Healing Foods

Navigating a cancer diagnosis, let alone weathering the treatments, can be challenging, to put it lightly. Depending on the cancer, treatment types, areas of the body affected, and side effects of treatment and/or medications, our needs will vary. What we eat can help keep us strong during this life challenge.

These recipes are designed to enhance nutrition and address some of the issues that may arise in the overwhelming world of cancer treatment. Whether it’s nausea, a metallic taste or sores in the mouth, unpalatable textures, an unsettled tummy, or “chemo brain,” there’s generally a food that can provide some relief. The denser your nutritional intake, and the sooner you take charge, the better your outcome may be.

Tips to make food more enticing

• Eat small, frequent meals.
• When food doesn’t taste or feel good, try taking in liquid foods, such as soups and smoothies, or even water, through a straw.
• Saltwater mouthwashes, peppermint tea, and mints can improve the metallic taste many people experience from certain chemo drugs.
• Fresh herbs and spices can enhance your nutritional intake. Many studies have examined ginger’s ability to prevent and treat nausea after chemotherapy. Ginger tea, made with fresh grated ginger root, can help soothe nausea.
• Avoid eating 1 to 2 hours before a chemotherapy treatment and for up to 3 hours afterward.

Recipes

• Miso Marinated, Sesame Encrusted Halibut
• Marvellous Mushroom and Leek Spread
• Chia Porridge with Fruit
• Soothing Nutrient-Dense Smoothie
• Kale and Sprout Salad with Immune-Boosting Dressing

Pass the pepper

Freshly ground pepper has been shown to increase the bioavailability of nutrients or potentiate the medicinal properties in various foods (for example, the anticancer effects of turmeric on breast cancer stem cells). Use pepper liberally.