Foods That Inhibit Chemotherapy

Many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experience appetite loss and sensitivity to overly spicy, fatty and rich foods. Since eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is especially important when ill, doctors recommend patients on chemotherapy avoid excessive amounts of any one type of food. There are certain foods, however, which should be consumed in more moderation than others since they may interfere with chemotherapy if consumed in large quantities.

Excessive Amounts of Vitamin C

• Research suggests that ingesting large amounts of vitamin C daily may negatively impact the effectiveness of some chemotherapy treatments. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which destroys free radicals in the body. Since some chemotherapies are designed to create free radicals, which themselves destroy cancer cells, large doses of vitamin C may be counterproductive. It should be noted that foods that naturally contain vitamin C or other antioxidants are perfectly safe to eat while undergoing chemotherapy. Only abnormally high amounts of vitamin C should be avoided.

Excessive Amounts of Sugar

• When eaten as part of a healthy diet, sugar will not interfere with chemotherapy. However, too much glucose in your bloodstream while undergoing chemotherapy can lead to glucose intolerance or fluctuating glucose levels, which may lead to further complications. Excessive amounts of sugar can also fuel the growth of cancerous cells since sugar is energy used for all cell growth and development, healthy and cancerous.

Excessive Amounts of Red Meat

• Chemotherapy attacks healthy cells along with the cancerous ones, which can lead to calcium loss in bones. Foods that naturally leach calcium from the body, such as red meat, should be eaten sparingly when undergoing chemotherapy. While doctors do not recommend avoiding red meat altogether, a balanced diet is especially important in maintaining a healthy body and immune system. Other calcium-leaching foods include high-heated salt and inorganic phosphorous. Avoid these and other calcium-leaching supplements while being treated for cancer.