Diet Tips for Breast Cancer Survivor

Lots of women have recovered from breast cancer. Most of them believe that along with treatment and exercise, a healthy diet is also an important factor in improving overall health. Good eating habits always help women prevent breast cancer as well as the recurrence of cancer. Nutrition experts say that if women can include certain foods in their daily diet, then the chances of their survival surely increase. Maintaining the weight is important for breast cancer survivors. With a balanced diet, you can easily retain your weight. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins are highly recommended as healthy foods for breast cancer survivors. In this blog, let’s learn more about the diet tips for breast cancer survivor.

Apart from following a healthy meal plan, overcoming stress after undergoing breast cancer surgery is also important.

Healthy Eating After Breast Cancer

Women who have survived breast cancer should act according to their doctor’s advice. There are many dietary guidelines for cancer survivors. Some of these guidelines are common for all breast cancer survivors. However, a person who has survived breast cancer must consult their doctor before starting any diet because each patient’s body is unique. Here are some of the common post-cancer diet tips.

Nutrition for Breast Cancer Survivors

Even after taking a lot of breast cancer precautions, the disease affects many women across the world. After undergoing treatment procedures, their bodies might become weak. So, they need to follow a proper meal plan and regular exercise to regain strength and prevent the recurrence of breast cancer.

A healthy diet after breast cancer treatment is crucial. Here, we share some diet tips for breast cancer survivors.

Fat Consumption

Eating food low in fat is the best diet for breast cancer survivors. Low-fat food items are an essential part of breast cancer nutrition. Limit the daily fat intake up to 30% of your calories. Survivors who are overweight should limit their high-calorie foods to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

A diet rich in high fat also contains high calories, which causes obesity and increases the risk of cancers. Due to high weight, more estrogen circulates in the body and then there are more chances of breast cancer. As per studies, fat may initiate breast development. So limit the intake of food items that contain highly saturated fat and trans fats such as cheese, butter, cream, beef, lamb, full-fat dairy and fried foods. Avoid foods such as crackers and baked goods because they contain trans fatty acids.

Addition of Fruits and Vegetables

Make sure to include at least five servings of vegetables and fruits in the daily diet. They contain phytochemicals, which may prevent cancer recurrence. Fruits and vegetables are some of the best breast cancer foods to eat.

Whole Grain Foods and Fibre

Prefer whole grain foods such as cereals, whole grain bread and brown rice. Whole grains are rich in fibre, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals and phytochemicals. Make sure the fibre intake is 25 grams to 35 grams daily. Fibre is beneficial for cancer survivors as it lowers the level of estrogen in the body. Eat oats, brown rice and whole wheat pasta, instead of white bread and white rice. With a high-fibre diet, women can control their appetite so that they can consume less calories. This is the reason why fibre must be included in the diet after breast cancer surgery. Fiber is also one of the nutrients that every woman needs.

Other Food Items to be Included

Foods such as sweet potatoes, squash and dark leafy greens are rich in carotenoids, which reduce the risk of cancer. Eat more fish and poultry items. Fish contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fat, which is useful in preventing the growth of breast tumors. Salmon, cod, haddock and sardines are some of the fish categories that can be included in your foods to eat for breast cancer. Note that only fish is beneficial to prevent cancer and not the fish oil supplements. 

Include food items containing good fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in your daily diet. These good fats are available in olive oil, canola oil, avocado, olives, nuts and natural nut butter.

Food Items to be Avoided

Avoid processed meat and red meat. Instead, eat chicken, fish and beans. Limit the daily alcohol intake to one drink.

Wrapping Up

We hope you had a clear understanding of the diet tips for breast cancer survivor. Diet and exercise are important for breast cancer survivors. A well-balanced diet with vegetables, protein and fruits is recommended for breast cancer survivors because many doctors suggest such a cancer recovery diet plan for lots of patients.

FAQs

1. What foods to avoid after breast cancer?

Avoid the following food items if you have battled and survived breast cancer recently.

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Sugary foods
• Processed foods
• Fried foods
• Raw/undercooked poultry, meat and fish
• Leftovers (if they are more than 3-4 days, even if you have refrigerated them)

2. What should a person eat after breast cancer?

During the course of breast cancer treatment, the body tends to lose immunity. So, if you have undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy or any other type of treatment, you must build your strength by having a protein-rich diet. Protein can make you feel fit. You can include poultry, fish, lean meat, beans, soya, lentils and other sources of protein in your diet.

3. What is the best fruit for breast cancer?

Breast cancer survivors can add apples, oranges and bananas to their diet. However, one should get approval from their doctor before proceeding with any additions or deletions in their diet.