Article Index Foreword
Dietary Fat
Dietary Fiber
Food Pyramid
Phytonutrients, Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Stages of Cancer Nutrition – Preventive, During Treatment, Regenerating
Dietary recommendations in cancer treatment
How to overcome nutrition problems during breast cancer treatment?
- Dealing with chewing or swallowing difficulties
- Dealing with diarrhoea
- Dealing with nausea and vomiting
- Dealing with loss of appetite  Foreword
Breast cancer has become an equal opportunity disease, striking rich and poor, young and old. Nutrition is one of the factors related to breast cancer prevention, treatment as well as for recovery. The American National Cancer Institute reported that at least 35 % of all cancers have a nutritional connection. This association becomes 80%, if the nutritional factor is added to smoking and lack of exercise. Incidence of breast cancers has a 50 % association with what we eat daily.
Population studies show that a high intake of saturated fat, animal protein and low dietary fiber increase the possibility of getting breast cancer. Animal fat and some plant fat like coconut oil are good sources for saturated fat. Dietary fiber is only found in foods from the plant kingdom and it is noted that when more foods such as meat, cheese, milk and eggs are eaten, the fewer fruits, vegetables, grains and beans are consumed. Begin your day looking at food as a source of treatment and medium to prevent cancers. Choose a variety of foods based on the food pyramid and enjoy every bit of food eaten daily. With your active involvement mentally and spiritually, breast cancer can be overcome. Dietary Fat
Those cancers that affect women because of their exposure to estrogen hormones, are associated with the amount of saturated fat in the diet. For healthy individuals, it is recommended that 30 –35 % of total calories should come from fat. But for those with risk of breast cancer, it is advisable to cut down the fat to 15 – 20 % of total calories. 5% are allowed from animal sources like butter, milk, yogurt, meat etc. Another 10% fat from vegetable origin like vegetable oils, avocados, olive etc. A total intake of fat less than 15 % is not recommended to avoid deficiency of essential fatty acids in our body.
Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber or roughage is known for its function to maintain a healthy colon, dilute potential carcinogens and may also help to reduce and regulate circulating steroid hormones including estrogen. Study shows a reduction of 57% of incidence of pre-menopausal breast cancer in women who ate vegetables regularly. It is recommended to eat 25-35gm of dietary fiber daily, which can come from 3-5 servings of vegetables and fruits. One serving is half a cup of cooked or one cup of uncooked vegetables, one slice of papaya, pineapple, watermelon, one whole apple, orange etc. Whole grain cereal, wholemeal bread, pastries, beans, nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber as well.
Food Pyramid
Phytonutrients, probiotics and fermented foods
Foods that come from the plant kingdom rather than the animal kingdom have protective botanical factors or phytonutrients. Antioxidants, anticarcinogens and bioflavonoids are phytonutrients. It has been known for a long time that breast cancers are related to the amount of exposure to estradiol (hormone) over a woman`s lifetime. Phytonutrients protect against hormone sensitive cancers like breast cancer first by blocking receptors in breast cells with plant estrogens like genistein and diadzein; second by action of Bowman Birk Inhibitor or protease inhibitors which regulate cell activity to protect against cancer. Phytonutrients naturally occur in beans, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Probiotics and fermented foods promote the growth of friendly bacteria, which protect against harmful toxin producing bacterias. Yogurt, tempeh, cultured drinks and some milk are some rich sources of these factors.
Article Index Foreword
Dietary Fat
Dietary Fiber
Food Pyramid
Phytonutrients, Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Stages of Cancer Nutrition – Preventive, During Treatment, Regenerating
Dietary recommendations in cancer treatment
How to overcome nutrition problems during breast cancer treatment?
- Dealing with chewing or swallowing difficulties
- Dealing with diarrhoea
- Dealing with nausea and vomiting
- Dealing with loss of appetite |
