Foods that are Beneficial to a Mesothelioma Patient
Dear reader
This post was posted on behalf of The Mesothelioma Centre at
Abestos.com
It is well known that proper diet and nutrition are
essential to living a healthy life, but eating right is also beneficial if you
have been diagnosed with cancer including mesothelioma. According to the National Cancer Institute,
nearly 35 percent of all cancers have a connection to poor nutrition and, as
stated in the book, "What to Eat if You Have Cancer," diet is very important
in the causation and relief of many forms of cancer. Some mesothelioma patients
have even improved their prognosis by
changing their lifestyle to incorporate a healthier diet.
Of course each patient is different and may benefit from
different types of food. However, there are a number of foods that mesothelioma
patients typically benefit from including:
·
Foods
High in Protein and Calories. You’ve heard high-protein diets are good, but
what about high calories? Yes, a high-calorie diet will help cancer patients
feel stronger. Generally, mesothelioma patients do not consume enough protein
or calories, which aid in sustaining energy, fighting infection and healing.
Consider eating foods high in protein and calories such as organic dairy like
eggs, cheese, whole milk, and ice cream, and other protein-dense foods like
nuts, peanut butter, meat poultry, or fish.
·
Foods
High in Fiber. It is common for mesothelioma patients to experience
constipation. Don’t worry, a quick dietary change will have you covered. Try
eating foods high in fiber including whole-grain cereals, such as oatmeal and
bran, beans, leafy green vegetables, fruit or whole-grain breads. The key is
consuming plenty of water with the high-fiber foods. Without enough water, constipation
will become worse.
·
Red
Grapes. Did you really need another reason to reap the benefits of drinking
a glass of red wine? Well, here you go! Resveratrol, the same antioxidant found
in the skin of red grapes that may help reduce unhealthy cholesterol and
prevent damage to blood vessels, may also cause the death of cancer cells.
Consume red grapes and consider a resveratrol supplement.
·
Ginger.
When you were a child and you experienced a stomach ache, your parents probably
gave you ginger ale. This is because ginger itself is known to soothe stomach
pain, a common symptom of pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing treatment.
Consuming fresh, organic ginger is ideal. Try it in soups or make a cup of tea
by mixing a tablespoon of sliced ginger with 8 ounces of boiling water (steep
for five minutes and add honey to soothe a cough).
·
Slippery
Elm Bark. It may not sound appetizing, but it may benefit pleural
mesothelioma patients who experience respiratory problems. You can find this
herb online or at health food stores, and it makes a great tea that is soothing
to the throat and lungs.
·
Carrots.
What’s up, doc? Carrots are no longer just Bugs Bunny’s favorite vegetable; it
should become one of yours too, because the beta-carotene found in carrots may
help prevent cancer recurrence.
·
Mushrooms.
Mushrooms are full of vitamins and may naturally enhance a patient’s energy,
immune system and natural cancer-fighting abilities.
·
Food Rich
in Vitamin D. You’ve heard as a child that this fat-soluble vitamin found
in milk absorbs calcium to build strong bones and teeth, but it also curbs the
growth of cancerous cells. If you’re not a fan of milk, vitamin D is also
present in cod, shrimp, Chinook salmon and eggs, or you could just go catch
some sunshine on a day when your energy is up.
It is important for mesothelioma patients to consume
beneficial foods before, during and after treatment as malnutrition can make a
patient weak, tired, susceptible to infection or unable to handle cancer
treatments. But before dietary changes are made, all mesothelioma patients
should consult with their doctor to determine if such changes are beneficial
for them personally. With a proper nutrition plan, a mesothelioma
patient’s life expectancy, quality of life and overall health may improve.
Author bio: Kaitlyn
Teabo is a writer for The Mesothelioma Center. She combines her interests in
writing, cancer research and emerging scientific technology to educate the
mesothelioma community about asbestos and its related diseases.
Sources:
National Cancer Institute. Overview of Nutritional Cancer
Care. Retrieved from
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/nutrition/patient
Lee, Kyung-Ae ; Lee, Yong-Jin ; Ban, Jung Ok; Lee, Yoon-Jin;
Lee, Sang-Han; Cho, Moon-Kyun … Shim, J ung-Hyun. (2012, Apr. 23). The
flavonoid resveratrol suppresses growth of human malignant pleural mesothelioma
cells through direct inhibition of specificity protein 1. International Journal
of Molecular Medicine, 30(1), 21-27. Retrieved from
http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijmm/30/1/21
