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Tuesday 12 July 2011

12th July - Guest Post by David Haas

This is very interesting and informative. I would just like to be sure that you are all aware that this is NOT my work.
The author is David Haas, who writes with much authority on this subject.

Some Things to Consider About Nutrition and the Cancer Process

Nutrition plays an important role in healing, providing the body with the energy and nutrients it needs to maintain a healthy balance. If one is diagnosed with cancer, whether it is something common like breast cancer or skin cancer or it is a very rare cancer such as bone cancer or mesothelioma, nutrition is even more important as the body has to not only fight the disease but rebound from the effects of chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery.

Nutrition During Therapy

Cancer treatment can be caustic to the body, often leaching it of nutritional stores and stripping natural defenses, making secondary infections a life-threatening occurrence. The recommendation is to follow the
food pyramid, including the essential groups every day. Fruits and vegetables provide for mineral replenishment, some even having been found to help boost the immune system to keep it stronger, and improve the life expectancy for most cancers. Meats provide adequate protein, while grains aid with carbohydrates and energy. Adequate fluid intake is also encouraged so the body does not become deficient in volume and lead to further complications.

Post-Treatment Nutrition

After treatment, the general rule of the pyramid remains the same, but there are some complications from treatment that may require creativity to work around in the short term. While nutritional needs remain the same, there may be greater necessity for a softer diet and liquid meals at first. Some therapies result in difficulty swallowing for a time, so items that are gentle on the esophagus are a safe bet. If the problem lies in taste alterations and poor appetite, variety may well be the key to overcoming this. Smaller, frequent meals may be better for those whose appetite is lacking so bigger meals are not so overwhelming.

Nutrition and Preventing Cancer

Processed foods have received some blame for the increasing incidence of cancer, and not altogether misplaced. Chemicals used in processing have been found to account for some carcinogenesis, and should be limited. Trans fat should be avoided as well as fats in general or used extremely sparingly. Fruits and vegetables found to be a cancer fighting food through antioxidants and immune boosting properties should be included in the diet, as well as an adequate amount of fluids to flush the body of residue.

Nutrition has always played a role in health, and while there is no specific cancer diet, there are options that have been proven to decrease certain cancers. The site, www.cancer.gov, is a valuable resource in proper nutrition and cancer prevention.






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