This October 19 marks once again the International Day of the Fight Against Breast Cancer, a date in which the work that has been carried out in the prevention of this disease, which is one of the most frequent in women, is made visible. arriving, according to the Pan American Health Organization, to affect 30.7% of them.
In this matter, it is important to bear in mind that food plays a fundamental role in the treatment of the disease and also in its prevention, as stated by Les Bohórquez, a nutritionist at our Institution, when saying that cancer is characterized by uncontrolled growth. and the spread of abnormal cells caused by internal and external factors, “such as tobacco use, infectious organisms, and unhealthy diet and eating habits.”
In this way, it is essential to eat a healthy diet, which provides nutrients to the body, “decrease the consumption of simple sugars, increase the consumption of vegetables and protein at all meal times and include physical activity as part of our routine, since it can favor to improve our quality of life”, explains the nutritionist Bohórquez.
How should a breast cancer patient eat?
Their diet should be as varied as possible, “taking into account the inclusion of all food groups, the protein intake that is important in maintaining muscle mass, the restriction of the consumption of simple sugars, such as sodas or sugary drinks due to their high glycemic load; limit the consumption of alcohol and “fast foods”, as well as other high-fat processed products that offer no benefit”, says the nutritionist.
Are vitamin supplements recommended for a patient?
If there is any specific deficit, supplements are recommended, but if you have a complete, balanced and adequate diet, this supplies all the body’s requirements and it is not necessary to use any supplement to compensate it.
recommendations
- Food must be divided: breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, mid-afternoon and dinner.
- Include a protein of high biological value in the main meals. You can choose between meat, fish, eggs or milk.
- Use soft and easily chewed foods, it is sought that the effort in the food is not increased.
- Carbohydrates must be complex, for example: cereals: rice, pasta, corn and derivatives (arepa), tubers and roots: common (black) potato, Creole potato, cassava, arracacha, cubios and the like; bananas: green or ripe hartón.
- Avoid consumption of simple sugars or formulas with caloric contributions enriched in easily absorbed carbohydrates, such as sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, high fructose corn syrup.
- For cooking use moderate oils such as: sunflower, corn, soybean, olive or canola. Avoid the use of margarines, butter or mayonnaise because they provide saturated fat. It includes foods with a contribution of omega 3 fatty acids for its anti-inflammatory effect.
- Take extra precautions when preparing food. Wash your hands frequently and avoid unpasteurized dairy products or raw meat, eggs and shellfish.
- Do intensity exercise
At Clínica Grupo Quirónsalud we have the Cancer Service, made up of world-class specialists with extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, in addition to all the technological support to provide patients with safety in their treatment.
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