Nutrition and Diet During Breast Cancer Treatment

Like many women diagnosed with breast cancer, you may be thinking more how your food choices and diet may affect your short- and long-term health.

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Nutrition

Before making any changes to your diet, be sure to talk to your doctor about the best nutrition plan for you and your current stage of treatment.

Nutrition during breast cancer treatment
Nutrition during breast cancer recovery

We’ve all heard about the importance of eating a healthy diet. What’s typically considered “healthy,” however, can vary depending on where you are in your therapy. Because nutritional needs often change during the phases of your cancer treatment and beyond, it’s important to talk to your doctor about a nutrition plan that is right for you to help you feel better and stay stronger.

Nutrition during breast cancer treatment

During cancer treatment, it may not always be easy to get all the proper nutrients, especially if you’re not feeling well. During treatment, nutrition centers on gearing up for and maintaining energy for the fight so you can help build up your strength to better withstand the effects of your cancer and its treatment. So it’s important to try to eat nutrient-dense foods whenever possible

  • Be adventurous and try new foods. Some foods you might not liked before may taste good to you during treatment
  • Fill your meals with many types of plant-based food. Substituting dried beans and peas for meat at some meals each week adds fiber and iron
  • Aim for a minimum of 5 colorful servings a day of fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits and dark-green and deep-yellow vegetables. Colorful produce contains natural health-promoting substances called phytochemicals. Limit high-fat foods, especially those from animal sources, like meat and dairy. Opt for lower-fat milk and dairy products. Reduce the amount of fat in your meals by choosing a lower-fat cooking method such as baking or broiling
  • Eat salt-cured, smoked, and pickled foods only in moderation
  • Drink alcohol in moderation. Better yet, give it up altogether
  • Aim for a healthy weight and be physically active if you feel up to it
  • Nibble on small, nutritious snacks like carrot sticks, air-popped popcorn and fresh fruit throughout the day

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Nutrition during breast cancer recovery

After treatment ends and you’re starting to feel better, it’s important to re-evaluate your nutritional needs and make a plan to promote good long-term health.

Excess body weight may be the most important avoidable factor related to nutrition and physical activity that affects breast cancer survival. So it’s important to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through appropriate diet and exercise. Often this includes limiting the amount of fat in your diet.

Studies show that high-fat dairy products, in particular, may be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence. Be sure to eat a nutrient-rich, high-fiber diet.

The American Cancer Society guidelines on diet, nutrition, and cancer prevention recommend the following

  • Eat a variety of foods every day, and emphasize plant sources. No one food contains all the nutrients you need
  • Eat five or more servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Try to vary them each day. Raw or cooked vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices provide the vitamins, minerals, and fiber you need
  • Choose whole grains such as whole-wheat bread, oats, and brown rice instead of processed (refined) grains and sugars. Whole grains are good sources of complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and fiber
  • Pick foods that will help you maintain a healthful weight. Don’t overdo fat, salt, sugar, alcohol, and smoked or pickled food intake. Low-fat milk products and small portions (no more than 6-7 ounces a day) of lean meat and poultry without skin are better. Try broiling, steaming, and poaching your food
  • Limit the amount of red meats you eat, especially those that are high in fat or are processed. Research has found that eating large amounts of red meat each week raises the risk of certain types of breast cancer among certain women
  • Include sources of calcium in your diet. Calcium is recommended for postmenopausal women on hormonal treatment to help maintain good bone health. While milk, yogurt, and cheese are good sources of calcium, you should talk to your doctor about taking a calcium supplement, and vitamin D to help your body absorb calcium.

Create a personal eating plan that is right for you. Visit www.MyPyramid.gov.

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