Hello Healthy Platers! We have a guest blogger today, who has done her research and is here to provide you with some information about nutrition and cancer. As some of you may know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Consider passing this information along to one of your friends or loved ones who is struggling with this disease. Thank you Jillian for sharing!
Nutrition Guidelines to Fight Cancer
Diet cannot cure cancer, but cancer patients can experience significant benefits from following nutritional guidelines that help fight the condition. The healthiest diet is a plant-based diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and plant oils, not meat or dairy. Experts recommend this type of diet for people with all types of cancer, from mesothelioma cancer to breast cancer. A plant-based diet creates the "healthiest people on the planet," says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association) spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge. Although adopting a plant-based diet will not completely prevent or cure cancer, it does create a healthier body that is better able to fight cancer and increases the chances of conventional treatments working.
Fruits, Vegetables and Fiber
Cancer patients should eat a minimum of 5 cups of vegetables and fruits daily. Fruits and veggies are high in vitamins and minerals, but they also contain fiber. According to the Nutrition Journal, research showed that 5 servings of vegetables daily decreased the risk of cancer, particularly in older people.
Fiber is exclusive to plant foods. There are not animal products that contain even a little fiber. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, nuts, and legumes all have some fiber. Whole grain products contain significantly more than refined wheat products.
Antioxidants
Another benefit of plant foods for cancer is that they contain antioxidants. Grains, nuts and produce all have antioxidants in varying degrees. Antioxidants include vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Some minerals, such as selenium, are also antioxidants, as are substances called flavonoids.
Antioxidants are useful for cancer patients because they can protect healthy cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are natural substances found in the body and that exist in the environment. These substances harm cells unless antioxidants neutralize them. More healthy cells means that a person is better able to fight cancerous cells. Antioxidants can also help prevent cancer.
Produce picked when they are completely ripe and have maximum color generally contain more flavonoids and thus are healthier. Vegetables cooked in small amounts of water retain more nutrients and are also more beneficial to cancer patients.
Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients linked to a healthy heart and may help protect against cancer, according to some animal studies. They generally boost health. Omega-3s include substances like DHA, EPA and alpha-linolenic acid.
Fish are a rich source for omega-s, but so are flax seeds. Flax seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, plus fiber and lignans. Canola oil and walnuts are two more plant sources of omega-3s.
Dairy Substitutions
Instead of using an animal product like butter, people should use a healthy plant-based oil like olive oil, soybean oil or peanut oil. Almond, soy, rice, or coconut milks are preferable to cow or goat's milk. By making these plant-based substitutions over animal products, people with cancer can boost their overall health and better fight off cancer.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods are not recommended for cancer patients, and generally are unhealthy for anyone. These include:
-Refined sugar
-Refined flour
-Red meat
Proper nutrition improves the overall health of cancer patients, which allows their immune systems to better combat all types of cancer as well as other serious health conditions. The right diet may not cure cancer, but nutrition is part of the complementary therapy that works with traditional treatments to improve a patient's chances for a recovery.
Diet cannot cure cancer, but cancer patients can experience significant benefits from following nutritional guidelines that help fight the condition. The healthiest diet is a plant-based diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and plant oils, not meat or dairy. Experts recommend this type of diet for people with all types of cancer, from mesothelioma cancer to breast cancer. A plant-based diet creates the "healthiest people on the planet," says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association) spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge. Although adopting a plant-based diet will not completely prevent or cure cancer, it does create a healthier body that is better able to fight cancer and increases the chances of conventional treatments working.
Fruits, Vegetables and Fiber
Cancer patients should eat a minimum of 5 cups of vegetables and fruits daily. Fruits and veggies are high in vitamins and minerals, but they also contain fiber. According to the Nutrition Journal, research showed that 5 servings of vegetables daily decreased the risk of cancer, particularly in older people.
Fiber is exclusive to plant foods. There are not animal products that contain even a little fiber. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, nuts, and legumes all have some fiber. Whole grain products contain significantly more than refined wheat products.
Antioxidants
Another benefit of plant foods for cancer is that they contain antioxidants. Grains, nuts and produce all have antioxidants in varying degrees. Antioxidants include vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Some minerals, such as selenium, are also antioxidants, as are substances called flavonoids.
Antioxidants are useful for cancer patients because they can protect healthy cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are natural substances found in the body and that exist in the environment. These substances harm cells unless antioxidants neutralize them. More healthy cells means that a person is better able to fight cancerous cells. Antioxidants can also help prevent cancer.
Produce picked when they are completely ripe and have maximum color generally contain more flavonoids and thus are healthier. Vegetables cooked in small amounts of water retain more nutrients and are also more beneficial to cancer patients.
Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients linked to a healthy heart and may help protect against cancer, according to some animal studies. They generally boost health. Omega-3s include substances like DHA, EPA and alpha-linolenic acid.
Fish are a rich source for omega-s, but so are flax seeds. Flax seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, plus fiber and lignans. Canola oil and walnuts are two more plant sources of omega-3s.
Dairy Substitutions
Instead of using an animal product like butter, people should use a healthy plant-based oil like olive oil, soybean oil or peanut oil. Almond, soy, rice, or coconut milks are preferable to cow or goat's milk. By making these plant-based substitutions over animal products, people with cancer can boost their overall health and better fight off cancer.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods are not recommended for cancer patients, and generally are unhealthy for anyone. These include:
-Refined sugar
-Refined flour
-Red meat
Proper nutrition improves the overall health of cancer patients, which allows their immune systems to better combat all types of cancer as well as other serious health conditions. The right diet may not cure cancer, but nutrition is part of the complementary therapy that works with traditional treatments to improve a patient's chances for a recovery.