Watch Your Nutrition When Facing Cancer
– by contributing author, Jillian McKee
Cancer patients, like those suffering from mesothelioma cancer, have already been dealt a tough hand when they first learn of their diagnosis. After absorbing the impact of this life-altering knowledge, it is vitally important to start getting the odds back in your favor so that you can make a full recovery. One way to do this is by paying more attention to the foods you eat and get serious about your nutrition.
Take a look at your basic serving sizes. Pay attention to food labels so that you understand what constitutes an actual serving. Also, eat small portions of fattening foods. It is important to realize that just because a food is labeled “nonfat” or “low fat” does not actually equate with “low calories”. Many products marked as such, like some low-fat cookies and pastries, are actually quite high in calories.
Replace high calorie drinks like soda with tea or water. Over time, the calories you do not ingest will add up, leading to significant weight loss when combined with other smart dietary choices. Replace many of your fattening foods like pizza, burgers, fries, doughnuts, and others with fresh fruits and vegetables. You can cheat occasionally, but since your health has already been compromised, it is important to be disciplined in your eating habits.
Select whole grains over processed grains
When you buy your bread, pastries, and pasta, look for whole grain versions of your usual choices. Many of these have been processed so that much of their original nutritional value has been lost. White bread, for example, is not a wise food choice since it has been bleached and processed until all of its fiber is gone. It is important to get fiber into your diet to slow your digestion and provide bulk to your stomach contents. Fiber also helps prevent harmful increases in your blood sugar levels, which strains your entire system.
Watch the type and amount of fat you eat
You will want to have a diet that is low in total fat and extremely low in saturated fat. Dietary fat can lead to cancer in a couple of ways. Firstly, tumor cells require LDL lipoproteins in order to grow and thrive. Also, fatty meals require a good deal of bile to be digested. Bile that remains in the intestines for a long period of time is a known carcinogen.
Eat the right kind of fat
Many popular diet fads have spread the notion that fat itself is bad. This is incorrect. The body needs fat for a variety of functions, but it prefers healthy types of fat. Cultures that eat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids have lower rates of cancer and heart disease.
Jillian McKee has worked as the Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance since June of 2009. Jillian spends most her time on outreach efforts and spreading information about the integration of complementary and alternative medicine when used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment. Jillian recently learned about Faith Feeds and connected with our efforts to provide fresh produce to those who lack access to foods that support a healthier lifestyle. Read more about Jillian’s efforts at http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/jillian/bio.htm