Healthy diet for former cancer sufferers

Medical Video: Prostate Cancer Recovery and Eating the Right Foods

All people who have had cancer and have been treated, definitely want to return to normal life and carry out activities that were previously abandoned. But it cannot be denied that fear, anxiety and worry arise when they want to start a 'new' life.

One of the biggest concerns that exist in them is recurrence or side effects from the treatment that has been done. Thus, the diet and lifestyle of people who have been released from cancer must also be maintained and cared for so as not to cause a risk of relapse, accelerate recovery, improve quality of life, and improve bodily function disorders that arise when doing treatment.

It is estimated that as many as 68% of cancer patients in the United States can live 4 to 5 years longer because of changing patterns of life and selection of food and drink. In 1997, the World Cancer Research Fund issued recommendations related to nutrition and physical activity for former cancer patients who had successfully undergone treatment but had to maintain their lifestyle. Then, what foods are needed to prevent recurrence? Are you not allowed to eat good food?

What foods are good for former cancer sufferers?

Applying a healthy diet, proven to prevent recurrence in former cancer patients alias cancer survivor. Many studies have suggested that people who consume more fruits and vegetables in more portions will be more healthy than consuming more red meat.

This is evidenced by a study conducted in a group of former breast cancer sufferers, who stated that eating lots of fruit, vegetables, wheat, poultry, and fish can reduce as much as 15% the risk of recurrence compared to eating lots of red meat, sweet foods, fatty foods, and fast food. Whereas in a study involving former colon cancer patients, it was proved that the group after undergoing treatment then applied a western-style diet, such as frequent consumption of red meat and saturated fat, had a greater risk of relapse and death faster than the group who consumed lots of vegetables and fruits .

Other studies also state the same thing, namely eating more fish, tomatoes, and various foods containing unsaturated fats can reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with prostate cancer. While in former patients with egg or ovarian cancer, eating lots of vegetables every day can prevent the ovarian cancer from reappearing.

The relationship between eating red meat and various high-fat foods with cancer incidence is unclear, but some studies say that red meat consumed can increase inflammation in body tissues. This inflammation is thought to trigger cancer growth. Vegetables and fruits contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E that can protect body cells from free radicals, namely the formation of substances in the body that damage normal cells and cause various diseases.

Guide to eating patternssurvivor cancer

The American Cancer Society and the World Cancer Research Fund recommend former cancer patients to:

Eat vegetables and fruit at least 2.5 glasses per day or at least consume 5 servings in one day, which is equivalent to 400 grams.
Eating foods that contain healthy fats, such as omega 3 fats in fish, compared with foods that contain trans or saturated fats such as those on fish skin, meat fat, and various packaged foods.
Choosing proteins to eat, make sure to choose low-fat proteins, such as fish, skinless chicken, eggs, nuts.
It is better to replace carbohydrate sources with brown rice, wheat, or wheat cereals that have high fiber.
Limit the consumption of red meat, which is less than 500 grams of meat in one week and do not consume already processed foods.
Limit the use of salt in food and only consume 6 grams of salt (2.4 grams of sodium) in one day.
Avoid foods and drinks that are too sweet and have high calories from sugar.

Former cancer sufferers are actually just like healthy people who need all kinds of nutrients to support their health. However, what must be considered is the composition of the food. According to the Institute of Medicine, former cancer patients are more susceptible to various heart diseases, therefore the composition of the food must be regulated, such as:

Fat requirements are 20% to 35% of total energy
Carbohydrate needs are 45% to 65% of total energy
Protein requirements, which are 10% to 35% of total energy in a day.

By regulating nutrients and nutrients obtained from foods that enter the body, can maintain health conditions and prevent various adverse effects that may occur due to chemotherapy or radiation treatment.

The importance of maintaining weight

Most of the patients who are undergoing cancer treatment must experience a decrease or increase in body weight. Therefore, when the treatment has finished and is recovering, it is better to restore normal weight to prevent various complications that may occur. Excess weight has been shown to be associated with an increase in the incidence of several cancers such as cancer of the breast, throat, intestine, and rectum, liver, bladder, prostate, and pancreas.

Former cancer sufferers who have excess weight must gradually reduce their weight and apply a good and healthy diet. Ideally, in one week the weight drops by 1 kg and is not good if it exceeds that. Whereas for people who experience malnutrition or body mass index less than normal, then consult this with a nutritionist or doctor to increase body weight to normal.