Diets for Cancer Patients

Proper nutrition is important for everyone, but individuals with cancer should follow diet guidelines that allow for healing within their bodies. The National Academy of Sciences and others estimate that nutritional factors account for 60 percent of the cancers in women, and 40 percent in men. The cause is of these cancers is said to be smoked meats, too much saturated fat, not enough fiber, not enough omega-3 fat, obesity and too few fruits and vegetables.

Calories

• At first, many health professionals believed that cancer patients should consume a lot of calories, according to Dr. Michael Guthrie, founder of alternative-cancer-treatments.com. Nutrition experts weren't too concerned where these calories were coming from. Those with cancer could consume a lot of sugar and it was considered OK. Now experts agree that sugar is bad for cancer patients. Cancer cells need sugar for growth. By following a diet that is low in sugar a cancer patient is starving these cells of the nutrients they need.

Choosing the Right Foods

• When shopping for groceries it is best to stay close to natural foods. Try to shop on the outside perimeter of the grocery store and avoid the inner aisles as much as possible. Foods located on the outside of the store are the non-processed meats, dairy, grains and fruits and vegetables. These are natural foods that promote healthy cells.

Supplements

• Vitamin supplements should be taken with a healthy diet. Research by the University of California on Vitamin D found that increased levels play a role in reducing cancer cells and in cancer prevention. Patients should take at least 1000 IU of Vitamin D to prevent cancer growth.