Frequently Asked Questions
by Anita Vincent, RD, CSO, LDN
Do I need a special diet?
Not usually. A good nutrition goal is to maintain your usual weight, avoiding
weight loss or weight gain. Try to eat
at least 3 times a day to provide your body with energy. Make healthful foods a
part of your diet when you can – vegetables, fruits, whole grains, plant oils
like olive and canola oil, nuts and seeds.
Do I need extra protein?
Probably not. Do have some protein at each meal. Good protein sources are lean
poultry, fish, low fat dairy, lean beef or pork, eggs, low sugar peanut butter,
and soy foods. The typical American diet contains more than enough protein even
if you are being treated for cancer.
What about dieting?
Avoid rapid weight loss during treatment, unless ordered by your physician.
After treatment, work on getting to a healthy weight with the help of a
nutrition professional.
Do I need vitamins or supplements?
Probably not.
Avoid high dose supplements of Vitamin C, A, E and selenium (though you can eat foods high in these
nutrients). Ask your doctor or dietitian
about your particular supplements. Tell your oncologist exactly what you are
taking.
What if foods don’t taste right?
The
taste of food can change during treatment. Try spicy, bland, sweet or sour
foods. One of these four types of food
might taste “normal” to you. You can
also try foods you don’t normally eat as you will have no taste expectations for
these dishes.
What areas can a Registered Dietitian help me with?
Nutrition and food-related issues such as loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea,
constipation, weight loss or weight gain, and supplement use are just a few.
What you eat matters.
Your food choices:
- influence how well you tolerate your treatment
- help you heal and recover more quickly afterwards
- optimize your future health
Nutrition Services
includes personalized nutrition consults on any food/nutrition related topic
including eating to manage side effects, optimizing your immune system and
weight management (loss or gain). We can
help you decide which supplements you need…or don’t need.
Making smart food
choices can be confusing in the best of times. Let us help you sort through the facts and the
fiction.
For more information and to make an appointment, call the
Wings Cancer Foundation Oncology Nutrition Specialist at 901-683-0055 Ext. 1250.