During the Lantern Festival, can cancer patients eat Yuanxiao? You must know these precautions!

As the Lantern Festival approaches, whether cancer patients can eat glutinous rice balls is a question that needs to be carefully considered. Deng Tianhao, director of the Second Department of Oncology at the Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine) , said that in terms of nutritional content, the main raw material of glutinous rice balls is glutinous rice flour, which is rich in carbohydrates and can provide energy for the human body.

At the same time, there are a variety of fillings, such as sesame fillings, which are rich in fat, protein, and multiple vitamins and minerals; bean paste fillings are made from beans and contain a certain amount of plant protein and dietary fiber. However, in order to improve the taste, a lot of sugar and fat are often added during the production process of glutinous rice balls, which makes them relatively high in calories.

Cancer patients have special physical conditions. Glutinous rice is sticky and difficult to digest. Cancer patients may have weakened gastrointestinal function due to illness or treatment. After eating glutinous rice balls, they are prone to indigestion, bloating, stomach pain and other discomfort symptoms.

Moreover, many glutinous rice balls contain a lot of sugar in order to improve the taste. This is undoubtedly a double whammy for cancer patients with poor blood sugar control. It may cause a sharp fluctuation in blood sugar in a short period of time, affecting the stability of the disease. If the patient is undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc., the body is relatively weak and the gastrointestinal function is worse, then the risk of discomfort caused by eating glutinous rice balls is higher.

1. What are the potential risks for cancer patients to eat glutinous rice balls?

Digestive burden: Glutinous rice is very sticky and difficult to digest. Cancer patients, especially after surgery or chemotherapy, have weak gastrointestinal function. Eating glutinous rice balls may cause indigestion, bloating, stomach pain and other discomfort symptoms.

Blood sugar fluctuations: The high-sugar fillings in glutinous rice balls will cause blood sugar to rise rapidly. For cancer patients with diabetes, it is not conducive to blood sugar control, which in turn affects the stability of the disease.

Excess calories: Excessive consumption may lead to weight gain, which is not conducive to metabolic management in some cancer patients.

Swallowing risk: For patients undergoing chemotherapy or head and neck cancer who have difficulty swallowing, the stickiness of glutinous rice may increase the risk of choking.

2. What are the benefits of eating glutinous rice balls?

Energy supplement: For some cancer patients with poor appetite and insufficient energy intake, eating a moderate amount of glutinous rice balls can quickly replenish carbohydrates, increase energy reserves, and relieve physical weakness.

Psychological comfort: During special festivals, eating glutinous rice balls, which symbolize reunion, can bring psychological satisfaction and pleasure to patients, help improve their emotional state, and also have a positive impact on recovery from the disease.

3. What are the precautions when eating glutinous rice balls?

Of course, cancer patients are not completely unable to eat glutinous rice balls, but they need to fully understand their own physical condition and the characteristics of glutinous rice balls, and choose them carefully and eat them reasonably. Director Deng Tianhao recommends:

If the patient's gastrointestinal function is good and blood sugar is stable, they can eat a small amount during the festival. For example, eat 1-2 small dumplings at a time to satisfy your cravings and avoid eating too much.

In terms of eating time, it is recommended to eat it at lunch, when the body's digestive function is relatively strong and can better digest the glutinous rice balls. It can be eaten with vegetables and high-quality protein to balance nutrition. After eating, you can drink warm water to promote digestion.

Choose suitable fillings: Give priority to low-sugar, low-fat fillings, such as pure red bean paste filling (you can make it yourself to reduce the addition of sugar), and try to avoid high-sugar and high-fat fillings such as cream and chocolate.

"It's a great Yuanxiao, with beautiful scenery and good weather, day and night." While enjoying the food, we should also always pay attention to the body's reaction, ensure food safety and health, and let every bite of delicious food become a warm force to help recovery.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Dai Qin and Feng Li, Department of Oncology II, Hunan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

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(Edited by Wx)