How can cancer patients eat well and be full? Do “irritating foods” really exist?

Can’t even eat hotpot because you have a tumor?

Is it okay to eat just one nutritious food?

Can I take Chinese medicine during radiotherapy?

Is it true that health products and supplements can better supplement nutrition?

What does the “five-step treatment” of tumor nutrition mean?

This live broadcast is jointly hosted by the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the Cancer Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee of the National Cancer Minimally Invasive Treatment Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, and TopMD. It is broadcast simultaneously on TopMD, CCTV Video, Toutiao, iQiyi and other platforms. We have now compiled the highlights of the live broadcast, a total of 3 episodes, and today we will broadcast episode (3). Please forward it to more patients in need.

"Is it okay for me to only eat one type of food if it's nutritious?"

A balanced and reasonable diet can improve the quality of life of cancer patients during their recovery period, so cancer patients need balanced nutrition and diversified food.

For example, it is recommended to consume about one or two grams of red meat such as beef every day. Other nutrients can be supplemented by eating eggs, fish, seafood, etc. The daily food intake should reach more than ten kinds of food. As said in ancient times: "Five grains for nourishment, five animals for benefit, five fruits for assistance, and five vegetables for filling" is particularly in line with the current principles of balanced diet. There is no such saying that beef, mutton and seafood are "irritating foods".

The antibodies of immune cells are all derived from protein, which we can obtain from foods such as soybeans, soy products, nuts, mushrooms, and fungi.

Be sure to eat less smoked, pickled, and processed meat products, and pair them with foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vegetables and fruits.

Can cancer patients supplement their nutrition by drinking more soup?

This statement is wrong. The soup contains less nutrients, and the main protein is in the meat, so we do not recommend drinking only the soup, but eating the soup and meat together. If cancer patients are in the transitional diet stage after surgery, drinking oil-free chicken soup can promote appetite.

Can I take Chinese medicine during radiotherapy?

You can take Chinese medicine during radiotherapy, but you should also go to a regular hospital to see a Chinese medicine doctor and let the doctor choose appropriate Chinese medicine according to the patient's constitution, which can relieve or adjust the body during treatment.

Be cautious when taking Chinese medicine during chemotherapy, because the liver will metabolize drug toxicity during chemotherapy, and taking Chinese medicine may increase the burden on the liver. It is recommended to wait until the patient recovers or chemotherapy is over before taking Chinese medicine.

Is it okay for cancer patients to take supplements such as Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum?

If the patient's nutritional status is good, supplementing with tonics or health products such as Cordyceps sinensis and Ganoderma lucidum can achieve the icing on the cake. If even the basic nutrients: protein, fat, sugar, vitamins, etc. are not supplemented enough, no matter how many tonics and health products you take, they will not be able to meet your energy needs.

Can cancer patients eat spicy food?

Try not to eat chili peppers after surgery. Cancer patients can eat some fresh chili peppers at other times. The capsaicin in it is also good for the body. It should be noted that the amount and frequency of eating fresh chili peppers must be controlled, and some cool foods such as cucumbers, winter melons, bitter melons, etc. should be used to neutralize them. This method can promote appetite.

We do not recommend cancer patients to eat extremely hot or cold foods, such as Sichuan hotpot, Chongqing hotpot, etc. You can choose a shuangyan hotpot.

Can I drink medicinal wine?

Alcohol is a first-class carcinogen, and medicinal liquor is also made from alcohol, so it is not recommended to drink medicinal liquor.

Talk about the five-step treatment of tumor nutrition

Five-step therapy: When the current nutritional plan cannot meet the patient's nutritional needs, a different plan will be adopted. Nutritionists and doctors must make timely adjustments to the nutritional plan based on the patient's specific situation.

First, the nutritionist will comprehensively assess the degree of malnutrition in cancer patients and provide reasonable dietary advice based on the specific situation.

If the patient's diet is restricted due to the surgical site, such as patients with digestive tract tumors, it is recommended to combine normal diet with enteral nutrition to obtain more comprehensive nutrition;

When ordinary diet cannot provide the nutritional needs of the patient, or when some patients who have undergone gastric or esophageal surgery are unable to eat normally, enteral nutrition is necessary;

Patients who have difficulty swallowing or who can only eat small amounts of food due to poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc., should use enteral nutrition plus a portion of parenteral nutrition to supplement the body's nutritional needs;

For patients with diarrhea or intestinal obstruction caused by radiation enteritis, we may give them certain parenteral nutrition to allow the intestines to rest, and then allow them to eat after their symptoms are relieved.

In addition to a balanced diet and balanced nutrition, cancer patients must also pay attention to their mentality, insist on proper exercise and good sleep to maintain the normal functioning of the immune system and help patients overcome the disease!

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