Colon, rectal and anal cancers: Frequently asked questions about nutrition

Nutrition is an important factor contributing to the maintenance of health as well as the ability to fight disease of patients with colon, rectal and anal cancers. The article below will answer some frequently asked questions about their diet.

Answer: During cancer treatment, it's best to follow a healthy diet to nourish your body. Specifically, it is important to ensure the following foods and nutrients:
Protein from lean protein foods like fish, chicken, low-fat dairy foods and dried beans. Choose healthier fats like monounsaturated fats found in olive, canola and peanut oils and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, seeds, and nuts. Eat whole grain foods like oatmeal, brown rice, and wholemeal bread. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water and other decaffeinated liquids.

Answer : Weight loss during treatment is inherently not recommended. If you lose weight, your body will not eat enough calories. This results in the body also not getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals, affecting the patient's health and tolerance to treatment. In addition, this affects the body's response to treatment and slows down the healing process. Cancer treatment can often increase nutritional needs, so it's important to monitor your weight and daily nutrient intake during treatment.

Answer: Cancer treatment with chemotherapy and radiation can cause diarrhea. Therefore, if you have diarrhea, you should follow a low-fiber diet. Although a high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of developing lower gastrointestinal cancer, it is not recommended during treatment. Since a low-fiber diet doesn't stimulate bowel movement, it won't cause diarrhea. In addition, a low-fiber diet is easier to digest.
If you have diarrhea, avoid the following foods:
Raw fruits and vegetables. Whole grain breads and cereals. Dried beans and legumes. Corn. Nuts - however, fine peanut butter or fine nut butter will do. It is not recommended that you take additional vitamins and antioxidants during treatment. High levels of antioxidants may interact with cancer treatment. You can take a standard multivitamin that provides 100% of the RDI of the recommended daily dose for vitamins and minerals. Herbal supplements should also be avoided, as they may contain antioxidants and other compounds that interact with cancer treatments. Research on vitamins and herbs during treatment is still inconclusive. There is some research indicating that vitamin supplements such as Vitamins C, E and A may interfere with the effectiveness of cancer treatment. The theory is that antioxidants protect the body's cells from damage, so taking excess amounts could actually protect cancer cells from chemotherapy or radiation.

Answer: Recent studies show that a diet high in simple sugars such as white sugar, soft drinks and sweets may increase the risk of developing cancer. Several theories have been put forward that it may be because a diet high in simple sugars has fewer anti-cancer nutrients or that simple sugars increase insulin and increase cancer cell growth. Although many early studies advised people with cancer to eliminate sugar as part of a cancer-preventing diet. However, it is not really healthy to avoid all food sources of simple sugars, as these include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods are the main sources of nutrients that have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. The way to prevent insulin spikes is to reduce your intake of foods high in simple sugars. This is done by avoiding foods such as sweets and soft drinks. Also, by eating foods with simple sugars with foods with fiber, protein, and fat will help slow down the absorption of sugar and avoid insulin spikes. Based on research, the American Cancer Society makes the following recommendations for reducing cancer risk:
Eat 5 or more types of vegetables and fruits each day. Eat other foods from plant sources several times per day, such as whole grains, beans, and nuts. Limit simple sugars including cakes, sweetened cereals, soft drinks, and sugar. Limit alcohol intake by eating foods with simple sugars with foods with fiber, protein and fat, this will slow down the absorption of sugar and avoid insulin spikes.

Answer: Overall, research shows that the benefits of eating outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. Therefore, it is not really necessary to spend extra money on organic products. If you still choose organic products, look for products with organic certification labels. Also, be sure to rinse all produce with clean water, which will remove most residual pesticides. Many studies that have been done looking at pesticide exposure from commercially grown fruits and vegetables have shown little evidence of a cancer risk from pesticides and other chemical residues. in food.

Answer: Research has shown that there are dietary and lifestyle factors in general that seem to have a protective effect against cancer. However, there is little research on the effects of diet in preventing the recurrence of colorectal cancer. Diet and nutrition recommendations after treatment for colon, rectal and anal cancer are based on what has been shown to prevent cancer from developing in the first place.
These recommendations include:
Eat a high fiber diet by Choosing whole grains, dried beans, fruits and vegetables. Eat at least 25g of fiber per day. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. A minimum of 5 servings a day is best. Reduce saturated fat mainly from animal foods: Choose low-fat dairy products. Also limit red meat and processed meats. Eat dairy foods, calcium-fortified juices, broccoli, canned salmon, and sardines (with bones). Aim to provide about 1000 mg of calcium per day. Take calcium supplements if needed. Eat foods rich in folate (folic acid) like orange juice, dried beans, spinach, broccoli, fortified cereals and breads. A daily multivitamin will provide 100% of the daily value. Limit alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight. Practice sports every day. Hopefully, the above sharing will help cancer patients have a healthy, healthy diet and treatment process.

Reference source: oncolink.org