Best Diet for Chemotherapy Patients: A Complete Guide to Nourishing Your Body

After getting a diagnosis of an illness that requires chemotherapy treatment, you may feel out of control with the new routine that is your daily life.

Upcoming appointments, poked by needles, and the repetitive questions asked each time you meet with medical professionals can be overwhelming not only to the mind but also to the body - on top of the actual infusion. The only thing we can control as cancer thrivers, is to manage the best diet for for chemotherapy patients like us, so here's a complete guide to nourishing your body.

Why Nutrition Matters During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy infuses the body with heavy-duty cancer-fighting chemicals- some being flower extracts from Madagascar - to kill all cancer cells that have taken hold. While chemotherapy kills all cancer cells, it also rids the body of any fast-dividing cells, which are what make up the mouth, intestinal lining, and scalp. This is why most cancer patients experience hair loss, acid reflux, and either constipation or diarrhea. In between these treatments is when we can step in to provide additional help to the wounded body. The care and rest that you get throughout chemotherapy are life-changing and reduce the chance of relapse.

After being placed in the ER for five days after a severe digestion issue, I realized that anything that I put into my body during this state of healing was either going to help me get out of bed, or keep me in pain.

The following is a complete list of the best diet for chemotherapy patients, which are nutritional tips to use during chemotherapy treatment for better recovery - tried and true - that supported my system full of energy and kept me alert in between chemotherapy treatments! These recipes are very simple and easy for the digestive tract, which can be irritated or bloated during this time, so it can heal itself - that's the answer.

Nourishing Foods for Chemotherapy Recovery

Best Diet for Chemotherapy Patients Milk Thistle Tea

Known for its amazing role in assisting the liver in waste removal, this bitter-tasting tea also boasts a role in keeping the kidneys filtering properly and staying clean. A very dry, bitter taste, milk thistle is considered a 'weed' but can benefit the body's healing process before and after infusion treatment. Milk Thistle is also a plant that can be found in nature, and all parts can be used, from eating the leaves (after a good boil) to using the seed as a substitute for coffee.

Ginger, Beet, Pear & Carrot Juice

I'm not going to lie to you, your tongue and taste buds are severely burnt after treatments, leaving your mouth feeling like it was scraped completely raw. The metallic taste also happens to a vast majority of people who undergo chemotherapy, so coming to your appointment armed with icy treats is critical to avoiding this nasty bit. Ginger helps reduce nausea, and the other root veggies help keep the body filled with nutrients, even when you might not feel like eating much.

Oatmeal Porridge with Banana

The fluffiness of the oatmeal porridge breakfast will soothe a troubled tummy and ease constipation. Adding a mashed banana can add the right amount of sweetness.

Also, chopping the oats in a blender for a quick 5 seconds makes an even creamier porridge base. Add on any additional toppings that your heart desires!

Bone Broth with Mushroom Collagen & Miso

The healing power of bone broth also works as a soothing agent for digestive lining - which is literally one cell layer thick - and provides the body with enough protein fuel to stay alert throughout the day. The boosters, mushroom collagen, and miso paste add flavor to the broth and keep the skin looking healthy and plump, not to mention filling the gut with healthy bacteria.

Quinoa, Legumes & Red Onion Medley

Legumes are a major source of fiber and iron. Accompanied with quinoa and onions, make for a yummy, healthy meal that will be filling while being easy on the digestive tract and stomach. Quinoa is also a good source of soluble fiber, just what you'll need to make sure you stay regular.

Roasted Chicken Egg Noodle Soup

This hearty soup is best for when you don't feel good. And unfortunately, it'll be a lot of times that comes up during chemotherapy treatment. Stay ahead of the wipe-out after infusions by making a large pot of Chicken Egg-Noodle Soup. The vegetables and chicken are loaded with protein, so be sure to savor each bite.

Paprika-Crusted Chicken Thighs with Kale & Kidney Beans

Kale is a super green food that has many health benefits, which is why it is my all-time favorite for meal prepping! I also love a healthy spoonful of red kidney beans with some hot sauce! The chicken breast will be encrusted in paprika powder so that you can absorb the nutrients from the Paprika pepper. Parika is known to reduce inflammation, and this is why she made the list! If quinoa isn't your thing, feel free to grab some rice instead (I say Basmati).

Herbal Teas for Recovery

• Hibiscus & Rose Tea with Honey: Opens the heart and aids circulation.

• Hawthorn Berry Tea: Supports digestion and blood flow.

• Matcha with Oat Milk: Antioxidant-rich and calming.

• Cacao with Oat Milk & Coconut Sugar: Nourishes mood and spirit.

• Hibiscus & Rose Tea with Raw Honey

Infused Spring Water with Herbs

Stay ahead of dehydration. Add citrus and rosemary to amplify nutrient absorption and encourage water intake

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I fill up my water tumbler upon waking and chug it down, just so that the water is in me. After that, my next water intake is filled with loving herbs that infuse my body with the nutrients I feel that I need for the next three days. Because - reminder - what you are eating and drinking goes further than until it is digested. The body is taking the food you put in it and using it as fuel, so if you notice extreme body odor, mucus build-up, constipation, etc. then you can deduce that the diet is what led to these symptoms. Stay on top of your water intake, it is saving your life.

Green Juice (Fennel, Kale, Cucumber, Pear)

This is what I wish I had more of during my chemotherapy sessions - Green juice! The benefits of drinking vegetable juice are more than I could ever put in a blog, but to put it simply, JUICE AND DRINK JUICE. Period.

Green vegetables, you know, kale, spinach, arugula, fennel, collards, those greens, are extremely beneficial to our already stressed-out bodies. Dark, leafy greens are amazing in providing the body with the daily needed vitamins and digging deep into cells, nourishing them from the inside out.

If you can drink at least ONE green juice a day, you'll be well on your way to restoring your body. I'm still experimenting with different green varieties, Fennel and Kale being my favorite greens at the moment, so once I have a set of recipes that I love - I will share it with you all! I usually blend kale, cucumber, fennel, and a green pear to chug down half an hour before eating my breakfast.

Healing Is in the Nourishment

Bottom line, cancer sucks. Needing chemotherapy sucks. The aftermath can devastate a body beyond what the outside eye can see, and it is up to YOU to give back to a body that has fought so hard for YOU. To heal. To live.

So let's do that.

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Cited Sources

1. Janke, R., & DeArmond, J. (2004, May). K-State Research and extension: MF-2618 A grower’s guide: Milk Thistle. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2618.pdf

2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321726