A balanced diet with a focus on nutritious foods is important for everyone. This is especially important for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
While there is no set diet for CLL, following certain guidelines can help support the body and immune system. This can help the body tolerate the treatment and prevent foodborne illnesses.
Doctors may recommend a person with CLL to follow a supportive diet during and after treatment. This can include nutrient dense food choices while limiting other options like processed foods.
A person may consider working with a nutritionist or nutritionist for specific guidance. They may be able to provide advice on diet plans, changes in appetite and weight, and how to deal with treatment-related appetite and weight side effects.
In this article, we discuss foods and drinks that people with CLL may want to add to their diet and what to avoid.
Poor nutrition is an important modifiable risk factor for cancer. A 2019 study found that about 4.4% of new cancer cases in a year were directly related to poor diet.
Avoiding certain foods can help support a healthy immune system and prevent complications. This doesn’t necessarily mean that avoiding these foods will improve treatment. However, it can support an overall healthy body and treatment.
western diet
Dieting for people with CLL may include cutting down on processed foods. Diets like the Western Diet or the Standard American Diet tend to be high in processed foods. A 2018 study found a possible link between Western diet and CLL.
The main features of the Western diet include a high intake of:
- high fat dairy products
- refined grains
- processed meat
- high calorie drinks
- sugary foods and snacks
- Fast food or ready meals
While the Western diet may increase the potential risk of CLL, more research is needed.
It’s also important to consider how genetics and the environment can interact with diet as well. However, the guidelines generally agree that it is beneficial to limit or avoid many of the elements associated with the Western diet.
Food safety
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can weaken the immune system. This could make a person more prone to infection. Hence, it is important that people follow good food hygiene and avoid foods that are often linked to disease.
A doctor can advise:
- Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish or other foods that may contain raw ingredients, such as raw eggs or pies pa
- Avoiding unpasteurized products, which include fruit juices, dairy products and honey
- only drink tap or bottled water
- only eat nuts and dried fruits that have undergone heat treatment
- Try to avoid reheating food whenever possible and also store leftovers properly
- Remember to wash your hands regularly and wash vegetables as well
The exact dietary recommendations for a particular person can vary to some extent, and there is no set diet for CLL. In general, doctors can recommend healthy, high-energy diets that can help aid cancer treatment or prevention.
The American Cancer Society’s 2020 guideline states that diets that can help reduce cancer risk will vary. However, they share common patterns. These patterns can include:
Vegetable
A diet high in plant-based foods can be supportive for people with CLL. Plant-based diet is linked to:
- reduced inflammation
- reduced oxidative DNA damage
- higher concentration of beneficial intestinal bacteria
- improved insulin response
Therefore, it may be advisable to include more plant-based foods in your diet. Examples of healthy plant-based foods can include:
- starch-free vegetables
- whole fruits
- full grain
- nuts
- seed
- legumes
Healthy protein
These diets also usually contain healthy sources of protein, such as:
Healthy fats
These diets usually also contain healthy sources of fat, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Examples of monounsaturated fat sources are:
- olive oil
- avocado
- nuts
- seed
Examples of polyunsaturated fats are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from:
- linseed
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
- oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines
- Soybeans
- Walnuts
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are another important factor for people with CLL because CLL can weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infection.
A 2014 study suggests that increasing their antioxidant intake in addition to an overall healthy lifestyle can improve the quality of life for people with CLL. It can also reduce the risk of infections and complications.
Switching to a diet that encourages increased intake of whole, natural foods can help naturally increase the amount of antioxidants in the diet.
Some examples of antioxidant-rich foods are:
- Berry
- Green tea
- dark chocolate
- dark leaf green
Types of Diets
A good example of this eating pattern is the Mediterranean diet. This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains and contains less dairy products and meat than a typical Western diet. Typical characteristics of the diet are a high intake of:
- vegetables
- legumes
- fruit
- fish
- Olives
- Vegetable oil
Other dietary patterns may share similar characteristics, including:
For people with CLL and cancer in general, the recommendation for drinks is usually to eliminate certain types of drinks or replace them with healthier options.
Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption
The 2020 guidelines advise that it is best to avoid alcohol altogether. This is because alcohol has carcinogenic effects in the body, such as:
- Damage DNA and proteins
- oxidative stress
- increased cell proliferation
- reduced DNA repair
- Difficulty absorbing nutrients
If it is not possible to abstain from alcohol, an attempt can be made to reduce consumption to a maximum of 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.
A standard drink includes:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80 percent alcohol
Drink more water
Water is a healthy choice. However, some may feel that it is too boring to enjoy on a regular basis. If you can find ways to add flavor to the water, it may be easier to drink more.
Some tips for drinking more water can include:
- drink unsweetened sparkling water
- Add citrus fruits such as lemon, lime or grapefruit to the water
- Prepare flavored water by adding fruit or vegetables to the water and letting it soak
- Drink herbal tea
Reduce your intake of sugary drinks
As part of moving away from the Western diet, it is important to reduce or eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages. These include many types of:
- sparkling water
- sweetened coffee beverages
- Energy drinks
- Sports drinks
- Fruit drinks
- sweetened water drinks
Some treatments for CLL, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can cause side effects that make it difficult to eat, such as:
- Loss of appetite
- dry mouth and throat
- Difficulty swallowing or chewing
- nausea
- Vomit
- Diarrhea or constipation
Doctors may recommend treating these side effects with medication if the person cannot eat or drink enough. Changing your diet can also help to a certain extent.
For example, there may be ways to make food easier to chew or to make eating more pleasant. This can include:
- pureed vegetable soups
- pureed fruits like applesauce
- Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
- mashed beans
- soft egg dishes such as scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal or porridge
Some foods can help relieve symptoms such as a sore throat or dry mouth. Warm, rich liquids like soup broth or herbal tea can soothe your throat while adding more water to your diet.
If the cold is more soothing to your throat, chewing frozen berries can help.
CLL treatment can vary for each person living with the condition. Doctors may recommend diet changes to support the body and immune system, and to relieve symptoms or complications of CLL or treatment.
The best dietary pattern can vary in each case. However, it generally includes a focus on a diet that may limit red meat, processed foods, and added sugars. A person may also consider working with a nutritionist to devise an appropriate meal plan and maintain adequate nutrition.
source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/cll-diet-what-to-know/
No comments:
Post a Comment