Any type of cancer can create some very unique challenges for patients who are trying to manage the impact that it has on the body. People who are receiving treatment for kidney cancer need to maintain proper nutrition in order to help the body remain strong. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can take a toll on the body. A carefully planned healthy cancer diet can give patients the fuel they need to combat some of the side effects of the therapies.
There are foods that help prevent renal cancer, and reduce kidney cancer symptoms:
1. Choose to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
It is important for kidney cancer patients to eat plenty of plant based products. The American Dietetic Association recommends that a person eat as much as 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetable each day. They are dense in vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients that are important for maintaining a healthy and strong body during cancer.
2. Eat a lot of whole grains
Whole grains contain fiber, iron, and vitamin B. This includes whole wheat, cracked wheat, oatmeal, wild rice, and brown rice.
3. Eat foods high in calories
It is suggested that cancer patients eat foods that are high in calories in order to help keep the body from shedding a lot of pounds which can often result from the treatment. During the various treatments, it is essential for the body to maintain its weight. Nutritionists recommend that patients eat peanut butter, milk shakes, heavy sauces and gravies, cheese, meats, and whole milk.
4. Eat the proper amount of protein
As a result of cancer treatment, kidney function may decrease. This is particularly true if surgeons have had to remove one of the kidneys. The kidneys will work harder to remove the waste products created while the body breaks down protein for use as the result of a high protein diet. Patients with kidney cancer should discuss their protein intake with their medical professional. The amount of protein to eat will depend on the patient’s kidney function. The side effects of the treatment therapies will have a lot to do with how the kidney cancer diet should be prepared.
5. Fish high in omega 3 fatty acids
Fish is always a healthy food for any health disorder. The omega 3 fatty acids are nutrients that the body can not make. Salmon is a favorite choice for many people, but you can also get the nutrient from sardines, mackerel, albacore tuna, and herring.
People with kidney cancer and other cancers will lose weight as the result of the therapies. They are generally left with a loss of appetite, so eating a diet that is especially designed for people with kidney cancer will greatly impact the body as it struggles to maintain its weight and stability. The foods must be specially prepared so that proper amounts of the nutrients needed are present. The patient must also remember to delete sugary drinks from the diet, and drink plenty of water.
