Diet During Chemotherapy:

Diet during Chemotherapy is essential for a patient to remain healthy and active throughout the treatment. However, chemotherapy is a combination of medications used for the treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy medicine besides killing cancer cells also damages normal cells of the human body. The common side effects include a change of taste, mouth dryness, Changes in sense of smell, low level of energy, nausea, loose stools, oral ulcers, etc. However, all these side effects alter the patient’s nutrition pattern. Therefore it is vital to maintain the patient’s nutritional status during chemotherapy treatment.

Moreover, Diet has a very important role during chemotherapy treatment. During chemotherapy, patients may be very selective regarding food. A healthcare provider or a family member, who is taking care of a patient should offer a diet that the patient will easily digest. Furthermore, Proper and best nutrition(balanced nutrition) helps patients in fast recovery, restoring and maintaining energy and maintaining patient weight.

Are there any dietary restrictions during chemotherapy treatment?

the answer to this question is “NO” A patient can eat everything during chemotherapy. However, there are some recommendations regarding food as follows.

Hygienic and well-cooked food: (Diet during chemotherapy)

The diet during chemotherapy should be hygienic and well-cooked. A patient on chemotherapy is at high risk of getting infections quickly due to compromised immunity. So whatever diet the patient takes should be neat and clean whether it’s cooked or uncooked such as salad or fruit.use fruit that can easily be peeled off.

• More use of liquids, juices, and shakes: Offer the patient’s choice of juices. It will provide instant energy maintain hydration and is easily digestible.
• Use plenty of fluids: Use more and more fluids to maintain your kidney’s function and hydration. Water and other fluids also maintain a reasonable tone of the skin.
• Try to drink boiled water to avoid waterborne diseases.
• If you are in the neutropenic phase try to avoid raw vegetables or fruit which cannot be peeled off. If you want to eat well wash the fruit and peel them off and vegetables or green salads must be properly washed with clean water.

  Drinking Herbal tea as a Diet during Chemotherapy:

Use a mixed tea containing ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and some pieces of green tea it is been thought that this herbal tea improves digestive health, However, it has some anti-inflammatory effects and also has anti-cancer effects. Do not take too much, you can use it once or twice a day.

Other Healthy Food Tips

Use the following tips in your diet to maintain a healthy diet pattern during the chemotherapy course.

Eat fruits daily. Use fruits of all kinds avoid citrus fruit which can upset your stomach. Moreover, Peel off and wash fruits properly before eating.

Drink a Cup of Warm Milk: Drinking a cup of warm milk at bedtime will improve your sleep. if you have loose stools or disturbed gut such as bloating etc. avoid drinking milk, this can worsen your loose stools or diarrhea.

High-fiber Diet: If you feel constipated with chemotherapy drugs use a high-fiber diet like cereals and vegetables and drink more fluids and water, and if you have loose stools then avoid a high-fiber diet.

Avoid Barbeque and Steamed Meat: Avoid the use of barbeque and steamed meat which may not be well cooked, may not be digested properly, and can disturb your gut.

Use Homemade Food: Try to use homemade food, and avoid dining in restaurants and crowded places to prevent infections.

Alcohol Consumption: Avoid alcohol consumption, this may worsen your nausea and vomiting, which can also increase the risk of gut infections by giving an acidic environment to gut flora.

Small Frequent Meals: Take small frequent meals, and use 6 to 7 servings instead of three large servings. This will help in the easy digestion of food and can also help in preventing nausea and vomiting.

KYB Diet: In case of loose stools use boiled rice, banana, and yogurt known as the KYB diet.

Avoid the use of oily food: Do not use oily food which may take more time to digest and can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach fullness.

Weight loss is a significant problem with chemotherapy and side-effects of chemotherapeutic medicine become difficult to manage with loosing patients weight. Furthermore, Most of the patients could not tolerate their treatment due to severe weakness and dramatic weight loss. However, a patient can maintain their weight by maintaining a good and healthy diet pattern and can fight the cancer journey very easily. Physical fitness is very important in fighting cancer and tolerating treatment side effects. However, a healthy diet plays an essential role throughout the treatment plan and in combating cancer.