Good nutrition can empower your body to heal, even in the aftermath of a brutal cancer journey. If you or a loved one is healing from cancer and cancer care, consider some of these research-backed insights on what to eat in remission from two nutritionists that have dedicated themselves to the topic. Here are four food groups recommended by the authors of The Living Kitchen: Healing Recipes to Support Your Body During Cancer Treatment and Recovery.…
What To Eat In Remission
In remission, you may have more strength and have regained an appetite. This is the time to support your body back to health. Eat foods that help detoxify radiation, as well as chemotherapy and any other medications from your body. It is also essential to focus on eating foods that will strengthen your healthy cells and help your body repair damage.
Strengthening + Rebuilding Foods
You can become weak and depleted from treatments or from cancer itself. Now, after treatment, is the time to rebuild your strength — this includes knowing what to eat in remission. Not only will this help repair muscle tissue and nutrient stores, but it will also help increase your energy. Fat and protein are the vital ingredients to do this. They help the body form hormones, enzymes and hair, as well as aid in tissue repair to speed up healing time. Eat clean sources of protein, like chicken, turkey, nuts, seeds, beans and eggs. Add in nourishing oils, such as extra- virgin olive oil, coconut oil and flax oil.
Liver-Supporting FoodsYour liver function is incredibly important when it comes to preventing and recovering from cancer. All substances — food, chemotherapy drugs, pesticides, cosmetics, hormones, household cleaners, pollution, and perfume — must be filtered by your liver in order to be removed from the body. Supporting this organ through diet is a safe and effective way to help it work optimally so that it can properly metabolize and remove toxins, which is especially important if you’re in remission or between treatment cycles. The best foods to support the liver:
bitter vegetables (arugula, rapini, kale)
cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale)
beets
lemons
onions, leeks, green onions, garlic
turmeric
bone broth
Best Cell-Supporting Foods
Although cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation kill off cancer cells, they also cause damage to healthy cells. After treatment, it is vital to eat foods that support the body’s cells, so that toxins from treatment can be removed, and healthy cells can strengthen and rebuild. This also helps prevent abnormal cells and cancer growth from recurring. The best foods to support healthy cells:
super greens (chlorophyll, spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass)
fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, yogurt, miso, tempeh)
seaweeds (arame, nori, dulse)
turmeric
Top Nutrient-Dense Foods
coenzyme Q10: salmon, sardines, liver, quinoa, millet, rice
selenium: Brazil nuts, salmon, mushrooms, turkey, cod, chicken, lamb, eggs
beta-carotene: carrots, squash, sweet potato, leafy greens
zinc: eggs, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, pecans, ginger
vitamin C: lemons, limes, oranges, Brussels sprouts, leafy greens
B vitamins: leafy greens, whole grains, lentils, bell peppers
vitamin D: eggs, butter, salmon, mushrooms, leafy greens
The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.
