Hi everybody! I have a special post in mind for today. Recently, I was contacted by a reader, also a writer, wanting to share information on my blog related to cancer. Specifically about how eating healthfully and living a healthy lifestyle have a positive impact in the battle against cancer. Oftentimes cancer is not something that a person usually worries about. It seems that other health concerns are more prominent in our minds. And there are researchers and scientists who devote so much time and efforts to finding cures for various cancers. And some people help raise money for cancer funds as a job. However, according to a 2012 Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer noted that: continued progress against cancer in the United States will require individual and community efforts to promote healthy weight and sufficient physical activity among youth and adults. I’ve had people dear to me share their experiences with cancer, and most of the time they realized that major dietary and lifestyle changes had to occur. A positive and hopeful attitude are also on the list for: how to survive cancer. So with that, here’s a guest post by a woman with a big heart, Jillian McKee.

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What to Eat and What to Avoid During Cancer

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer, are undergoing treatment, or are in remission, good nutrition is an essential part of maintaining your health. Scientific research has demonstrated that a healthy diet, and plenty of exercise, can decrease cancer symptoms and treatment side effects. It may even prevent cancer from coming back in the future!

Foods to Avoid

• Processed foods such as TV dinners and snack cakes are full of excess sugar, sodium, chemicals, and harmful fats. While many of them claim to be nutrient-enriched, this only means that they’ve been dusted with poor-quality vitamins that are difficult for the body to absorb.
• Soy is another thing to steer clear of. This so-called health food has been shown to prevent the thyroid from functioning properly and cause levels of cortisol and estrogen to skyrocket.
• Vegetable oils should also be avoided. While many people believe them to be a healthy alternative to other fats, this is a dire misconception. Oils such as canola, corn, and soybean are highly susceptible to oxidation, so they’re rancid long before they reach supermarket shelves. In scientific studies, rancid oils were shown to promote inflammation and cause cellular damage, both of which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
• Refined sugar is perhaps the worst food that someone with cancer can eat. The term “refined” means that the sugar has been heavily adulterated and stripped of its original nutrients during processing. What’s left is a product that depletes your body of critical nutrients, promotes obesity, and fuels the growth of cancer cells.

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Foods to Eat

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• Consider replacing all of your conventional cooking oils with red palm oil. This is a nutritious and unrefined oil that comes from the fruit of the palm tree. Red palm oil is rich in vitamins and fatty acids that promote energy, healing and strong immunity.
• Another food that will benefit people suffering or recovering from cancer is fish, which is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have revealed that DHA (found in fish) boosts the therapeutic effects of certain chemotherapy drugs and limits their side effects. It may also help to shrink tumors!
• At any stage of your cancer battle, you should try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, especially if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Studies show that patients who eat a largely plant-based diet suffer fewer side effects from treatment and are less likely to have their cancer return. Even if you don’t have cancer, fruits and vegetables are loaded with many antioxidants and phytonutrients that have been proven to discourage the development of cancer.

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Jillian McKee, a cancer survivor, spends most of her time committed to outreach efforts sharing the knowledge on curing cancer through a combination of complementary and alternative medicine alongside traditional cancer treatment. She is currently the Community Outreach Director at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, and has been there since June of 2009. You can read more articles of hers, and find ways to connect if you’d like right over here.