2-3 servings of whole grain bread, pastas, rice, etc. every day. Limit fat intake to 30% of calories (preferably less than or equal to 20% of calories) every day. Limit intake of simple sugars.
04/6Eat good carbs
EAT GOOD CARBS: Eat rice, noodles, chapatti, wholegrain bread and pasta. You could also eat oats, corn, potatoes, dairy products and beans. Also, eat honey, but in moderation, as it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. This helps in preventing infections.
Macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and ice cream can be great options as their high calories, creamy textures and low-fiber content make them easy to chew and digest.
Not only do tomatoes contain lycopene, the antioxidant phytochemical that also helps prevent heart disease, but they're a good source of vitamins A, C, and E — all enemies of cancer-friendly free radicals.
Do not eat soft cheeses or cheeses with blue veins (such as Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Bleu). Do not eat Mexican-style cheeses (such as Queso Blanco fresco and Cotija).
Potatoes are high in potassium, vitamin C and folate, all of which are most concentrated in the skin of the potato, which is left on in this dish. The roasted vegetables provide an opportunity to use what you have available.
"Cancer-fighting foods"
The list is usually topped with berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes and other vegetables, fruits and nuts. "If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, it's pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals," says Wohlford.
Laboratory research related to tomato, tomato compounds and cancer suggests several possible anti-cancer mechanisms. Carotenoids act as antioxidants and stimulate the body's own antioxidant defenses, decreasing free radical damage to DNA that can lead to cancer.
“With broccoli, specifically, there is a high amount of a phytochemical called sulforaphane, which is a cancer-fighting plant compound that has been linked to reducing the risks of prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and oral cancers.”
Brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread are better choices than refined grains like white rice and white bread.
Food-Prep Awareness
Wood can harbor bacteria despite how well you wash it. Swap rare beef for some well-cooked poultry—at least until your chemotherapy is over. Use a meat thermometer to figure out whether your meat is thoroughly cooked, instead of "eyeballing it."
As well as selenium, eggs are also rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which are powerful antioxidants. Lutein has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in breast and lung cancers, and zeaxanthin has been shown to reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancers.
It's Part of a Good Diet
Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. It's a good source of energy and can give you fiber, too, if it's made from whole grain. That can help with stomach problems and may help lower cholesterol.
One survivor reports that eating cheese pizza improved their sense of taste due to the spice in the sauce. According to the University of Michigan Health, feel-good foods, such as cheesy pizza, can provide comfort and be a suitable source of nutrition during chemotherapy.
Sugar comes in many different forms, but the simplest form is a single molecule called glucose. All cells, including cancer cells, use glucose as their primary fuel. Glucose comes from any food that contains carbohydrates including healthful foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and dairy.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) block chemical messengers (enzymes) called tyrosine kinases. Tyrosine kinases help to send growth signals in cells, so blocking them stops the cell growing and dividing. Cancer growth blockers can block one type of tyrosine kinase or more than one type.
Dark green leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, lettuce, kale, chicory, spinach, and chard have an abundance of fiber, folate, and carotenoids. These nutrients may help protect against cancer of the mouth, larynx, pancreas, lung, skin, and stomach.
The high level of monounsaturated fats in avocados is also relevant for cancer prevention. Studies have found monounsaturated fats to be inversely related to risk of oral and pharyngeal cancers (14), pancreatic cancer (15), and bladder cancer (16).
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are the cells that recognize and destroy cancer cells, and they're first activated in tumor-draining lymph nodes.
Avoid dry and sharp foods such as toast, crackers, and chips. Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or frozen fruit. Some chemotherapy medications cause cold intolerance, so avoid this if you have been told to skip very cold foods.