Mesothelioma and the importance of good nutrition

Everyone knows and recognizes that the key component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is incorporating good nutrition into your diet, especially if you have mesothelioma cancer or some other health-compromising disease. People with mesothelioma can benefit greatly from eating a nutrient-dense diet, which will undoubtedly fluctuate as they progress through their treatment protocol, requiring a wide variety of healthy, nutritious foods.

Eating a healthy diet that contains all the necessary nutrients that the human body needs can be a daunting challenge overall. However, people with mesothelioma and other cancers can find it even more difficult to stick to a healthy eating plan. Eating a well-balanced diet is especially important for people with mesothelioma as they struggle with nausea and loss of appetite, as nutritious foods help maintain energy, boost the immune system, and ward off free radicals that can trigger cancer. Additionally, proper nutrition is vital to lessen the detrimental side effects that some mesothelioma treatments may incur.

Mesothelioma victims face various nutritional requirements, as cancer treatments can produce nutrition-related side effects. For example, a patient undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may experience difficulty eating on a regular basis, as these types of treatments are known to cause severe nausea. In addition, patients after surgery are usually weak and therefore have difficulty eating proper food. Other cancer treatment side effects that could sabotage an ideal nutrition plan include widespread pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, difficulty swallowing, anorexia, bulimia, anxiety, depression, and mouth sores.

It is crucial to maintain a nutritional diet before, during, and after cancer treatments, as malnutrition can cause weakness, exhaustion, and leave the patient vulnerable to infection. Common dietary problems faced by many cancer patients are not consuming enough calories and protein, which are critical to promoting healing, preventing infection, and maintaining energy levels. A well balanced and healthy diet can result in a better outcome for the patient.

Here are some nutritional suggestions to combat mesothelioma and stay healthy while enduring the cancer treatment protocol.

– Keep your body fully hydrated to flush out harmful toxins that accompany certain cancer treatments

– Discuss an optimal diet plan with your dietitian that is customized to specifically meet your needs

– Consider a low-carbohydrate diet while integrating plenty of healthy protein-rich foods that help restore tissue damaged due to surgery or other mesothelioma therapies, as well as boost the immune system.

– If you have difficulty swallowing or nausea, eat softer foods or liquids rich in vitamins. Create healthy fruit smoothies or consume ready-made liquid dietary supplements if solid foods are intolerable for you

– Incorporate healthy fats into your diet to maintain energy levels and avoid depression.

– Avoid extreme weight loss by eating high-calorie foods, including real cheeses, milk, and butter if you experience loss of appetite.

– Check with your doctor or physician to ensure you are getting an ample supply of the essential nutrients your body needs.