Can a balanced diet help fight cancer?

A balanced diet for cancer fighting patients (undergoing chemotherapy)

1,566 Views Updated: 24 Jan 2018
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Eating a balanced diet is an essential part of maintaining good health. Taking in the right sorts of food will make you feel stronger and better. When you have cancer, eating the right kind of food turns out to be significantly more critical. This article has been composed to help you understand the link between following a balanced diet and cancer.

What is healthy eating?

A good and balanced dietary regimen is something we hear about a great deal today. It can not only help your body to develop and function well but can also prevent diseases. It is difficult to recognize what precisely is a healthy eating regimen. A healthy eating regimen includes great nutrition. This happens when your body incorporates vital nutrients in the correct amount. These incorporate carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. They are utilized by your body to give you vitality, keep you warm and shield you from sickness.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, a well-balanced diet is much more essential amid treatment. It can help you:

1. Feel stronger and better

2. Keep up your strength and vitality

3. Maintain a healthy weight

4. Tolerate the chemotherapy dosage administered

5. Cope well with chemotherapy side effects

6. Reduce infection risk

7. Recover and heal faster

A balanced diet

A well-balanced diet refers to taking in all the vital nutrients in the correct amount. These nutrients can be grouped into 5 categories. Some you require in substantial amounts and others in little amounts. For your eating regimen to be well balanced, you should include regular daily portions of vegetables and fruits. As a matter of fact, you have to incorporate all the food types in the food pyramid depicted below in the correct amount.

Healthy eating guidelines

1. Eat an assortment of food from the diverse groups.

2. Eat correct amounts of food and maintain a healthy weight range.

3. Exercise routinely.

4. Include 5 portions of vegetables and fruits daily.

5. Eat more food rich in starch like cereals, potatoes, bread, rice and pasta.

6. Reduce fat intake, particularly the saturated type.

7. Choose low-fat food as much as possible.

8. Oven bake, grill, steam, boil or poach rather than frying.

9. Minimize consumption of foods with high sugar content

10. Do not utilize salt to enhance flavor, instead try using different seasonings like herbs, pepper, lemon juice and spices.

11. Enjoy your food thoroughly.

How to prevent cancer and its recurrence?

A basic guide for prevention of cancer and recurrence is:

1. Eat a well-balanced diet

2. Be active physically

3. Maintain a healthy weight

The World Cancer Research Association states that at least than 30% of cancer types can be prevented. This should be possible by eating the right kinds of food, exercising regularly, and avoiding obesity or overweight. They recommend 10 approaches to do this.

How to prevent cancer and its recurrence

1) Stay lean and fit by maintaining a healthy weight.

2) Be active physically for no less than 30 minutes daily.

3) Totally avoid foods or beverages high in sugar content. Reduce processed food intake with high fat and sugar content and low fiber content.

4) Eat an assortment of vegetables and fruits, pulses and whole grains.

5) Reduce red meat consumption (lamb, beef or pork). Eliminate processed meats (hot dogs, ham, bacon, salami and corn beef) from your diet.

6) Limit alcohol consumption. Have a couple days free of alcohol every week.

7) Eat low-salt food, particularly those with processed salt.

8) Avoid dietary supplements when following a well-balanced diet. A few people may require supplements as recommended by their specialist or dietitian.

9) Mothers ought to breastfeed completely until 6 months and after that include different foods and liquids.

10) Cancer survivors should strictly adhere to cancer prevention guidelines. Additionally, get advice about your eating routine from an expert dietitian.

11) Strictly avoid tobacco in any form.