Table of contents:
- What foods for cancer patients should be avoided?
- 1. Alcohol
- 2. Foods that are high in fat
- 3. Raw vegetables
- 4. Preserved and baked goods
There are various opinions regarding what cancer patients can and should not consume. Most agree that cancer patients have certain dietary restrictions that should be avoided. However, some disagree and allow cancer patients to consume whatever they want so as not to feel limited. Whatever the reason, the food consumed by cancer patients has a very big effect on the healing process. Here are some cancer patient foods to avoid.
What foods for cancer patients should be avoided?
1. Alcohol
If you are a cancer patient, try to avoid alcohol from now on. Several studies have found that alcohol increases the risk of several cancers such as cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box), esophagus, liver, and breast.
A person who has been diagnosed with cancer should avoid alcoholic beverages because these drinks increase the risk of developing new cancers. Alcohol is known to increase levels of estrogen in the blood, when alcohol mixes with blood, alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde by the liver which is a carcinogen.
This carcinogen if not eliminated by the liver causes gene mutations and changes in DNA structure. This condition causes the production of cancer-causing cells to grow out of control and lead to breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer. The effects of alcohol are even worse in women who are overweight or obese.
2. Foods that are high in fat
The next food for cancer patients to avoid is foods that are high in fat. According to the American Cancer Society, foods high in fat such as saturated fat can increase the risk of cancer recurring or getting worse.
However, don't worry. Not all fats have been shown to increase the risk of cancer, what you should avoid are saturated fats in foods such as beef, processed roasts or bacon, chicken thighs, cream milk, cheese, milk, butter, french fries, fried chicken, cakes, biscuits, fast food, offal, packaged foods, and egg yolks.
3. Raw vegetables
Raw vegetables do contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, many cancer patients think that eating raw vegetables can help them feel better. In fact, you still have to cook the vegetables you are going to eat to ensure their safety, especially if you are undergoing chemotherapy.
According to Dr. Jennifer Sabol of the Breast Cancer website, chemotherapy reduces a person's white blood cell count and lowers the immune system. Raw vegetables such as cucumbers and celery are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria than vegetables that have been cooked.
This may not be a problem for someone who doesn't have cancer, but for cancer patients who have a lower immune system, it can be dangerous. Raw vegetables are a diet for cancer patients that should be avoided. You can cook them and serve these raw vegetables for a delicious meal.
However, if you want to eat hodgepodge, ketoprak, salad, or ointment, make sure the vegetables are cooked until done. Make sure you also wash fresh vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber, and basil leaves before eating.
4. Preserved and baked goods
Preserved foods contain chemical compounds that can turn carcinogenic as well as baked goods. Food that is burned, especially in the burnt or charred area, contains carcinogens, compounds that can cause cancer.
You are also not advised to eat salted fish. Salted fish that are processed from non-fresh ingredients and have been preserved for a long time decompose so that they become allergens that "invite" the body's immune reaction. As a result, the body will feel fever, itching, and swelling.
Meanwhile, for cancer patients, there will be throbbing reactions and pain in the affected part of the body. Salted fish also causes impaired permeability (water absorption) of body tissues, the wound surface will look wet, and sometimes bleeding occurs.
What is more concerning, some fish processing manufacturers often add formaldehyde, not a food preservative. This formalin is hepatotoxic or toxic to the liver, so that it interferes with the working system of cells and tissues which eventually triggers cancer.
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