Cancer-Fighting Cookbook (2 page)

Good food serves three important functions: it provides essential fuel, essential nutrients, and pleasure. No single food has to provide all three things at once, but you should aim to have more nourishing foods than usual when you are fighting cancer. Let's begin by figuring out what you can and cannot eat during treatment, then we'll plan out some menus. Next, we can modify these menus as needed. Remember, you don't need to completely change everything you normally do just because you have received a diagnosis of cancer. If you are already eating well but feel a lack of confidence because you received this diagnosis, that is a normal reaction, but don't stop your healthy practices now. They are empowering and do make a difference not only in how you feel about yourself but also in how you build up your resilience during treatment and after treatment has ended.

Treatments for cancer often have side effects that affect your typical healthy eating patterns. Fighting back means taking care of yourself by getting as much rest as you can, taking regular gentle exercise, and eating small, easy-to-digest meals. Here are some typical symptoms you may experience with some specific eating suggestions to combat them.

Most treatments for cancer, as well as the emotions surrounding the whole cancer process, can leave you feeling exhausted. When you feel more tired than usual you don't have the energy to chew on whole grains, vegetables, and bulky, fiber-rich foods. One solution to fatigue is to temporarily eat more energy-dense foods (those with more calories coming from healthy oils like almond butter). You can purée vegetables into a comforting root vegetable or bean soup. Another solution to fatigue is to incorporate some healthy stimulants such as dark chocolate or green tea. Dehydration is a common cause of fatigue and one that is often overlooked. Make sure you have some fluids in the form of water, juices, and other beverages as well as soups every few hours throughout active treatment for cancer. If you press your thumb and first finger together and the indentation doesn't immediately bounce back, you may be dehydrated.

Another common side effect of cancer treatment is change of taste and smell sensations. Some people complain of food tasting metallic or unpalatable, while others simply don't smell or taste much at all, making food bland and unappealing. Such changes in taste, also called dysgeusia, are usually temporary, but they can have devastating effects on your weight and strength. Ginger is a traditional remedy for nausea, and many people find the flavor appealing. Try crystallized ginger or ginger tea before you try to eat other foods. Several flavors that mask other less appealing ones include cherry and strawberry. Remember that texture and aroma are also important in taste appreciation.

How often you eat is almost as important as what you eat. Many people are so fatigued in the evenings that they go to bed early, so it may be as long as twelve hours before they have any calories again. Because the early hours of the morning are when your body is in its heightened repair mode, this is the time when your body's demand for energy and essential nutrients is at its greatest. For this reason, you should have a nourishing beverage before you go to sleep, such as a warm malted milk (soy or almond milk are good alternatives to dairy), and have a couple of sips of a tropical-fruit beverage like papaya or mango nectar whenever you awake during the night. These simple modifications can make the difference between weight loss and weight maintenance during treatment without disturbing your rest. If weight gain is your challenge, you can have a small glass of skim milk or half a banana to help you sleep well without the added calories.

Texture is an important part of swallowing. Sometimes, damage to the nerve endings in the mouth can make it difficult to sense the thickness or thinness of a food or beverage. Try single-texture foods such as mashed potatoes or puréed vegetables instead of mixed-texture dishes like stews or soups with chunks of meat or veggies that may get stuck in your throat. Very slippery foods like macaroni or gelatin might go down too fast and cause you to choke, so try relaxing and going slowly, taking one swallow at a time. If it is helpful, you can try tilting your head forward a little, as this may make swallowing easier. Other tricks for improving swallowing include using a straw or cup for liquids and soups or trying carbonated beverages.

Because our digestive system is lined with rapidly dividing cells, treatments that target cancer cells also affect the delicate cells that line our digestive system. Damage to these cells affects how we process our foods and absorb nutrients. Starting in the mouth, lack of saliva can make chewing and swallowing difficult. Foods that encourage saliva production include baked crackers like Melba toast; the vegetable okra, which can be made into a gumbo; and gelatin, which can be incorporated into desserts and soup. Saliva is also released when we think of salty or tart foods, so it isn't just what we put in our mouth that affects chewing and swallowing, but also how we are thinking at the time. You may find it helpful to eat in a relaxed environment and focus on pleasant memories.

Avoid acid indigestion by having small, frequent meals of easily digested foods such as pasta, rice, or slow-cooked casserole dishes. Protein smoothies are a good standby for boosting your protein intake by half, which is what most oncologists recommend during treatment. In the following chapters you'll find recipes for homemade smoothies as well as how to tailor commercial ones to your own tastes. Some people find that certain foods and beverages are best avoided during this time, including tomatoes, citrus fruits, and drinks with caffeine, as these may all cause burning sensations. There is no one-size-fits-all in selecting which foods to eat during treatment, but a good approach is to think of this as a temporary time to eat an expedient diet that keeps your intake of essential nutrients as high as possible. Eating small, frequent, easy-to-digest snack-sized meals is usually the best approach. Once the treatment is completed you will be able to compensate with an extra-good diet.

Medications used to treat cancer, as well as pain therapies, may result in constipation or diarrhea. Both conditions are improved by making sure you get enough fluids on a regular basis. Water, including high water-content foods, and beverages including smoothies, soups, and juices are all good ways to keep your fluid intake high. If you feel dehydrated, you can make a homemade remedy by adding a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar to a cup of water. There are many commercial rehydration beverages available as well.

Fruits that are gentle laxatives include the pitted fruits plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, and their dried versions, as well as rhubarb and figs. Prune juice and syrup of figs are traditional treatments for constipation.

Foods that help with diarrhea management include bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast or fortified breakfast cereals. Chicken noodle soup is a traditional remedy. The inside of a baked potato served plain is also bland, easy to prepare, and easy to tolerate.

Many of the newer molecularly targeted therapies for cancer have the side effect of making your skin more sensitive, resulting in a rash. There are a few vegetables that may make this worse, as some chemicals in them, called psoralens, may interact with ultraviolet light. Avoid parsley, celery, carrot, fennel, anise, caraway, chervil, and cilantro if you have a rash and see if this helps reduce it.

Nerve sensitivity, particularly in the hands and feet, may also occur as a result of several treatments, including radiation. Foods rich in vitamin E may prevent this, so include foods rich in vitamin oils such as sunflower seeds (tahini is made from these and would be gentle on your digestive system), almond, and almond butter. You may also wish to take a mixed tocopherol type of vitamin E supplement during treatment, as there have been a couple of studies that suggest this protects the digestive system.

Use this chart or make up your own eating plan to suit your and your family's eating patterns. The idea is to set up a basic daily template that you can modify if needed. Below is an example of a daily menu plan for someone who has a good appetite and can eat without any restrictions. Try to plan ahead for at least three days at a time. If you are going to be undergoing treatment, you may wish to set up a seven- or fourteen-day plan.