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How to eat during an oncological disease, what to eat and what to avoid, and what is specialized medical nutrition and why should it be an integral part of treatment? - to these and other questions as part of the educational campaign "Medical nutrition - Your meals in the fight against disease", Ewa Ceborska-Scheiterbauer, a dietitian specializing in the nutrition of people suffering from oncology, answers.
During an oncological disease, the metabolic rate and the body's need for nutrients often increase. What's more, there are often side effects that make it difficult to eat, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, or even anorexia. It happens that eating meals is additionally difficult due to irritation of the oral mucosa and gastrointestinal tract or difficulties in swallowing. In such a situation, ensuring the proper level of nutrition of the body is a real challenge.
First of all, remember that a properly composed diet can significantly minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and improve the effects of treatment. Despite these ailments, it is extremely important to meet the body's daily nutrient requirements. Composing an appropriate diet is always an individual matter, so each patient should consult his or her menu with a doctor or dietitian.
If the patient does not experience side effects from the treatment, the diet should not significantly differ from the optimal, balanced diet of a he althy person. Very often it is necessary to increase the amount of protein in the menu. It is important that the diet fully meets the body's needs for all nutrients. However, there are situations when the traditional diet is not enough. Then it is worth introducing oral nutritional preparations that contain a large dose of energy and supplementary nutrients dailya diet in the right proportions. As a result, they help to maintain the proper level of nutrition of the sick person's body, which increases the chances of improving the overall condition of the body and preparing for the therapy process.
There is no universal diet that would be suitable for everyone. Therefore, all patients should benefit from professional nutritional advice when starting the treatment process. However, there are a few rules that can make eating easier. First of all, it is worth taking care of regular meals in small portions from 5 to 6 times a day. This will avoid excessive strain on the digestive system already weakened by a disease. The daily diet should include fresh vegetables and fruits (raw, cooked or baked depending on the patient's he alth and type of cancer). Products with a high protein content play the most important role in the diet, e.g. lean curd, natural yoghurt, lean meat or sea fish. These products should not be missing from the daily menu. Energy sources, in turn, should be found in stale bread, pasta, groats, as well as in a small amount of vegetable fats. In order to properly hydrate the body, you should drink about 2 liters of water a day. Still water, light tea, cereal coffee or, in some cases, small amounts of freshly squeezed juices with no added sugar will be ideal.
Medical nutrition is high-energy, specialized nutritional preparations containing an appropriate composition of nutrients, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The purpose of the use of oral nutritional supplements is to cover the body's increased demand for essential nutrients when the traditional diet is insufficient or when the patient has difficulty eating. Properly introduced medical nutrition supports treatment and gives strength to fight the disease.
Oral nutritional supplements are best used as a supplement to your daily diet. The body's need for individual components may differ depending on the patient. Usually, it is recommended to consume 2 bottles a day, but it can sometimes increase to 5 or 7 bottles a day depending on the selected preparation. The preparation is best consumed chilled because thenit tastes best. Quick intake of the product, due to the high concentration of nutrients, may overload the digestive tract, so it is recommended to consume it slowly, for about 30 minutes. Specialized nutritional preparations can be used alone between meals, as a base or addition to dishes to increase their nutritional value.