLY PROCESSED FOODS s 2AW OR UNDERCOOKED FOODS SUCH as sushi, and any foods you wouldn’t eat while pregnant

s 3PICY AND CRUNCHY FOODS IF YOU develop mouth sores

s -ORE THAN TWO CUPS OF COFFEE daily

s &OODS DEEP FRIEND IN HIGH TEMperatures for a long time may be carcinogenic

s "URNT FOODS MAY BE CARCINOGENIC

Things to try:

s $RINKING THROUGH A STRAW MAY help prevent the aggravation of mouth sores

s -EDICATION OR ALTERNATIVE TREATments for nausea

s 5NUSUAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL food combinations

For more information or to find a dietitian, visit the professional organisation for registered dietitians, the Association for Dietetics South Africa, at https://www.adsa.org. za/

METRO

en-za

2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thestar.pressreader.com/article/281612423601735

African News Agency