Healthy diet for cancer
Nutrition also plays an important role, especially in cancer. A varied and balanced diet can improve the quality of life and reduce side effects such as wound healing disorders or infections. In addition, it influences the chances of recovery (prognosis) from cancer.
If cancer patients have inadequate nutrition, the body breaks down more quickly and more severely. Therapy-related side effects can increase and cancer treatment can have a poorer effect.
That is why good nutrition in cancer is worthwhile in every phase! The goal is to provide the body with enough energy and nutrients to increase well-being, allow the immune system to work better and cancer treatment to work more successfully.
A healthy diet supports the body in its fight against cancer, but cannot defeat the tumor on its own. Medical cancer therapy is indispensable!
Nutrition for cancer without symptoms
For cancer patients without significant symptoms or weight problems, experts recommend using the ten rules of the German Society for Nutrition as a guide.
- Eat a varied diet, choosing mainly plant-based foods.
- When it comes to cereal products such as bread, pasta, rice and flour, you should eat the whole grain variety. Just like fruits and vegetables, whole grain products provide the body with a lot of fiber, minerals and vitamins.
- Eat milk or dairy products daily. Fermented products such as yogurt, kefir or buttermilk (approx. 150 g per day) are particularly advisable. Fish should be on the menu once or twice a week. Adults should consume a maximum of 300 g (for low calorie requirements) to 600 g (for high calorie requirements) of meat and sausage per week.
- Prefer vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil and fat spreads made from them. They are healthier than animal fats. Also watch out for hidden fats, such as those found in processed foods like sausage, pastries, confectionery, fast food and convenience foods.
- Avoid too much sugar – not just in the form of sweets, desserts and sugary drinks (fruit juice, cola, etc.). Many processed foods are also high in sugar, such as fruit yogurt, convenience foods, salad dressings and ketchup. Cut back on salt too, use herbs and spices instead. Also watch out for the often unexpectedly high salt content in processed products such as sausage, cheese, bread and ready meals.
- Prepare food gently. Cook them as long as necessary and as short as possible with little water and little fat. Be careful not to burn the food, because the burnt parts contain harmful substances. You should also not eat moldy or spoiled food.
- Enjoy your food and take pleasure in it by enjoying your meals slowly and consciously. It also helps to arrange your food tastefully.
- Regular exercise, movement in everyday life and sufficient sleep complement the positive effects of a wholesome, healthy diet.
Individual adaptations
Sometimes a healthy diet according to the above 10 rules is not so easy to implement for people with cancer – for example, due to certain cancer therapies.
In addition, the nutritional goals set for patients by physicians and nutritional therapists may differ from the general recommendations: for example, some sufferers need to take special care to maintain their weight, while others should lose weight. The reason: In cancer, weight loss can have a negative impact on the success of therapy, as can obesity.
Such factors can therefore make it necessary to individually adapt the diet in cancer – even if the patient has no particular complaints due to their disease or the cancer therapy.
Food supplements only in case of proven deficiency
The body needs all nutrients such as vitamins and minerals in the right measure. A deficiency weakens the body, too high a concentration damages it.
A deficiency of vitamins and minerals can occur, for example, if those affected eat too little and too one-sidedly, or if the body consumes more of them than it gets. Under certain circumstances, the absorption of such nutrients is disturbed or vomiting and diarrhea cause an increased loss.
It may then be necessary to supply the missing vitamins or minerals separately. Doctors use blood tests to determine whether a nutrient deficiency is actually present. On the basis of this, they recommend a suitable dietary supplement in the correct dosage to affected patients.
However, many cancer patients do not need dietary supplements. A balanced, wholesome diet normally supplies the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. In the case of vitamin D, it is often sufficient to spend sufficient time outdoors during the summer months: with the help of sunlight, the body can produce the vitamin itself in the skin and build up a store for the winter months.
Only take dietary supplements after consulting your doctor.
And what about vitamin C?
During cancer therapy, patients often develop a deficiency of vitamin C, which the body needs for a strong immune system, among other things. Deficiencies can be counteracted with the abundant consumption of fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of this vitamin. Particularly suitable are, for example, sea buckthorn berries (juice), sweet peppers and black currants.
Citrus fruits (such as oranges), potatoes, cabbage, spinach and tomatoes are also recommended. They contain slightly less vitamin C, but are usually consumed in such high quantities that a relevant vitamin intake is obtained.
However, in certain cases – such as cancer-related emaciation (tumor cachexia), wound healing disorders or chronic fatigue – it may be necessary to administer vitamin C as an injection or infusion.
However, it is not advisable to take (high-dose) vitamin C without a deficiency condition. It may weaken the effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of its antioxidant properties. Although there are also indications that certain anticancer drugs might work better in combination with vitamin C, clear evidence is lacking.
What to eat when suffering from cancer?
Lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss – with cancer, a wide variety of illness- or therapy-related complaints can make everyday life difficult for patients. In addition to other measures – such as medication prescribed by the doctor (e.g., against nausea) – an adjustment of the diet can then also be helpful.
What to do in case of loss of appetite?
Loss of appetite (anorexia or inappetence) plagues many cancer patients, especially in more advanced stages. It can be due to the cancer itself, the tumor therapy and/or stress and psychological strain. However, to prevent malnutrition, it is important to eat regularly despite a lack of appetite.
Discuss loss of appetite with your doctor or dietician! If necessary, they will recommend special high-calorie drinks or other food supplements.
Here are important tips for nutrition in case of lack of appetite:
- Eat several small meals throughout the day, rather than trying to eat a large portion at a single meal. Avoid long breaks between meals. Keep small snacks on hand for in-between meals, such as salty cookies, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate or muesli bars.
- Treat yourself to your favorite foods more often (but not when you’re nauseous, or you may develop an aversion to them).
- To always have a balanced meal ready without too much effort, you can also cook (or have cooked) in advance or buy frozen food. Alternatively, you can have a good food supplier provide you with food.
- Drink enough between meals in small sips throughout the day. During a meal, you should avoid drinks or at least drink only a little, because the liquid fills the stomach and thus triggers a (premature) feeling of fullness.
- Pay attention to appetizingly arranged meals and a beautifully set table (e.g. with flowers). This is not only something for the eye, but can also increase the pleasure of eating.
- Eat in (pleasant) company. Conversation can distract from the reluctance to eat. If you are eating a meal alone, it is best to provide distraction (e.g., music, television, book).
- Avoid strong cooking and eating odors in your living area (keep kitchen door closed, open window). Many patients find such odors unpleasant or even nauseating. If this also applies to you, you should also prefer lukewarm or cold food to hot dishes.
- Some medicinal herbal teas also have an appetizing effect, such as preparations made from ginger, calamus, gentian root, wormwood, bitter clover and/or yarrow. The effect is based on the bitter substances contained. It may also be useful to take appetite-stimulating drops from the pharmacy. Ask your doctor about this!
- Appetite-stimulating bitter substances are also contained in drinks that are suitable (after consulting your doctor!) as an aperitif before the meal, for example bitter lemon, tonic water, grapefruit juice, non-alcoholic beer, a Campari or Martini (with alcohol, beware of possible interactions with medications!).
- It may be advisable to supplement the diet with energy- and protein-rich drinks. The special solutions offered in various flavors are drunk in sips between meals or also in the evening. Talk to your doctor about this!
- Exercise regularly and sufficiently – this can stimulate the appetite. For this reason, a short walk before eating can also be helpful.
Record in a food diary which foods you tolerate well or poorly and which ones taste particularly good to you at the moment.
You can read more about this topic in the article Lack of appetite.
What to eat if you have difficulty chewing and swallowing?
- Sit upright when eating and drinking to make swallowing easier. Also, if you tilt your head slightly forward and chin down when swallowing, you will not choke as easily.
- Eat and drink slowly. Do not be distracted and concentrate on chewing and swallowing. Put only a small amount of food or drink in your mouth at a time.
- Avoid hard, dry, crumbly, and crumbly foods (e.g., pretzel sticks, crackers, rusks, toast, dry flakes, raw vegetables). Foods that stick to the roof of the mouth are also unfavorable.
- Soft, viscous or pureed food is more suitable, e.g. cooked meat, cooked fish (without bones), pasta, strained fruit and vegetables, eggs with sauce, cream soups and, if necessary, ready-made baby food (jar food).
- Use butter, cream, creams, mayonnaise or oil to enrich foods and make them easier to swallow.
- In cases of dysphagia, it is useful to thicken drinks and liquid foods (such as soups) with a neutral-tasting thickener.
- Suitable beverages include tap water, still mineral water and tea. On the other hand, you should avoid carbonated drinks.
- Make sure that your drinks are neither too cold nor too hot. A straw can also make drinking easier.
Many cancer patients suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia) – either due to their cancer (e.g. salivary gland cancer) or the cancer therapy (radiotherapy or surgery mouth-throat area, chemotherapy etc.).
Then it is advisable to drink small amounts frequently. This keeps the oral mucosa moist. Many sufferers simply turn to water. Others also like to drink tea. You can use peppermint or lemon tea to stimulate the flow of saliva. Chamomile tea, on the other hand, is not suitable – it dries out the mucous membrane.
Acidic drinks such as lemonade also have a stimulating effect on saliva flow – as do acidic foods and acidic candies.
Caution: Drinks and foods with a high acid content irritate the mucous membrane and are therefore not recommended for inflamed mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. In addition, acid attacks tooth enamel – so too often and too much acidic food is not a good idea.
If you have dry mouth, it is also beneficial to prefer cool or cold drinks – they keep the mucous membrane moist for longer. Ultimately, however, it also depends on how you feel: If you don’t like cold at all, then choose warm or lukewarm drinks.
More tips for dry mouth:
