NUTRITION: Diet after cancer

Clinical nutritionist Sona Parmar Mukherjee on what to eat and what to avoid after being treated for cancer. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Garlic contains sulphur compounds that help deal with toxins and free radicals, while seeds like sesame and sunflower are rich in selenium, vitamin E, calcium and zinc, which are rich anti-oxidants.
• Sunflower seeds also contain pectin, which removes toxins and heavy metals from the body.

By SONA PARMAR MUKHERJEE
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The survival rate for breast cancer is very reassuring – once the tumour is removed, many women go on to live pretty healthy lives.

Nevertheless, nourishing food has to be a priority to provide essential nutrients for repair and recovery, and to keep your immune system in peak fighting performance. Here’s a guide to what you should eat more of and what you should avoid after treatment:

What to eat after treatment

Fruit and vegetables rich in vitamin C: Anti-bacterial and anti-viral, vitamin C is found in berries, green leafy vegetables, peppers, citrus fruits, mangoes and passion fruit. Since vitamin C is time and heat-sensitive, choose fresh, locally grown, raw or lightly-cooked produce.

These foods are also often packed with beta-carotene, which has potent anti-viral properties. Easily available options include red and yellow fruits and veggies like carrots and pumpkins and greens like broccoli and sukuma wiki.

Iron-rich foods: Iron plays an essential role in the production of white blood cells and is also involved in the production of antibodies. It is found in liver, beans, lean red meat (fine once in a while), egg yolk, lentils, dark green leafy vegetables and apricots.

Zinc-rich foods: Zinc is one of the most important nutrients for a strong immune system. The best sources include fish and shellfish, lean red meat, poultry, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, eggs, cauliflower, berries, wheat germ, brown rice and buckwheat.

Garlic and seeds: Garlic contains sulphur compounds that help deal with toxins and free radicals, while seeds like sesame and sunflower are rich in selenium, vitamin E, calcium and zinc, which are rich anti-oxidants. Sunflower seeds also contain pectin, which removes toxins and heavy metals from the body.

What to avoid after treatment: the immune inhibitors

Sugar and alcohol: While sugar inhibits the activity of the white blood cells for up to five hours after eating it, alcohol basically acts as a simple sugar.

Caffeine: Coffee, tea and caffeinated fizzy drinks all contain caffeine, which inhibits the uptake of vital nutrients. They also suppress the immune system.

Loss: Most health problems come to the fore within a few months of losing someone close to you. Other types of loss, such as leaving an old family home or the breakdown of a relationship, may also have a physiological effect on the immune system.

Antibiotics: The immune system is closely related to the health of the gut or colon. The colon contains millions of bacteria, some of which are considered ‘friendly’ and others which are not.

This natural balance of bacteria can be upset both by an excess of simple sugars and also by taking antibiotics. To recolonise the gut with ‘friendly’ bacteria, take a probiotic – a 10 billion culture tablet each day should do the trick. Try this for a couple of weeks to help the gut get back into good shape.