While it may be your best option, chemotherapy can come with its own set of struggles and side effects. One of the more significant side effects that chemotherapy can bring upon is the disruption of maintaining a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet is imperative when fighting off cancer as your body needs to be at full strength to stave off infection. But chemo can be tricky and can change the way your body reacts to different foods.
Chemo can cause a wide range of problems interfering with eating including nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, appetite loss, dry mouth, mouth sores, and changes to one’s sense of taste and smell. These side effects can get in the way of eating a healthy diet, which is ultra-important when your body is fighting off cancer and weakened by the therapy.
The infographic below, 20 Healthy Diet Tips for Chemotherapy, is important reading for anyone who is undergoing or soon to undergo chemotherapy. The tips are easy to follow and simple enough to keep in mind. We’d recommend even taping it to your fridge as a reminder! Whatever you can do that makes eating more enjoyable and nutritional is going to be worthwhile because you’ll feel so much healthier even during the tough times.
Don’t let this guide be the be-all and end-all either. Consult your physician or a dietician if you have questions or concerns about your diet plan going forward. Continue reading the guide for some dietary inspiration!
