Breast cancer is a common pathology, the treatment of which is quite difficult and time-consuming. Depending on the stage of the disease, various methods of control are used: drug treatment, chemotherapy, surgical removal of education. Of great importance is proper nutrition for breast cancer. Some products contribute to improving the patient's condition, while others provide conditions for the development of cancer cells.
"We are what we eat"
Products are a source of life, as they nourish our body with useful trace elements that are so necessary for metabolic processes. When eating food, along with substances that are important for vital functions, those that have a destructive effect on the work of various organs, as well as stimulate the growth of pathogenic cells, enter.
Improper nutrition is one of the main causes of oncology. According to statistics, in 50% of women and 30% of men, the onset of the disease is associated with nutritional factors.
Nutrition for breast cancer needs to be correctly adjusted.
To ensure that the body easily assimilates food, it is necessary to eat more often, but in small portions. A number of products need to be completely removed from your diet. Do not forget about calories. Their amount should be in accordance with energy costs, as excessive calorie content can cause weight gain.
Illicit Disease Products
Breast cancer nutrition should consist solely of wholesome foods. To reduce the likelihood of enhanced growth of pathogenic cells, the following should be excluded from the diet:
- Products containing preservatives and artificial additives.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Fried and fatty foods.
- Products are not the first freshness.
Do I need to follow a diet during treatment?
It is very important to take care of the body in the process of treating cancer. As far as possible, it is necessary to lead an active life, perform physical activity, as well as adjust nutrition. With breast cancer, weight loss often occurs. Some women dramatically lose kilograms, while others, on the contrary, gain them in excess. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the calorie content of food. The menu must have a protein that helps restore the general condition of the patient. The number of calories should cover the energy consumption of the body.
Quite often, during treatment and at the end of it, patients feel fatigue and discomfort. The appetite is sharply reduced, and the usual dishes may seem completely different in taste.
Side effects of treatment may include:
- nausea;
- sores in the mouth;
- vomiting
- poor appetite.
Diet for oncology is an important element that helps the body recover after prolonged therapy.
Nutrition for breast cancer stage 2 should be adjusted by the attending physician. Often, a specialist in the field of dietetics who has experience working with cancer patients is involved in solving this problem.
How to eat after chemotherapy?
Adhere to proper nutrition for all people. Especially this rule applies to people who have cancer. If a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, you need to abandon high-calorie foods, as the treatment process can affect weight fluctuations.
Nutrition after chemotherapy for breast cancer should be closely monitored:
- During this period, it is very important to use foods containing vitamin C. But it is better to refrain from citrus fruits, as some drugs used in the treatment process can cause the formation of sores and wounds in the oral cavity. A high concentration of acid will provoke irritation. According to doctors, apple sauce, peach juice, pear nectar will be an excellent substitute for citrus fruits.
- The protein found in meat is very important for recovery after chemotherapy. But one must be careful in choosing meat, since not all types can be consumed with such a disease. It is recommended to eat dietary varieties: rabbit meat, chicken and turkey meat.
- Seafood is very useful during the rehabilitation period.
- Nutrition after chemotherapy for breast cancer can include not only the bread of yesterday’s pastries, the patient can also eat freshly baked loaves.
- During the recovery of the body after a long and debilitating treatment, it is forbidden to eat fried and fatty foods. It is also worth abandoning spicy dishes. Overeating is very harmful, since the body spends a lot of energy on the digestion of food, which is so necessary for its restoration.
Blood cleansing food
Breast cancer nutrition should include foods that have the property of cleansing the blood. Since this fluid is involved in multiple metabolic processes in the body, human health depends on its quality and chemical composition.
Carrot and beetroot have cleansing properties. Vegetables can be stewed, baked in the oven, boiled or eaten raw.
Postoperative nutrition
Many women who have experienced breast resection are interested in the question: what should be the nutrition after surgery?
Breast cancer is often treated surgically, which gives an additional burden on an already depleted organism. For quick recovery, you need to eat right:
- If, after treatment, a woman is overweight, it is necessary to reduce the amount of food intake. In no case do not confuse the reduction in the amount of servings of food with a low-calorie diet. You need to eat five times a day, but in small quantities. Discard completely sweet, spicy, fatty and fried. Eat more vegetables and fruits, and replace white bread with black. The menu must contain such products: fish, legumes and broccoli.
- If the patient has noticeable weight loss during the treatment, it is necessary to replenish his daily diet with high-calorie foods. You need to eat more cereals, fruits and vegetables. The menu must include: low-fat meats, sour-milk products, hard cheeses. Animal fats must be replaced with vegetable fats. The patient is recommended to drink more juices and mineral water.
Breast cancer foods should be carefully selected. Diet must be agreed with your doctor. If the patient is allergic to any food products (for example, citrus fruits or seafood), they must be excluded so as not to provoke the development of another, concomitant disease.
Compliance with the recommendations of the attending doctor will allow you to recover as soon as possible after surgery and subsequently avoid relapses.
What products must be on the menu of the cancer patient?
Nutrition for stage 1 breast cancer has almost the same recommendations as for other types of oncology.
Products should contain as many useful substances as possible: minerals, vitamins, amino acids and other trace elements. Therefore, the menu must include:
- diet meat (chicken, rabbit, turkey);
- red fish and seafood;
- legumes (beans, lentils and others);
- gourds (pumpkin and watermelon);
- fruits and berries;
- vegetables (broccoli and other varieties of cabbage, beets, carrots, zucchini and bell peppers);
- various types of greens (parsley, lettuce, arugula);
- dairy products with a low fat content;
- cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat and corn);
- low-fat varieties of hard cheeses.
List of products effective in the fight against cancer
Scientists have found that there are products whose use helps to effectively fight cancer:
- Cruciferous vegetables. These plants include broccoli, white cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, as well as watercress. These vegetables contain large amounts of vitamin C. Recommended to be consumed raw.
- Soya. This type of bean helps prevent the development of malignant cells, and also reduces the intoxication caused by chemotherapy and radiation.
- Garlic and onion. These products contain allicin, which is a powerful detoxifier. Sulfur-containing substance cleanses the body from various harmful microbes and carcinogens.
- Brown algae. The presence of iodine in this product helps to regulate the processes of blood sugar metabolism, which is responsible for the energy state. A decrease in energy production leads to the creation of a favorable environment for the development of oncology. Algae also has a high content of the most powerful antioxidant, selenium.
- Fruit seeds and nuts. Almonds contain a substance that kills malignant cells. The seeds of pumpkin, flax, sunflower and sesame have lignans (phytoestrogens) in their outer peel, which can lower estrogen. In excess, this female hormone stimulates the development of cancer of the ovaries, mammary glands and uterus.
- Tomatoes These vegetables contain the strongest antioxidant - lycopene, which has antitumor properties.
- Eggs and fish are the richest source of omega-3 fatty acids, which inhibit cancer cells.
- Berries and citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C. Raspberries, pomegranates and strawberries contain ellagic acid, the property of which is to slow the growth of oncogenic cells.
Interesting fact
In the 70s of the 20th century, experiments were performed, the results of which proved that cancer remissions can be achieved with the help of an immune protein - interferon alpha, which signals the body about infections. Another experiment showed the relationship of T-cell immunity and tumor reduction.
The food we eat can both contribute to the development of oncology and help fight malignant neoplasms. Proper nutrition will reduce the risks of pathology.