Choosing the Most Suitable Diet for Cancer Patients and Survivors

Choosing the most suitable diet for cancer patients and survivors

Are you or your loved one diagnosed with cancer? Well, then gearing for considerable lifestyle changes is a must especially eating well and healthily.

As Hippocrates, father of medicine has said,” Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Though quotes thousands of years ago, this quote emphasizes that foods are power-packed with essential nutrients that heal and nourish the body for regaining good health and preventing diseases.

Dr. Sandeep Nayak, emphasizes seeking total health and wellness through diets. In addition, it is vital to ensure the cardiovascular health of cancer patients and survivors as they are at a higher risk of dying due to cardiovascular complications.

As a leading cancer specialist in Bangalore, Dr. Nayak states an ideal lifestyle of a cancer patient should include weight management, physical exercise, and nutritious food in adequate quantities that promise better survival rates and prevent recurrence of cancer.

So, Dr. Sandeep Nayak, one of the Best oncologist in India, states

That a healthy diet can keep cancer at bay and ensure cancer survivors live longer and healthier. Similarly, he says that celebrity diets, fad diets, and diets heavily promoted across the media are the ones that seem promising but not always right.

Hence let us explore some of these diets before we follow any one of them religiously. The five diets are as follows –

Some people think that an excessive amount of acidity in the body brings about cancer, and that’s why there is an emphasis on an “alkaline diet,” which comprises almost 80 percent of vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains. Simultaneously, this dietary strategy also means refusing to eat meat, especially red meat, as well as foods that contain white, like sugar, rice, and refined flour, to list a few examples. As a result, this brings about a decrease in body acidity, and the body becomes “fitter.”

Therefore, an alkaline food diet is very ideal as taking the natural foods helps prevent the growth of cancer and enhances the survival rates for cancer patients. It is always good to have more vegetables and fruits. The idea of alkaline is not proven.

The Paleolithic diet includes nuts, meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits, while excluding processed foods, dairy, and legumes, similar to the diet of Stone Age humans. Followers believe cancer and other diseases stem from the agricultural revolution, as the human body struggles to digest these foods. While avoiding whole grains and beans may benefit cancer patients’ health, the inclusion of red meat raises concerns, especially for cancer sufferers. 

The ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, with over 60% of calories coming from fat. It’s believed that cancer cells may use ketones for energy instead of glucose. However, research on its effectiveness for cancer patients is mixed, with some studies showing tumors can use ketones, while others suggest they can’t metabolize them as needed. Following the keto diet long-term is challenging and can lead to nutrient deficiencies due to its low fiber content and lack of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are essential for cancer patients and survivors.

Primarily the vegan diet excludes meat, eggs, fish, honey, and dairy products while including whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and berries.

 The other disadvantage of a vegan diet is the availability of sugar-based and processed vegan food items. Also, people with vegan diets have low levels of calcium and vitamin B12 comparatively. 

Vegan diets can be considered ideal for cancer patients and survivors to a certain extent, as studies have shown a reduction in cancer incidence. Still, we need to consider allied factors such as exercise, meditation, support system, and so on responsible for the same. 

It is advisable to follow a vegan diet under expert supervision to ensure essential nutrients are also consumed in their desired quantities for overall health. 

A macrobiotic diet is mainly vegetarian, including unprocessed whole foods such as rice, millet, and legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Whole foods such as rice and millets extend up to 60 percent of the meal, while vegetables, fruits, and legumes fill up the remaining 40 percent. In addition, a macrobiotic diet is rich in fiber and excludes processed meat.  

A macrobiotic diet is rich in dietary fiber and micronutrients, while the energy percentage is lower. Also, we need to take into account low vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels along with calcium. People following a macrobiotic diet believe that imbalance in the body causes cancer. Also, they believe in a holistic approach towards living which includes exercise and meditation in moderation to live a healthier life. 

As the best oncologist in Bangalore, Dr. Nayak states people need to be diet flexible. And a lot of it depends upon the patient’s culture, religion, and belief, along with the desire to live a meaningful life.  We can safely infer that no single diet is the best for cancer patients; however, if practiced in moderation under the supervision of a nutritionist specialist, the outcomes will be better.