Chemotherapy is a challenging ordeal for cancer patients.Not only do the chemicals that you take kill the cancerous cells, but they also kill off healthy ones as well. Some of the side effects include weight loss, hair loss, weakness and vomiting. While some of these effects are inevitable they can be ameliorated with the right diet. There are certain foods that you should avoid eating while undergoing chemotherapy.
Oily and Fried Foods
Fried and oily food are too fatty for a chemotherapy patient's gastric organs to digest properly. Aside from having too much saturated fat in them, fried food should be avoided because of their lack of nutritional value. In addition, fatty foods can cause nausea and vomiting along with abdominal pains, thus, further decreasing the already diminished appetite of a patient undergoing chemotherapy.
Sweet and Sugary Food
Cancer cells need energy to multiply and continue their growth; and just like regular cells cancer cells get this energy from glucose.In fact in a study published in the April 2000 issue of "Nutrition Science News," confirmed that increased blood sugar levels can speed up cancerous cell growth.The study also suggested that a patient's response to chemotherapy treatment is closely related with the patient's ability to increase or decrease serum glucose levels along with his insulin efficiency.
Spicy or Food that Is too Hot.
Chemotherapy usually lowers the patient's immune system, thus, making the patient susceptible to oral thrush or mouth sores.The linings and tissues in the oral cavity can easily be damaged and aggravated by foods that are either too spicy or too hot.These foods also can lead to acid reflux, nausea and vomiting, which exacerbates any existing nutritional imbalances from the chemotherapy. So eating foods that are either bland or lightly spiced are better for cancer patients.
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