Effects of Diet and Nutrition on Cancer

What we eat has a big impact on our health, so it's no surprise that a lot of people ask about how food or diet effects cancer. Nutrition advice can be very confusing, so this blog post goes over the clear patterns from research.

Foods That May Help Lower Risk

Changing your diet isn't a sure thing to help with cancer. Yet, research shows promise with certain types of food. Most likely, your oncologist will ask you to eat a lot of plant-based food and whole fruits and vegetables. Why plants? Because they are full of good stuff like minerals and vitamins. They also have less calories so they help you manage your weight.

Following a meal plan that is high in whole grains, fiber and olive oil, may support your health. It might also lower your risk for cancer. One such plan you might have heard about is the Mediterranean Diet. This diet asks you to eat fish several times a week, along with olive oil and vegetables.

Foods That May Increase Risk

Just like there are some foods that can help, there are foods that you should probably avoid. Foods that you should stay away from are the usual suspects.

Limit foods that are:

• Processed
• Sugary
• Salty

For example, highly processed foods like lunch meat or sugary drinks like soda. Your oncologist or may ask you to avoid eating a lot of red meat. Drinking too much alcohol also tends to put you more at risk. You might want to limit how much you drink. A nutritionist can help make a meal plan that best fits you.

Nutrition During and After a Cancer Diagnosis

The diet and nutrition plan that works for you before a cancer diagnosis usually isn't the same as what works after a diagnosis. It's always a good idea to eat a healthy diet that fuels your body.

However, before a cancer diagnosis, many people are looser with what they eat and drink. After a diagnosis, your diet usually shifts to a nutrition plan that supports your cancer treatment. You'll want to watch how much protein you're getting. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Your Baptist Health oncologist will likely refer you to a registered dietitian.

Learn More From Baptist Health

To learn more, reach out to your Baptist Health oncologist. If you don't have an oncologist, you can find one in our provider directory.