Editor’s Note on Eating Guide

Dear Friends,

Good nutrition is important for you at every step, before, during and after, your cancer treatment. Nutrition helps in reducing the complications and harmful effects of disease and its treatment. In this special edition of Cancer Focus, I have especially tried to include as much information as possible, so you know what foods are important for you- foods that will keep you healthy and nourished. The best advice I can give you is to “eat what you like”. Do not do “parhez” of good healthy foods, as dietary restriction brings about malnutrition, reduces your tolerance to treatment, reduces quality of life, and worsens the prognosis. The good way is to eat everything, eat towards healthy, and try to maintain a healthy body weight. Avoid eating the wrong foods; keeping yourself on the healthier side will always be useful. Eating right will help you feel better, make you strong, and give you energy. You will be maintaining your body weight, have lower risk of infections, heal much faster and recover better and sooner.

If you are on Denvax treatment, you may avoid eating sour (“khatte”) fruits and their juices especially. You must avoid taking amla juice, lemon juice, orange/mosammi juice on empty stomach. If you still want to consume, then take it with your food, in between eating lunch/dinner, but in small amounts. Avoid eating “achaar”/pickles. The good advice would be to eat everything that you like, eat in moderation, and eat more proteins. Proteins have a role in body-building and repair functions. Once you start eating healthy, you will see a noticeable change in how you look, feel, and perform in your day-to-day activities. You may also try including a few foods with anti-cancer properties. These include: avocado, berries, chia seeds, flax seeds, kale, broccoli, turmeric, garlic, and fish. Eat as many fruits and vegetables of different colors; they have phytochemicals and antioxidants which neutralize the toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis.

The information I have included in this short guide, is from the Nutrition advice of major organizations, that have researched on nutrition in cancer patients for many years. I am sharing the link with you to go through it and explore more options. In the box below are few links.

Lastly, keep in mind “health is best achieved holistically or multi-dimensionally”. Our emotional well-being is equally important. How we feel is very essential, just like our physical fitness, our social and spiritual wellness. Pay attention to your food, and other aspects, you are going to do great in achieving optimum health!