Get Nutritional Support for Cancer Treatment and Recovery with the MyFoodMyHealth Meal Planner and Diet for Chemotherapy and Radiation Patients
Get nutritional support for the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation by following MyFoodMyHealth's suggested diet for chemotherapy patients. Sign up for MyFoodMyHealth and for as little as $7.50 per month, you'll get:
- Unlimited access to 100's of delicious, chef-created recipes - most you can prepare in less than 30 minutes
- Personalized weekly meal planner tailored for chemotherapy patients, plus other health conditions, allergies, and food dislikes
PLUS...
- Time-saving weekly shopping lists, pantry basics, and online shopping resources
- Expert information on food and nutrition for chemotherapy patients as well as other health conditions and allergies
- Exclusive online access to cooking, nutrition and health tips, videos, articles, and more...
Get Dietary Support for Chemotherapy and Radiation Patients with the Delicious MyFoodMyHealth Diet
For less than the cost of one cookbook you'll gain immediate access to our meal planner, recipes specifically for cancer treatment and recovery, shopping lists, and more... Sign up today for a subscription to MyFoodMyHealth or view a Free Demo of the MyFoodMyHealth meal planner today.
Learn More About the MyFoodMyHealth Diet for Chemotherapy and Radiation Patients
MyFoodMyHealth Online Weekly Meal Planner
The Easy Way to Follow a Diet for Chemotherapy and Radiation Patients
We know your life is busy. Our convenient, online meal planner makes it fast and easy for you to prepare healthy meals that help provide dietary support for the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It's filled with nutritious recipes so delicious and satisfying even the pickiest eaters will enjoy following MyFoodMyHealth's diet.
You can even add other health conditions and food allergies so you can prepare delicious food that meets the dietary needs of your whole family.
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MyFoodMyHealth Diet to Provide Nutritional Support for Cancer Treatment and Recovery
If you are a patient undergoing cancer treatment, it's more important than ever to eat a healthy and nutritious diet. Your body is working overtime to fight the cancer, plus it's doing extra duty to repair healthy cells that may have been damaged from chemotherapy and radiation.
Cancer treatments - especially chemotherapy - can take a toll on your body, draining your strength and appetite. To help build back your immune system incorporate delicious whole foods, which are easy to digest, with their rainbow of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Eat foods that are rich in their cancer-fighting antioxidant values. Start by eating lots of protein. You can get it in a variety of tasty foods. Also include foods rich in vitamin C, D, E, carotenoids, selenium, soy isoflavones, amino acids, folic acid, l-glutamine, flavanoids, calcium, and other nutrients. It's also important to make sure you drink lots of water and get enough calories in your diet. Your nutritional needs may change during treatment. After surgery, or radiation to the abdomen, head or neck, you may need to adapt to a liquid diet and work your way towards a soft food diet before getting back to your regular foods diet. You may also need to adapt to a lactose-free diet, and/or high protein diet during chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Please Note: This meal plan is all about controlling levels of blood sugar so they do not spike during the day. Each serving has less than 50 grams of carbohydrates and less than 10% saturated fat. We follow the general guidelines and do not assume more exclusions than listed. If you need more specific food removals based on professional recommendation for your condition, or the severity of your condition, you are able to add more specific removals on your "My Profile" page.
Foods Especially Included in the MyFoodMyHealth Diet for Chemotherapy
- Plant protein
- Vegetables
- Fruit
- Moderate whole grains
- Moderate animal protein
- Dairy
Foods Especially Excluded or Limited in the MyFoodMyHealth Diet for Chemotherapy
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Delicious Foods to Eat Support Pre and Post Chemotherapy & Radiation Patients
While your meal planner will exclude the ingredients listed above, below are some additional notes about what to consider when eating and trying to control chemo & radiation treatment symptoms. Since cancer treatment may dampen your desire for food, you will want to eat tantalizing and nutritious, whole foods that will spark your appetite. They'll boost your energy and sense of well being while giving you the important nutrients you need to help in your fight against cancer. These are important to note when you are snacking or making your own recipes.
MyFoodMyHealth's Diet for Pre and Post Chemotherapy & Radiation Stresses the Following Ingredients:
Herbs and Spices
- Basil
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Mint
- Parsley
- Saffron
- Turmeric
Vitamin C (Protects cells, prevents certain cancers)
- Cabbage, red
- Kiwi fruit
- Oranges
- Peppers, bell, red
- Potatoes
- Strawberries
- Tangerines & other mandarins
Vitamin E (Neutralizes cell damage)
- Almonds
- Avocados
- Brazil nuts
- Broccoli
- Mangoes
- Peanuts
- Sunflower seeds
Vitamin D (Preventative)
Carotenoids (May inhibit the growth of cancer cells, research shows that cancer patients respond very well with vitamin A)
- Acorn squash
- Apricots
- Carrots
- Collard greens
- Corn, fresh
- Peppers, sweet
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
Selenium (Is a powerful antioxidant)
- Brazil nuts
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Rice, brown
- Shrimp
- Sunflower seeds
- Tuna
- Wheat
Soy Isoflavones (May protect against hormone related cancers)
- Soy products
- Soybeans
- Tofu
Folic Acid (Is essential for proper synthesis and repair of DNA)
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beans, dried
- Beets
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage, savoy
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Oranges
- Peas, fresh
- Soybeans
- Spinach
- Turkey
Lycopene (Inhibits prostate cancer)
- Grapefruit, pink
- Guava
- Tomatoes
Fish Oils (Reduces inflammation)
- Cod
- Crab
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Oysters
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Trout
- Tuna
Ginger (Promotes circulation and energy. Aids in digestion and absorption. Is an anti-inflammatory and helps greatly with nausea.)
Flaxseed Oil (Reduces inflammation)
Flavanoids (Helps stimulate enzymes in the body that combat cancer cell growth)
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Grapefruit, white
- Lemons
- Limes
- Onions
- Oranges
- Pomegranates
- Soybeans
- Tomatoes
Catechins (Neutralizes free radicals)
Calcium (Reduces the irritant effects of bile acids and fatty acids in the colon)
- Amaranth
- Beans, dried
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Salmon
- Soybeans
- Tofu
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Free Sample Recipe for Cancer Treatment & Recovery
Jicama and Red Cabbage Salad with Mint and Cilantro by Rebecca Katz
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General Information on Cancer, Chemotherapy, and Radiation
What is Cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal or malignant cells in one or more parts of the body. Usually, this growth is a solid mass, or tumor, in an organ or body tissue. These tumors can grow fast or slow, depending on the cancer. More than 100 different types of cancer can occur in people. If cancer is not detected early on it can spread to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of Cancer
- Abnormal bleeding or discharge
- Lump or swelling in any major part of the body
- Sore or scab that won't heal
- A change in a wart or mole
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained increase or loss of appetite
- Recurring indigestion or difficulty swallowing
- Change in bladder or bowel habits
- Persistent coughing, hoarseness, or sore throat
- Unusual fatigue
Causes of Cancer
- Genetics
- Tobacco smoke
- Radiation (from x-ray or the sun)
- Environmental pollutants
- Poor diet and stress
Treatments for Cancer
Modern medicine offers a whole arsenal for controlling and eradicating cancer from the body. While alternative therapies exist, conventional treatments for advanced cancer include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Luckily for cancer patients, treatments have progressed in the past decade. As a result treatments are less apparent and more targeted to eradicating and treating the specific cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cells.
Side effects of chemotherapy can include: pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, and blood-related side effects such as anemia.
Radiation Treatment
Radiation uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells.
Side effects of radiation treatment can include: fatigue, hair loss, skin darkening, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, bladder and intestinal irritation, painful urination, sore throat, cough, and abdominal cramps.
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How MyFoodMyHealth Can Help with Nutritional Support for the Side Effects of Chemotherapy and Radiation
- Our customized online meal planner makes it easy to incorporate delicious, whole foods into your diet to boost your immune system pre- and post- radiation and chemotherapy treatments. It takes into consideration the health conditions of everyone in your household, allowing you to serve wonderful meals that meet everyone's nutritional needs.
- MyFoodMyHealth automatically generates a shopping list for you based on your conditions, making shopping easy.
- Videos, cooking tips, recipes, and an extensive glossary provide "the basics" you need to cook flavorful and nutritious meals.
