5 Healthy Foods You Should Eat During Breast Cancer Treatment

It is difficult to know exactly what impact cancer treatment will have on your body. Beyond the physical toll the treatments often have, appetite is commonly affected.    

As is so often the case, the best defense is a strong offense. Heading into treatment, it is critically important to best prepare your body for the battle ahead.

There are many great foods – so called super foods – that are not only extremely high in nutrition, but also provide sources of much-needed energy for your body. 

While no one food can ever prevent or cure cancer, let’s take a quick look at five foods that have shown benefit in helping you keep nourished and strong during treatment.

Eggs: During cancer treatment your body needs protein in order to rebuild cells, eggs are not only high in protein, but are also a great source of vitamins B, D and E which may help to protect your body from cancer drug toxins. Eggs also contain a high abundance of choline, a nutrient found in the yolk that has been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer.  

Ginger: Ginger has shown a tremendous ability to help with nausea – something that affects more than 70 percent of patients during cancer treatment. In fact, a 2009 study revealed that ginger may possess anti-inflammatory qualities that actually help in reducing the nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy treatments. In addition, ginger has been shown to improve the absorption of essential nutrients in the body.

Brussels Sprouts (Cruciferous Vegetables): Several studies have linked greater consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and turnips with a decreased occurrence of several forms of cancer due to their ability to help your body detoxify. 

Beans & Legumes: Legumes, a class of vegetables that includes beans, peas and lentils, are a natural on any anti-cancer food list as they provide a great source of B vitamins, antioxidants and valuable protein which aids your body in healing and strengthens your immune system. In addition, legumes are usually very low in fat, cholesterol free, and high in potassium, iron and magnesium.

Shiitake Mushrooms: Cultivated the world over for the reported health benefits, shiitake mushrooms contain lentinan, an immune system-stimulating compound that reportedly activates cells and proteins that may inhibit cancerous growths. A great source of iron and minerals, shiitake mushrooms also contain B vitamins, niacin, choline, folate, zinc and manganese.  Shiitake mushrooms are also a great source of plant based protein.

John Lahtinen is a Connecticut-based freelance writer and editor who has written about policy, personalities, trends and new technology in the healthcare arena.

Follow him on Twitter @JohnLahtinen.