~ Mrs. Apeksha Ekbote, MSc, RD, Chief Dietician, NephroPlus ~
As rightly said, a healthy diet
is important for every individual. However, for those who are suffering from
Kidney cancer, a healthy diet plays a vital role. Having a nutritional and
healthy meal pattern after treatment of kidney cancer can help a patient feel
better and regain his/her strength. Having said that, many cancer treatments
can cause nausea or lead to gastrointestinal problems, eventually interfering
with one's ability to eat and process food normally. In many cases, patients
may lose their appetites entirely or even witness mouth sores that can make it
difficult to eat anything.
Due to these Cancer Cachexia
symptoms, the dietary needs and nutritional importance should be enhanced.
Meals planned should be high in calories, protein and should contain immune
enhancing foods. While your doctor or dietitian will guide you with the right
diet, a patient's should take care of the Do's and Don'ts such as:
Do's
·
Eat
Healthy Food – A healthy food will help a person's body restoring normal
tissues, infection prevention, and maintain strength and energy. Well-balanced
diets include lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, high biological value
protein source like lean chicken or fish or soya products.
·
Watch out
for protein intake – A body does need an adequate amount of proteins to
maintain muscle mass, however, kidney cancer patients need to be aware of how
much of it they eat. Generally, the kidneys filter the waste out of your body,
but that waste can build up in one's bloodstream when the kidneys aren't functioning
normally. Hence depending on whether or not one is on dialysis the protein
intake may increase or decrease
·
Monitor
the phosphorus in the diet –While seeds, nuts, and beans that are high in
phosphorus can be enjoyed, one should watch out for the quantity of
consumption. Phosphorus, which is a chemical element, can build up in one's
bloodstream, especially the kidneys don't work at full capacity. Limiting Dairy
and dairy products to 300ml/day will also help one keep a check on the
phosphorus levels.
·
Limit
your meal quantity during the day - Kidney cancer patient s normally feel
nausea, diarrhea, and constipation during treatments, hence you need to adjust
how and when you eat. Instead of large meals during the day, consume smaller
portions every few hours
Don'ts
·
Avoid
drinking too much fluids – Since a kidney cancer patient's kidney isn't
functional at optimum levels, the body might not be able to make urine. Access
fluid can cause swelling, high blood pressure, and shortness of breath
·
Avoid too
much salt consumption - Sodium can cause high blood pressure, which deepens
kidney problems. Hence one should find alternate seasonings solutions such as
herbs or lemon juice. Also stay away from processed snacks and meats, canned
foods, and fast food, all of which can contain a high amount of sodium. Also,
read food labels to keep a check on the sodium content.
·
Do not
assume that all diseases come with the same food recommendations – Do not
presume that all cancer diseases have the same diet plan. Diet suggestions can
be different for every cancer, so make sure you relook at nutrition information
specified for kidney cancer
·
Do not
stop exercising - Exercise is an important factor for any person who has a
specific disease or has undergone surgery. However, it is mandatory to consult
your doctor about the type of workout that’s best for you
As your would have understood by
now, what’s good to be consumed and not, there can be a variety of eating
issues associated with kidney cancer treatments, therefore is it very important
to work with a registered dietitian or nutritionist to create a plan that’s
best for you. Your nutritionist can help you find strategies to avoid
malnutrition or excessive weight loss and find you the right diet to maintain
strength, keep your bones and body healthy, and decrease the side effects of
your treatment.
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