Forbidden foods for cancer patients How does it affect the patient’s health?

Cancer has become a widespread disease around us, so it has become necessary to know how to deal with its patients, and what foods are prohibited for cancer patients.

Of course, the patient’s diet affects his health condition, and his appetite may also be affected due to treatment, so attention must be paid to his diet.

But what can a cancer patient eat and what should he not eat?

In this article, we will learn about the list of prohibited and permitted foods, and how they may affect the patient’s health.

Reasons for some prohibited foods for cancer patients

If you are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy as part of your cancer treatment, you may have already discovered that there are some foods you prefer to avoid.

Because some patients develop unpleasant side effects, including nausea, mouth ulcers, or even a change in the taste of some foods, you may find some foods less appetizing or more difficult to eat than others.

No matter how good a particular food is, there are some foods that should be avoided during cancer treatment and recovery, due to the increased risk of foodborne illness on the patient’s already weakened immune system.

For these patients, even mild food poisoning can be very serious and lead to hospitalization or even death.

What foods are prohibited for cancer patients?

People with cancer need to maintain a healthy weight and diet. Sometimes side effects of cancer treatment can lead to weight loss.

This makes the patient weak and malnourished. Also, some cancer treatments can lead to weight gain.

In all cases, the patient should avoid some foods in his diet, including:

1- Processed carbohydrates

Pastries, candy, sweetened breakfast cereals, cakes, and other sweetened foods can contain large amounts of sugars.

2- Dietary fats

There is a relationship between several types of adult cancers and a diet high in saturated fats and trans fats found in beef, pork, butter, cooking shortening, and margarine.

High-fat diets may increase the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer, and are linked to obesity, heart disease and other health problems.

Saturated fats should be limited to no more than 10% of your total daily calories.

3- Processed meat and red meat

Limit foods such as bacon, sausage, cold cuts and sausages, and when eating red meat, choose lean cuts of meat.

You can cook food by boiling instead of frying or grilling over charcoal.

Focus on healthier alternatives, such as: fish, poultry, or legumes.

4- Preservatives

Some foods, such as salty foods, pickles and deli meats, contain preservatives such as nitrites, which are chemicals used to preserve foods.

These foods can increase the risk of stomach and esophageal cancer when consumed in large quantities.

Therefore, foods that contain preservatives are considered prohibited foods for cancer patients.

5- Fresh, unwashed fruits and vegetables

Especially leafy vegetables can hide dirt and other contaminants.

6- Sushi and sashimi

Which often contains raw fish – Commercially frozen fish, especially those labeled “sushi grade” or “sashimi grade,” are safer than other fish.

But check with your doctor, dietitian, or other member of your health care before eating these foods.

7- Undercooked foods

Undercooked foods are a no-no for cancer patients, because they can contain several different types of bacteria, including E. coli, Listeria, or Salmonella, which cause the disease.

Thorough cooking can eliminate these bacteria, as well as any bacteria or viruses that may have been transferred to your food through improper handling or neglect.

Taking precautions during food handling and preparation can help, such as being extra careful when washing fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, which may contain loose soil or other contaminants.

Alcohol and cancer risk

Drinking alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor, increases the risk of cancer, and is directly linked to the risk of cancer of the head, neck, liver, esophagus, breast, colon, and rectum.

Although researchers do not know exactly why alcohol increases the risk of cancer, they have found the following possibilities, including:

• Alcohol may decrease the body’s ability to process and absorb important nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid, and carotenoids.
• Alcohol contains chemicals that can damage the DNA and proteins of healthy cells.
• If adults drink alcohol, they should limit their intake to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
• Alcohol can increase the amount of estrogen in the blood, increasing the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer.

From the above, it becomes clear to you, dear reader, how dangerous alcohol is for the patient, which is why it is one of the drinks prohibited from entering the diet of cancer patients.

Suggestions for reducing alcohol use include:

• Do not consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Red wine is not excluded.
• Do not consume alcohol with tobacco products; Because it increases the risk of certain cancers.

Foods allowed for cancer patients

After we learned about the foods that are prohibited for cancer patients, of course there are some other foods that can be included in the diet of patients.

Among these foods:

1- Plant source proteins

It is one of the best foods that provide the patient with abundant amounts of vitamins and minerals.

2- Healthy fats

Olive oil and avocado contain omega-3, which is a healthy fatty acid.

It fights infections and improves heart health.

3- Healthy carbohydrates

The patient in this category should eat whole grains, such as: oats and bran bread, as they contain fiber that maintains beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.

4- Vitamins and minerals

It improves immunity and helps the body resist disease.

Tips while preparing food for cancer patients

Knowing the foods prohibited for cancer patients, you must follow some tips when preparing food for them:

• After serving any meal or snack, food must be securely packaged and refrigerated within at least two hours of preparation.
• Cold foods should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Hot foods should be kept at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Be sure to use a cutting surface that is not made of wood or other permeable surface when cutting or preparing raw meat. Wood can harbor bacteria no matter how well it is washed.
• Replace rare beef with some well-cooked poultry, at least until chemotherapy ends. Use a meat thermometer to see if the meat is cooked, rather than “watching” it.

At the conclusion of our article, we hope that you, dear reader, pay attention during your dealings with a cancer patient to everything, and stay away from foods that are prohibited for cancer patients, so that his diet does not include them.