Approximately one-third of all cancer deaths may be related to what we eat. Eating well with cancer helps strength and energy levels, enhances mood and self-esteem, and helps to tolerate treatment-related side effects. Eating the right foods also lowers your risk of infection and helps you heal and recover quickly. Good nutrition is especially important for people with cancer since the illness and treatments may affect your appetite and your body’s ability to tolerate certain foods and use their nutrients.

Foods to Avoid With Cancer
Reduce or avoid products made with refined flours, including white breads, rolls, pastries, and cakes. Limit your intake of sugary foods, which are often high in fat and calories and low in vitamins and minerals. Avoid fatty foods since a diet low in total fat may reduce the risk for cancers of the breast, colon, prostate, rectum, and the lining of the uterus. Diets low in fat also help to control weight and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Also avoid products containing saturated fats, including margarine and Crisco.

What to Eat for Cancer

Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains
Eat 5 or more servings of different kinds of colorful fruits and vegetables daily. Research shows that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially those containing vitamins A, C, and a precursor of vitamin A called betacarotene, may reduce the risk of some types of cancer and may help prevent recurrence for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Choose dark green leafy vegetables and other green vegetables; orange, red, and yellow fruits and vegetables; citrus fruits; berries, and juices made from any of these. Cruciferous vegetables from the cabbage family may also decrease cancer risk and are good sources of fiber and some vitamins and minerals. Choose bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, mustard greens, rutabagas, and turnips and their greens. Include all types of beans and whole grains. Soy protein contains several active phytonutrients that may protest against hormone-sensitive cancers. Dietary fiber, contained in beans, leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, provides bulk and helps to maintain a healthy colon by helping food move through the intestines and out of the body. A high-fiber diet may also reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer.

Lean Protein
Diets deficient in protein contribute to slower recovery from illness and lower resistance to infection. Include protein in your daily diet by choosing from lean meat, fish (fresh when possible), poultry, nuts, dried beans, peas and lentils, and soy foods. Remove the skin and visible fat from poultry and cut off fat from beef, lamb, and pork before and after cooking it. Low-fat dairy products also provide protein along with other important vitamins and minerals.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Oily fish, including salmon, herring, mackerel, halibut, and tuna, contain oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, shown to be protective against cancer in animal studies. Berries, mushrooms, and Brussel sprouts are also good sources. Consume several portions each week.

Fluids
To avoid dehydration and ensure that all body cells get the fluid they need, drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water or clear liquid daily. Signs of dehydration include fatigue, light-headedness, and nausea.

Cooking and Cancer
How foods are cooked can make a difference in their nutritional value. In general, use lower heat cooking methods such as steaming, braising, poaching, stewing, and microwaving. Avoid cooking vegetables for long periods of time since this can leach out their water-soluble vitamins. Also avoid frying or charbroiling meat or fish, which may cause carcinogens on the surface due to the heat. Smoking or nitrite curing meat may also form carcinogens; consumed in small quantities with plenty of fruits and vegetables this may present no problems. Cook meats on racks that drain away fat and season vegetables with herbs, spices, and lemon juice rather than with fats and salt.

Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements for Cancer
Research supports eating whole foods to support your body during and after cancer, but no evidence yet exists to support taking supplements. It is likely that the beneficial effects of fruit and vegetables come from healthful compounds working together. Some vitamins and supplements may actually reduce the effectiveness of some cancer treatments. Consult your doctor or dietician to discuss any vitamins or supplements before adding them to your diet. Your doctor may recommend supplementing your diet if you are having trouble eating a well-balanced diet.

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