Nutrition for cancer patients during and after treatment (in Hindi)

Nutrition during and after cancer treatment –

Summary of the talk at Tata Memorial cancer hospital, Mumbai on 5th Feb 2020 by Rujuta Diwekar

Part 1 - Foods to have during and after cancer treatment (chemo, radiation, etc.) to counter acidity, low energy, irritability, weakness, indigestion, lack of sleep, loss of appe****e, hair loss, etc.

1. Gulkand – mix in water and sip it during the day. Effective for acidity, burning sensation during the treatment. With milk in the night when you are having sleeplessness. Good for constipation also.

2. Rice - effective when you don't feel like eating anything. Also helps with irritability.
a) kanji or pej - liquid form of rice. Retains more nutrients than vegetable soups. Can add ghee to it.
b) Metkut rice – Add metkut mixture (dry dal and herbs) to rice to get a complete protein profile. (Instead of having rice with dal as sometimes patients don’t feel like having dal). Add ghee. Especially good for small kids. Metkut recipe is in Notes for healthy kids.

3. Home set curd - good source of b12 and helps with Hb production. For kids, when setting dahi add 4-5 black raisins. This way you can eat as mid meal also. Also effective for old people and for women with low Hb.

4. Chaas - hand churned chaas (back and forth action) and not in a mixer or with spoon. This way it retains all nutrients. Good for the intestinal mucosa and lining of the stomach which often gets compromised during treatment. With chaas add three things - Kala namak + jeera + hing. Good for acidity/ burning sensation. Also nourishes the taste buds and will bring back the appe****e.

5. Amla - as muramba, sherbet or pickle. Good source of vitamin c and b12 and helps in Hb production. Also works as an antacid. Make it now and use it through the year. 

6. Aliv – As Aliv laddoo for strength in the body. Good source of Iron and Folic acid. Eat it after 3-4 days post chemo. Is also effective for removing skin dullness and darkening and aids hair growth.

7. Nachni/ Ragi - for headache, mental fog, weak bones, etc. It is a good source of calcium and micro minerals. As nachni pej or kheer during treatment (when acidity is high) and later as bhakri, etc. 

Part 2 - What not to do during treatment -

Don't follow WhatsApp diets. For example –

a) green juices (raw vegetable juices) like wheatgr****, palak, methi, etc. Green vegetables are healthy but only when eaten after cooking with tadka, etc.
b) heating coconut water before drinking. Have it as we normally do and in small quan****ies. Have Tadgola also.
c) Haldi, jeera or ajwain shots. These ****es are effective in small quan****ies when used as part of cooking. If we have them in water, it will interfere with nutrient ****imilation. Too much Haldi will reduce levels of Iron also.
d) fasting - eating on time will make treatment effective and also prevents headaches, irritability and weakness. 

Part 3 - For caregivers –

- first acknowledge that you are doing a very difficult job and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Pay attention to your health as it effects the health of patient too.
- 3 meals you must have - a) don't come to hospital on an empty stomach, have a fresh fruit or a simple homemade nashta b) have lunch between 12-1 pm. Don't delay it to 3-4 pm. c) between 4-6 pm eat a wholesome meal. Helps with regulating cortisol. 
- Good option to bring with you when you accompany the patient for treatment is roti with ghee and jaggery. Other options - phodni cha bhaat (rice with tadka). Even phodni chi roti or chura.
- Exercise/ activity is important. For both patients and caregivers. Even a small time spent in being active helps. For caregivers, try and do 2-3 Surynamaskar every day. 

To summarize – It’s important to eat well to recover and to be in good shape to receive treatment.

#cancer #chemotherapy #radiation #caregivers

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  Diet