Supplements for Cancer Patients
Supplements for cancer patients
Cancer refers to any one of many diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and can infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout your body.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the world. But survival rates are improving for many types of cancer, thanks to improvements in cancer screening, treatment and prevention.
Causes
Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to the DNA within cells. The DNA inside a cell is packaged into a large number of individual genes, each of which contains a set of instructions telling the cell what functions to perform, as well as how to grow and divide. Errors in the instructions can cause the cell to stop its normal function and may allow a cell to become cancerous.
Prevention
You have probably heard conflicting reports about cancer prevention. Sometimes a specific cancer-prevention tip recommended in one study is advised against in another. What’s known about cancer prevention is still evolving. However, it’s well-accepted that your chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices you make.
So if you’re interested in preventing cancer, take comfort in the fact that simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.
What you eat is important.
Your body needs enough calories and nutrients to stay strong. But the disease can make it hard to get what you need, which can be different before, during, and after treatment. And sometimes, you just won’t feel like eating. You don’t need a drastic diet makeover. Just a few simple tricks to make good-for-you foods, easy and appetizing.
There is no single superfood that can prevent cancer. Rather, a holistic dietary approach is likely to be most beneficial. Scientists estimate that eating the optimal diet for cancer may reduce your risk by up to 70% and would likely help recovery from cancer as well. They believe that certain foods can fight cancer by blocking the blood vessels that feed cancer in a process called anti-angiogenesis.
Nutrition
However, nutrition is complex, and how effective certain foods are at fighting cancer varies depending on how they are cultivated, processed, stored, and cooked. Optimal nutrition can enhance quality of life and treatment in people with cancer and help prevent malnutrition. A healthy, balanced diet with sufficient protein and calories is best.
What are the Best Vitamins for Cancer Patients?
Walk down the vitamins and supplements aisle of a pharmacy or grocery store, and you will see a mind-boggling array of options. It can be hard to know which one is best. And if you’re a cancer patient looking for the right dietary supplement, there are even more issues to take into account.
How do you know what’s the best — and safest — choice? – Studies have shown that some supplements can decrease the effectiveness of cancer treatment. St. John’s Wort, sometimes used for depression, has been shown to lower the effects of chemotherapy by more than half, while vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, beta carotene, and other antioxidants might have similar effects on radiation and chemotherapy. The best option might be to consider a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral that does not contain high amounts of a singular vitamin or mineral, however it will always be better to consult with your doctor on this.
Can phytochemical intake help?
Phytochemicals, which are naturally according to compounds in plant foods, are reported to provide various biological functions in humans. Plant pigment phytochemicals, carotenoids and flavonoids, are the most extensively studied phytochemicals for their antioxidant functions as well as potential preventive medicinal benefits such as maintaining inflammation balance, reducing the risk of certain cancers, and promoting cardiovascular, neurocognitive, eye, and bone health in humans.