MEDICAL BLOGS:DIET FOR CANCER PATIENTS (Part - 2)

Cancer treatment cause side-effects like nausea and taste changes leading to a loss of appetite. It is essential that patients don’t have too many dietary restrictions imposed on them. A good diet for a cancer patient contains a mix of vegetables and meat, and avoids extremely sweet and oily foods.

·      Preferred cooking methods are steaming, boiling, and stir-frying rather than deep frying, grilling, barbecuing and baking.

·      A balanced diet should provide the body with proteins (to build tissues, prevent infection, heal wounds and maintain a healthy immune system), carbohydrates and fats (energy sources), vitamins and minerals (for proper growth, body functioning) and, most importantly, plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration.

FOODS TO BE INCLUDED:

Vegetables:
                                         

·      Tomatoes, carrots, peas, pumpkin and turnips for vitamins and fiber.

·      Tomatoes, tomato puree and parsley (especially good for prostate cancer patients)

·      Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage contain plant chemicals that can convert bad oestrogen into good oestrogen, and hence reduce cancer risk as well as the risk of a relapse

·      Asparagus and Brussels sprouts for their rich antioxidants

·      Bitter gourd for lowering blood sugar levels

·      Green leafy vegetables for calcium and iron

   Fruits
                                   

·      Oranges provide vitamin C

·      Bananas, kiwi, peaches, mangoes, pears and strawberries for vitamins and fibre

·      Avocados, guava, apricots, figs, prunes and raisins for energy

Proteins
                                           

·      Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, tauhu and taukwa 

·      Dairy products, nuts, dried beans, dals and chickpeas

·      Fish and soy foods (especially good for prostate cancer patients)

Carbohydrates
                                               

·      Rice, Iddli, noodles, chapatti, whole grain bread and pasta. 

·      Raggi.

·      Wholegrain crackers, oats, corn, potatoes, beans and dairy products

·      Honey, consumed in moderation for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which may help in preventing infections.

SOME GOOD ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN DIET FOR CANCER PATIENTS:

·      Fish oil will provide long chain omega-3, a powerful anti-inflammatory in the body that minimizes COX-2 and its abilities to drive localized negative hormones called eicosanoids which cause inflammation - driving cancer and metastases. Fish oils have been linked to reduced levels of prostate, breast and colon cancer. Research shows they help prevent cachexia when having chemotherapy. Please note that the omega 3 from flax seed is short-chain, equally important but has different benefits (for example, it helps oxygenate the tissues and provides essential fibre).

·      Carotenoids - Carrots, peppers and greens, apricots, red and yellow peppers, greens like spinach and sweet potatoes, carrots provide anti-cancer carotenoids like beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A, as and when required by the body. Raw carrots are also high in pectins - your helpful gut bacteria will love you for eating pectins and give you more in return.

·      Ginger Fresh, raw ginger has a number of very important benefits in cancer. It is a terrific anti-inflammatory agent in the body and reduces the effects of COX-2. This produces benefits throughout the body and especially in the gut, reducing rates of cancer spread.

·      Seed are full of good oils, whole vitamins in a natural form (like vitamin E) and fiber to strengthen your gut flora. People who consume the highest levels of natural fiber have higher immune systems.Sunflower Seeds high in zinc and natural vitamin E. Zinc helps vitamin C do its work and accelerates healing time.Pumpkin Seeds provides Vit E.Sesame Seed: Both sesame and flax lignans are converted to compounds that can arrest estrogen cancers.

·      Nuts ( Walnuts, Almonds)

·      Mushrooms boost the immune system and fight cancer. Even the button mushroom has cancer fighting ingredients.

·      Tomatoes contain Lycopene is the prime active ingredient. It is also found in strawberries, peppers, carrots & peaches. Lycopene is a strong antioxidant.

·      Broccoli Like other green cruciferous vegetables (e.g. cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts), broccoli contains fiber which helps eliminate toxins. Broccoli also contains indoles, and especially indole3carbinol which aids in fighting estrogen-driven cancers like some breast, prostate, brain and colorectal cancers.

·      Garlic : Active ingredients like allicin seem to act to stop the spread of cancer in a number of ways, for example by stopping blood supply formation for tumors. Garlic also kills microbes and yeasts - after taking drugs and antibiotics the body is often susceptible to these. Garlic is also anti-inflammatory in the body. It has a number of active ingredients. It contains selenium, tryptophan and sulfur-based active agents that attack cancer cell.

·      Beetroot and cherries, aubergines, plums, red grapes - indeed any purple colored fruits and vegetables, contain anthocyanins (and sometimes also resveratrol). Anthocyanins have been shown to kill cancer cells; Resveratrrol has research supporting its role in fighting certain cancers like blood and brain cancers too.

·      Pulses Lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, kidney beans and even soy beans are a great source of plant protein. Most importantly they release their carbohydrate slowly because of their high fiber content.

FOODS TO BE AVOIDED:

·      Deep fried, grilled, barbecued, baked meats since subjecting animal protein to high heat creates carcinogenic byproducts called hetero-cyclic amine

·      Excessive intake of salt, sugar, and oily foods.

·      Red meat and processed meats such as bacon, ham, sausages.

·      Preserved foods like pickles, jams, kiam chye (salted mustard green), and century eggs as they contain nitrites which are carcinogenic.

·      Minimize alcohol

·      Additionally, cancer patients should avoid excessive intake of vitamin supplements, as they act as antioxidants and can interfere with chemotherapy when taken in large doses.

Certain foods that can help ease the common discomforts from cancer treatment:

·      Conquer constipation by drinking water and eating high-fiber foods like beans, lentils, vegetables, and fresh or dried fruit.

·      Drive away diarrhea with bland foods such as rice, bananas, and apples. Drink water to stay hydrated.

·      Protect mouth sores and avoid dry mouth by grinding or pureeing foods to make them easier to swallow. Or eat foods that are already soft and mostly liquid, like soups and milk or yogurt shakes.

·      Avoid nausea by choosing bland foods and foods without strong odors. Steer clear of greasy foods. Go easy on your stomach by eating small meals throughout the day.

·      Drink plenty of water even if you are vomiting

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 
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DARK SKIN AND LIGHT HAIR- SUMMER IS HERE

                                 

There are seasons and then there is summer season (like a boss!). Uncle sunny is already knocking on the door so before the degree reaches a notch higher and get better of you here are some tips for summer to stay cool for your otherwise cool self:

1) Avoid Excess Sun Exposure:

It’s proven that sunrays are most harmful between 10am to 3pm.

So try to avoid going out during this time and if you really have to go make sure you have spf in place.
                           

2) Stay Hydrated:

Yes! Mommy was right! Getting enough fluids (Read:water) can actually keep you cool during summer. Excessive sweating during summers can dehydrate your body so sipping water throughout the day is the best and calorie free option for you and adding lemon to it can help you replenish lost minerals.
                                        

3) Old Is Gold:

When the heat is too much to bear, our desi and natural drinks come to our rescue. So ditch the cold drinks and go Desi. I mean who can resist a freshly prepared, chilled, brimming glass of home made nimbu paani. And the satiating and refreshing effect of nariyal paani can’t be explained in words!! The grandmother special aam panna is just nothing less than legendary. You can even try green tea which is a good source of antioxidants and can help reverse the cell damage done by the sun.
                                     

4) Wake up fresh:

Start your day with a juicy, fresh fruit and try to have small frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. Make sure to include seasonal fruits and veggies in your diet like cucumber, melons, peaches and plum.

*Try to limit your red meat intake during summer.
                                          

                     

5) Wear Breathable Fabrics:

Go easy on clothes and wear long sleeved, light coloured cotton clothes instead of synthetics. Cotton can absorb sweat and make you feel cooler and protect you from harmful sunrays.
                               

Pressure points:

You may have heard it before, there are certain spots on our body which can help you cool off almost instantly. The reason for this is there are pulse points, i.e. areas where you can feel your pulse like neck and wrists because blood vessels are near to the skin surface and that’s the very reason it helps to cool your body.

Although neck is the most effective area there are other spots like your wrists, insides of elbows and knees along with tops of your feet and insides of your ankle.

Tying damp bandanna or scarf around your wrist, elbow and neck(when you can) is an easy way to keep cool.

                                             

Not Cool:                  

While there are plenty of tips to stay cool during summers there are few tips that should be avoided:
                              

• Avoid carbonated, aerated soft drinks as they do nothing good to your body. They are empty calories you don’t need. Go natural.
• Keep caffeine and alcohol at bay. While you may love your morning coffee/tea but these may cause dehydration and induce hot flashes. You may try green tea or chamomile tea.
• Go COOL and not COLD. Use ice wrapped in towel instead of simply ice.
• Instead of ice cream try a wedge of watermelon.
• If you have gone through chemo, try wearing a breathable cotton scarf instead of wigs.
• If you decide to go for wigs make sure its light weight synthetic wig.

Read more:

Are you eating fruits the right way? Read here: http://theyoddhas.blogspot.in/2016/04/fruits-to-rescue-eating-it-right.html

Author- Arundhati Sitoke

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

FRUITS TO THE RESCUE: EATING IT RIGHT

Cancer- this malicious evil needs to be eliminated from the society as soon as possible. The elimination is no rocket science instead it can be very well done by following the right procedure and maintaining a tactful routine. Fruits are said to be one of the most important constituent of our diet.

 Tips that you need to follow:

1. Eating fruits on an empty stomach

                

Fruits detoxify your system, supply you with energy and also keep your weight in check. If not eaten on an empty stomach, the fruit will get mixed with the putrefying of other food and produce gas and hence making you all the more weak and unhealthy.

2. Drink only fresh fruit juices.

                          

Stop having those aerated drinks and those tinned or packed food or fruit juices. Have fresh fruit juices instead of cooked fruits as they contain more vitamins. Though we would always suggest you to eat a whole fruit than drinking its juice.

3. Say No to cold water

                            

Please avoid drinking cold water or drinks after a meal because it considerably slows down your digestion. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Fruits that should be included in your regular diet:   

                    

•KIWI :

 Kiwi is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and E and fiber.

•APPLE: 

                          

Apple has antioxidants and flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thus helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

•STRAWBERRY :

                   

 Strawberry has the highest antioxidant power and protects the body from cancer-causing and blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

•ORANGE :

                              

Orange helps in keeping cold away, lowers cholesterol, prevents & dissolves kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

•WATERMELON :

                                  

 Watermelon is packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which boosts our immune system.

•GUAVA :

                            

 Guava is known for its high vitamin C content. Moreover, guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation.

•PAPAYA :

                                   

Papaya is rich in Vitamin C and carotene which is good for your eyes.

Follow these simple and effective rules because they are your master keys toward leading a happier and stable life.

Thanks for reading and please keep visiting our blog to discover and appreciate more Yoddhas. 
Feel free to contact the Yoddhas team at team@yoddhas.com 

Lastly,

Praise the Yoddhas; Support the Yoddhas ; Love the Yoddhas!

Cheers!

Author- Someshree Banerjee