Diet innovations to diminish nutritional difficulties caused by cancer - nutrition

Lack of appetite:

• Plan 6 to 7 meals of moderate amounts per day.

• Adjust meal times to the patient's mood and physical state. It is common among patients to have larger meals in the early hours of the day.

• To renew frequently the food, as well as the method of elaboration and exhibition of the dishes, considering the patient's predilections.

• The food should be served soft and easy to chew. If necessary, purees, croquettes or meatballs should be prepared.

To increase the caloric and protein content of the various daily meals, it is advisable:

• Add cream, milk, soy powder, margarine, cream or cheese to pasta, potatoes and rice, use peanut butter on toast and crackers.

• Add desserts to any of the meals. Example: puddings, rice pudding, ice cream and custard.

• Offer liquids to hydrate regularly. At mealtimes, drink plenty of liquids or infusions, since they increase the feeling of satiety, limiting ingestion to more nutritious foods such as pasta, rice, legumes, fish, meat or eggs.

• It is advisable to offer fruits preferably liquefied or in natural juices.

• Taste and smell variations [dysgeusia] Identify the foods that cause the most metallic taste or disgust because they are bitter or very sweet and try to change the way they are prepared and disclosed.

• Use aromatic herbs in the preparation of food to convert its smell. Examples: oregano, laurel, mint, thyme, parsley and basil.

• To load to the foods with sauces of easy elaboration and light as mayonnaise, cream or bechamel to disguise not very tasty foods.

• Consume food at room temperature or cold for a less odorous experience, and at the same time not to lose the flavor.

• Keep the patient out of the kitchen or processing environment. Offer fruit smoothies or juices during meals.

• Do not introduce anything new in the diet on the days of treatment.

• Brushing or rinsing the mouth before eating.

• Use plastic cutlery to reduce the possible metallic taste of food.

If the consumption of meats induces rejection, the following recommendations can be tried:

• Arrange stewed meat with peas, carrots, celery, spinach or potatoes.

• To mash the meat in advance and to season it with lemon juice, wine or soft vinegar.

• Substitute cooked ham, york ham, chicken, turkey or rabbit for red meat.

Dry mouth:

• Introduce foods in broths, purees, creams, ice creams, custards, yogurt or sorbets.

• Avoid dry foods such as crackers, nuts or potato chips. Citrus juices, such as lemon and orange, optimize the saliva production process.

• Use sour candies or chewing gum, lemon or orange.

• Avoid both extremely hot and extremely cold foods.

• Increase the intake of liquids, preferably in the period outside of regulated meals.

Difficulty in swallowing [dysphagia]:

• Preserve the proper posture when eating: sitting, back straight, shoulders forward and feet flat on the floor.

• Arrange food in the form of purees, creams, jellies or custard. Ingest water in the form of jellies.

• Do not eat rough foods such as toast and crackers.
• Avoid acidic, spicy and salty flavors.

• Respect the ritual of eating. Eat without distractions, slowly and relaxed.

• Do not combine foods with two or more consistencies. For example: jelly, or yogurt with fruits, rice pudding and fruits in syrup.

Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract lining [mucositis]:

• Take medication prescribed by the physician following the guidelines. Plan diets that involve soft, moist and comfortable to swallow foods such as purees, broths, creams.

• Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

• It is advisable to rinse the mouth with water with bicarbonate both before and after meals.

• Preferably consume foods rich in energy and protein nutrients, more frequently and in small doses. For example: custard, ice cream, rice pudding, flan and yogurt. Avoid consumption of acidic, rough, bitter, very sweet, spicy, salty foods or foods that stick to the palate during chewing such as toast, cookies, and boiled potatoes.

Nausea and vomiting:

• Adhere to what is recommended by the physician for preventive treatment.

• Do not perform chemotherapy treatment during the first two hours post meal, also, do not consume food after the procedure.

• Drink fluids regularly in order to stay hydrated.

• Meals are best endured when they are regular and moderate.

• Avoid prolonged periods of fasting as much as possible.

• Respect the eating process. Eat without distractions, slowly and relaxed.

• Juicy food preparations should be avoided, the idea is not to enhance satiety.

• Drink liquid in small doses [about half a glass at a time] and isolated from the recommended six meals, at least half an hour before or half an hour after.

• Decrease the content of fats, spices and dietary fibers.

• The patient should be isolated from the processing environment.

• The preparation site should be ventilated to prevent intense food odors.

• Room temperature and cold foods are more convenient.

As for the consumption of recovery, it is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Resume eating with infusions and light broths.

• Continue with skimmed milk and sorbets, keeping the consistency more watery.

• Consider eating increasingly thicker soups and purees.

• Solid foods to be offered first: rice, potatoes and pasta.

• Increase the amount of food gradually. In case of continued vomiting contact a doctor.

Diarrhea:

• Habituate moderate meals. Drink about half a glass of water regularly.

• If the diarrhea is very copious and watery, it is advisable to drink alkaline lemonade or oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration.

• Avoid consumption of foods rich in dietary fiber such as whole grains, legumes and vegetables.

• Instead, it is advisable to consume mashed potatoes and carrots as well as boiled or souped rice.

• Replace milk with another drink such as yogurt.

• Avoid fats in the preparation of meats.

• Choose preferably the consumption of white meats.

• To avoid fatty products in the diet such as avocados, meats and fatty fish.

• Refuse the consumption of stimulants. Examples: coffee, tea, chocolate and alcoholic beverages.

• To dispense with spices for the preparation of food, fundamentally the spicy and acid juices.

• Offer peeled or blended fruits. We suggest foods such as baked apples and rice or rice water for their astringent properties.

• Increase normalized hygiene in bowel habit.

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