The journey of recovery can be overwhelming, with the disease and the treatments taking a toll on your body. Nutrition and diet plays an important role in this process to help the body through possible physical and emotional changes. With a proper diet one can also improve their immune system enhancing the process of healing. For patents undergoing cancer treatment in Siliguri, it is essential to understand and maintain a nourishing and balanced diet to ensure quick recovery.
This blog will act as a guide for you to analyse the importance of nutrition and diet in cancer recovery.
Why is Diet Important After Cancer Treatment?
During the treatment process, cancer patients have to go through various procedures including radiations, chemotherapy as well as surgery. This takes tool on the overall well-being of the body and can cause various side affects like nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite.
This results in many patients failing to maintain a healthy life and meet with the nutritional needs of the body to recover. With proper nutrition the body can counter affect the symptoms and provides it with the energy to rebuild lost tissues.
Consulting with the appropriate nutritionists and oncologists can help patients to recover by following specific dietary guidelines.
What Are The Key Nutrients for Post-Cancer Treatment Recovery?
Unlike our perception of nutritious food, the nutritional requirements of cancer patients are a bit different. A normal healthy diet would consists of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, modest amount of protein, minute among of sugar and, limited salts and fats. The diet of cancer patients needs extra protein and calories, so food like meat, fish, egg, diary and fats are to be added to the diet along with plant-based proteins.
Let us discuss some of the nutritional requirements
- Proteins – these are considered to be the building blocks of the body as they help in tissue repair and accelerate immune functions. Thus an increased amount of proteins would help a patient to enhance their muscle mass, repair any possible tissue damage after receiving cancer treatment in Siliguri. Some of the proteins to be added to a diet would be chicken, tofu, lentils or eggs.
- Carbohydrates – These are the main sources of energy for a body, thus making them essential for recovery purposes. After facing various treatments the body requires high amount of energy which are provided by complex carbohydrates. A patient can opt for addition of legumes, whole grains and specific fruits into their diet to increase energy levels.
- Vitamins and Minerals – Vitamins and minerals also play an important role in enhancing recovery rate. Vitamin C allows our body to repair tissues and boosts immunity. It can be derived from citrus fruits, strawberries and some fruits. Can help with bone health and is derived from fatty fish and dairy. Along with these iron and magnesium also plays an important role in recovery.
- Healthy fats – Healthy fats found in avocado, nuts, olive oil, etc., can also play an important role n boosting the immune systems and reduction of inflammation. With Omgea-3 fatty acids, our body is able to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by helping healthy cell functions. Adding fats to a patient’s diet, the immune system can be enriched as it helps the body’s defence mechanism.
What Is The Role Of Hydration?
Cancer treatments cause the body to be severely dehydrated. Thus it is essential that the patients have atleast 8 cups of water in a day. Thus helps the body to flush out the toxins and maintain an appropriate body temperature. The amount of glasses is an estimate and can be regulated according to the personalised needs of the patients.
While herbal medicine cannot be used to fight cancer, herbal teas and broths can be added to the diets of cancer patients to enhance their hydration levels. Chamomile, peppermint and ginger tea also have properties that reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Smoothies can also be a great alternative for patients who are facing issues related to loss of appetite. They also do not cause much irritation to mouth sores and can provide patients with some of the required nutrients for recovery.
A well-balanced and healthy diet is the key to rapid recovery after cancer treatments. With proper management of the nutrient patients will be able to cope with side effects, enhance their energy levels and strengthen their immune system significantly.
For those undergoing cancer treatment in Siliguri, working closely with healthcare providers and dieticians will ensure a personalized approach to nutrition that best supports the path to recovery.