What foods to eat........

christinecarl
christinecarl Member Posts: 543 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Alright, I feel like my diet is crap, I want to improve what I eat. I am starting to exercise again, and I have a long way to go until I feel strong again. Cancer and chemo have really done a number on me. But I would like to improve what I eat. I am allergic to most fruits, but love veggies. What books are good to read on this for help? Thanks everyone, I hope you are all doing well.

Comments

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    Veggie Recipes
    I have a few favorites for veggies, BUT, they all contain butter, or buttermilk, or cheeses.
    Let me know if you still want them anyway.
    I've been anti-veggie most of my life (I think it's the way it's cooked), but as I experimented with fresh vegetables (I live in California for pete's sake, I'm surrounded by fresh vegetables) I made them quite palatable to myself, and have fallen in love with them.
    Heck, I even love brussel sprouts now.
    Winter Marie
  • Left Coaster
    Left Coaster Member Posts: 25

    Veggie Recipes
    I have a few favorites for veggies, BUT, they all contain butter, or buttermilk, or cheeses.
    Let me know if you still want them anyway.
    I've been anti-veggie most of my life (I think it's the way it's cooked), but as I experimented with fresh vegetables (I live in California for pete's sake, I'm surrounded by fresh vegetables) I made them quite palatable to myself, and have fallen in love with them.
    Heck, I even love brussel sprouts now.
    Winter Marie

    Eating Well Through Cancer
    This book, "Eating Well Through Cancer", offers recipes during and after treatment. It offers nutritional analysis, weight gain ideas, recipes for getting your strength back and other helpful tips, tricks and ideas. The book is authored by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello M.D. Hope this helps with ideas and such. I tend not to run out and buy the first book I see but instead, peruse the bookstores and read with purpose to make sure it is money well spent. I have noticed an increase in my appetite since I have begun exercising again.


    Good luck with the healthy lifestyle change.
  • gfpiv
    gfpiv Member Posts: 59 Member
    Diet
    Good for you that you're taking an active role in your health. Although I haven't heard of any definitive studies regarding relationship of diet to colon cancer treatment response or recurrence likelihood...it certainly can't hurt to treat your body better, can it? Personally, I feel that moving to a more natural and low glycemic/insulinemic diet has helped in my own treatment. One caveat is that those on active chemo (which I don't believe currently applies to you?) should consult their onc before taking supplements or heavy amounts of antioxidant-rich foods, since they may reduce the effectiveness of certain chemo drugs.

    You'll find plenty of proponents of exercise on this board (including myself), and you're probably aware of the studies that indicate a slightly reduced likelihood of recurrence with regular exercise. And of course, for those of us lucky enough to be able to exercise regulary, it simply makes you feel better overall!

    As to specific recommendations on diet, I'll avoid inundating you with a bunch of references I found useful, but both the ACS and MSKCC websites have good reference sections which discuss foods/supplements with purported anticancer activity. I also found the following link to be relevant and relatively succinct: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T040300.asp

    Lastly, a book that I (and probably others here), have found very interesting is "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" by David Serban-Schreiber.

    I know there's a slew of info out there about healthy diet for cancer patients, so I wish you the best of luck wading through it. And I wish you good health in whatever you do.

    -Chip
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    gfpiv said:

    Diet
    Good for you that you're taking an active role in your health. Although I haven't heard of any definitive studies regarding relationship of diet to colon cancer treatment response or recurrence likelihood...it certainly can't hurt to treat your body better, can it? Personally, I feel that moving to a more natural and low glycemic/insulinemic diet has helped in my own treatment. One caveat is that those on active chemo (which I don't believe currently applies to you?) should consult their onc before taking supplements or heavy amounts of antioxidant-rich foods, since they may reduce the effectiveness of certain chemo drugs.

    You'll find plenty of proponents of exercise on this board (including myself), and you're probably aware of the studies that indicate a slightly reduced likelihood of recurrence with regular exercise. And of course, for those of us lucky enough to be able to exercise regulary, it simply makes you feel better overall!

    As to specific recommendations on diet, I'll avoid inundating you with a bunch of references I found useful, but both the ACS and MSKCC websites have good reference sections which discuss foods/supplements with purported anticancer activity. I also found the following link to be relevant and relatively succinct: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/T040300.asp

    Lastly, a book that I (and probably others here), have found very interesting is "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" by David Serban-Schreiber.

    I know there's a slew of info out there about healthy diet for cancer patients, so I wish you the best of luck wading through it. And I wish you good health in whatever you do.

    -Chip

    Good for you!
    Eat all Veggies but Cancer focus is.....greens


    Kale
    Spinach
    Brocolli
    Carrots
    beets
    Asparagus
    cooked tomatoes
    Yams
    Sweet Potatoes


    Easy on the corn. Avoid the whites!

    A while ago I posted a great Vegan website.
  • Joy1216
    Joy1216 Member Posts: 290 Member
    Informative Book
    A very informative book is Foods That Combat Cancer: The Nutritional Way to Wellness by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Ph.D.
    Joy
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    Joy1216 said:

    Informative Book
    A very informative book is Foods That Combat Cancer: The Nutritional Way to Wellness by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Ph.D.
    Joy

    Check out American Institute for Cancer Research at
    aicr.org and order free booklets that suit your needs (up to 6 at one time).They also provide recipes. Have topics such as "The new American plate for Breakfast"; "Beans and whole grains",etc.......One of my problems was overdosing on supplements/vitamins in pill form rather than via food, which more likely nourished my tumor more than me.......You need to get as much nutrition as you can from foods tho with all the pollution, chemicals,depletion of soil,etc, one wonders.....steve

    Broccoli, mango, blueberries supposed to be extra hepful
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    coloCan said:

    Check out American Institute for Cancer Research at
    aicr.org and order free booklets that suit your needs (up to 6 at one time).They also provide recipes. Have topics such as "The new American plate for Breakfast"; "Beans and whole grains",etc.......One of my problems was overdosing on supplements/vitamins in pill form rather than via food, which more likely nourished my tumor more than me.......You need to get as much nutrition as you can from foods tho with all the pollution, chemicals,depletion of soil,etc, one wonders.....steve

    Broccoli, mango, blueberries supposed to be extra hepful

    Colorectal Cancer and Meat — What’s the Connection?
    Colorectal Cancer and Meat — What’s the Connection?

    Posted: 05 Aug 2010 10:03 AM PDT

    Written by Kate Murphy.

    Are those steaks and hot dogs bad for you?

    Several studies have found a connection between eating red and processed meat and colorectal cancer. But the reason for that connection hasn’t been clear.

    To answer the question, researchers collected detailed information about the type of meat eaten by a large group of over 300,000 men and women and how the meat was cooked.

    Linking that information to data on meat iron content, chemicals used in processing meat, and chemicals produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures, they were able to find that heme iron, nitrates and nitrites, and heterocyclic amines (HCAs) from high-temperature cooking increase risk for colon and rectal cancer.

    Among 300,948 patients enrolled in a large, prospective trial, 2,719 developed colorectal cancer. When researchers ranked diets from those who ate the least red and processed meat to those who ate the most, they found:

    Heme iron was associated with a 13 percent increase in risk.
    Nitrates from processed meats increased risk by 16 percent.
    HCAs produced during high temperature cooking raised risk by 19 percent.
    Generally, risks were higher for rectal cancer than for colon cancer, with the exception HCA proteins, which only increased colon cancer risk.

    Heme iron is available in the diet from meat, poultry and fish. Nonheme iron comes from plants, including lentils and beans. It is also added to enriched cereals, flour, and grain.
    Nitrates and nitrites are used to process meat into bacon, hot dogs, and sausage.
    HCAs are produced during high temperature cooking like grilling.
    Amanda J. Cross and her associates concluded,

    In conclusion, we found a positive association for red and processed meat intake and colorectal cancer; heme iron, nitrate/nitrite, and heterocyclic amines from meat may explain these associations.

    SOURCE: Cross et al.,Cancer Research, Volume 70, Number 6, March 15,2010.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member

    Colorectal Cancer and Meat — What’s the Connection?
    Colorectal Cancer and Meat — What’s the Connection?

    Posted: 05 Aug 2010 10:03 AM PDT

    Written by Kate Murphy.

    Are those steaks and hot dogs bad for you?

    Several studies have found a connection between eating red and processed meat and colorectal cancer. But the reason for that connection hasn’t been clear.

    To answer the question, researchers collected detailed information about the type of meat eaten by a large group of over 300,000 men and women and how the meat was cooked.

    Linking that information to data on meat iron content, chemicals used in processing meat, and chemicals produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures, they were able to find that heme iron, nitrates and nitrites, and heterocyclic amines (HCAs) from high-temperature cooking increase risk for colon and rectal cancer.

    Among 300,948 patients enrolled in a large, prospective trial, 2,719 developed colorectal cancer. When researchers ranked diets from those who ate the least red and processed meat to those who ate the most, they found:

    Heme iron was associated with a 13 percent increase in risk.
    Nitrates from processed meats increased risk by 16 percent.
    HCAs produced during high temperature cooking raised risk by 19 percent.
    Generally, risks were higher for rectal cancer than for colon cancer, with the exception HCA proteins, which only increased colon cancer risk.

    Heme iron is available in the diet from meat, poultry and fish. Nonheme iron comes from plants, including lentils and beans. It is also added to enriched cereals, flour, and grain.
    Nitrates and nitrites are used to process meat into bacon, hot dogs, and sausage.
    HCAs are produced during high temperature cooking like grilling.
    Amanda J. Cross and her associates concluded,

    In conclusion, we found a positive association for red and processed meat intake and colorectal cancer; heme iron, nitrate/nitrite, and heterocyclic amines from meat may explain these associations.

    SOURCE: Cross et al.,Cancer Research, Volume 70, Number 6, March 15,2010.

    It takes so long for you
    It takes so long for you intestines to process red meat, and many times it sticks to your intestines for years. Your body needs to work to take care of your body, not process food that is hard to digest.