Diet & Supplements for Living with Cancer – Part I

This is not a claim to be an Anti Cancer Diet but is a living with cancer diet and maintaining a healthy immune system. A few simple changes can make a big difference to your daily life. These are the foods and some lifestyle choices I am currently following as best as possible. The diet is healthy and balanced for optimum health while fighting cancer; simply by making some decisions (to the best of our ability)  and changing our diet ~ starting with the most drastic changes first.

Be pro-active where you health is concerned
~ your family, kids and grandchildren will thank you !

Diet changes & comments

1. Red meat has been reduced in our diet except for the very rare occasion. No pun intended. And then of course it is hormone and chemical free - naturally !
2. Processed meats have been excluded from our diet for many years because of nitrites and MSG, so this is not a severe change
3. Over the past three years or so we have pretty much excluded fast / junk / non food from our lives. Glad our kids have grown up for this one !
4. Seafood (contains selenium) will continue to be in my diet once or twice a week as spot prawns, mussels and salmon are favourites. See CAP article on B.C. Spot Prawns
5. Increased consumption of raw, organic fruit and vegetable smoothies and fresh made juices
6. Carrot juice and Wild Berry Juice (both fresh, organic, raw) are my top smoothie or juice choices. Remember for fibre to continue to eat whole raw fruit and vegetables
7. Increased raw fruits and vegetables with antioxidants, such as fresh berries, kiwi, pineapple, carrots, brassicas, peppers and garlic to help boost the immune system
8. The family favourite BBQ or oven baked Greek white potato wedges will be reduced and exchanged for Sweet potatoes as they contain high levels of beta carotene
9. Use fresh rosemary when marinating or cooking on the BBQ. Anti-carcinogenic properties of rosemary
10. For a quick lunch add to freshly homemade juices : two heaped teaspoons of a plant based protein supplement which has fibre, omega-3, antioxidants, probiotics and “greens”. Just delicious.
11. One glass of wine recommended limit per day for ladies. Your choice!

Vitamins & Supplements

• Change in type and level of daily supplements taken minimal
• Continue taking Curcumin once or twice a day – total 600 to 650 mg for pain and disease fighting properties – please see CAP article on Turmeric
• Increase in Vitamin C daily supplement from 500 mg to 1 gram and increase by further 500 gram if feeling overly fatiqued, a cold coming on, etc.
• At the recommendation of BCCA started taking a daily multivitamin which is vegetarian based

Prescription & Over the counter drugs

• Regular Acetaminophen on a needs basis

Note: This does not include chemotherapy, radiation or monoclonal antibody related drugs during treatment or surgery. Nor does it include prescription drugs for other illnesses.

“Patience is the ability to idle your motor
when you feel like stripping your gears.”
~ Barbara Johnson

If you have found my blog it is perhaps because you or someone you love is living with cancer. I hope some of these Simple Lifestyle suggestions, though not comprehensive, gives you some ideas for your food decision making.

Please note :

This article has been split so the Links and Reference information will be the same for Part 1 – Diet Changes and Comments and Part 2 – Notes and Links and References

Your best source of medical care is your family doctor.
It can be downright terrifying to read about
possible diseases from symptoms "online".
During months of testing, surgery and waiting for results
refrain from checking “online”
to reduce stress.