Debunking Cancer Nutrition Myths

Good nutrition is especially important during the treatment of cancer as it helps to tolerate chemotherapy, radiation and surgery better.

- Dr. Ritika Samaddar

Eating well entails eating a variety of healthy food products to get the requisite combination of nutrients through protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals.

The body needs all of these in right dosages to fight cancer effectively. In fact, they are needed in right dosages in normal circumstances too, but their intake in right dosages is especially crucial during cancer treatment. Holistic eating will help get more energy, which will help withstand the cancer treatment-related side effects better, and also lower the risk of infection, and make the process of recovery faster.

Here it deserves a mention that one can reduce the risk of cancer or cancer recurrence by eating a balanced diet comprising a variety of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and limiting the intake of refined sugar and processed foods. Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol intake are also helpful in preventing cancer.

Although good diet and nutrition forms the cornerstone in the treatment of cancer, it is an under recognised challenge for most cancer patients in India. Dietary information found in many popular books, blogs, websites and fad diets often cause unnecessary weight loss, disrupt treatment, and sometimes make outcomes worse.

Cancer patients and even people in general need to be cautioned about various popular cancer diet related myths. Instead cancer patients need to be guided by their oncologist and nutritionist about the importance of eating good healthy food and its effects on cancer treatment.

The food & beverage industry and the food service industry could also take into account of these aspects and could promote these to educate their guests, which would help them stand in good stead in these health conscious times.

While there is a plethora of information about cancer, there are still many myths surrounding diet and cancer treatment. Let us debunk some of these myths related to diet in cancer treatment.