Diet & nutrition
12 articles shown
When Your Mouth Is Sore: Soft Meals You Can Still Swallow
Practical tips for eating with less pain when mouth sores (mucositis) flare up during chemotherapy. The basics: keep food lukewarm or cold, choose smooth textures, and steer clear of spicy, sour, and salty irritants. We suggest finely blended porridge enriched with sweet pumpkin, egg, tofu, soft fish, or yogurt so even small portions deliver protein, plus easy-to-swallow options like a banana shake spread across several small meals a day. It also covers mouth care, such as gentle rinsing after meals and avoiding alcohol-based mouthwash, and the warning signs, like being unable to swallow water or running a fever, that mean you should tell your care team.
When Your White Cell Count Drops During Chemo: Eating to Prevent Infection and Speed Recovery
A practical guide to managing your diet when chemotherapy for blood cancer has lowered your white blood cell count (especially neutrophils), so you can avoid infection and support recovery. It covers food hygiene, getting enough protein, soft meals for when your mouth is sore or you feel nauseous, and checking with your care team before using supplements - simple things you can put into practice right away.
After Gallbladder Removal: How to Plan Meals When Fatty Food Feels Heavy
Once the gallbladder is gone, you lose the ability to store bile and release it all at once, so eating a lot of fatty food in one sitting can leave your stomach feeling heavy. The trick isn't to cut out fat entirely but to split meals into smaller portions, eat slowly while chewing well, and choose the kinds of fat that go down more easily. Loose stools usually settle with time as your body adjusts, but lasting abdominal pain or weight loss is a reason to see a doctor.
How to Keep Protein Up During Treatment for Liver, Bile Duct, and Pancreatic Cancer
During treatment for liver, bile duct, or pancreatic cancer, a poor appetite and difficult digestion make it hard to get enough protein. Spread your daily target across every meal, and lean toward low-fat, soft proteins like white fish, egg whites, and soft tofu, steamed or boiled to go easy on the stomach. When food alone isn't enough, protein drinks can help, but the right amount depends on your liver function, so it's safest to decide with your medical team or dietitian.
Eating Again After Ovarian Cancer Surgery — Meals Until the Gut Wakes Up
After ovarian cancer surgery, meals are less about nutrition and more about gently waking a sleeping gut. You move up step by step from water to thin gruel to porridge, eating small amounts often. Stick to soft foods like plain rice porridge, tofu, and white fish, and take a break from rough vegetables, beans, fried food, and spicy seasonings for now. For constipation, frequent sips of water and light walking come before any laxative; if your belly keeps swelling or you have vomiting or fever, tell your care team right away.
When Your Appetite Disappears During Chemo: What Women with Gynecologic Cancer Can Keep at the Table
A practical guide to eating when your appetite drops off during chemotherapy for gynecologic cancer. Instead of large meals, go for small amounts often, use cooled foods that smell less, add soft proteins like steamed egg and soft tofu, skip harsh seasonings when your mouth is sore, and don't underestimate the meal's atmosphere or a short walk. Always check with your care team before starting any new supplement.
Building a Gut-Healthy, Fiber-Rich Diet Without the Hassle
A no-pressure guide to starting a fiber-focused diet for colon health. It covers the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber, simple ways to slip vegetables and whole grains into everyday meals, how to ramp up slowly while drinking enough water, and the habit of cutting back on processed foods, all framed around practical, real-life steps.
Eating Again After Stomach Surgery: One Small Step at a Time, From Liquids to Your Regular Table
A practical guide to recovering your eating routine after stomach (gastric) surgery, moving slowly from clear liquids and porridge up to a regular diet. It covers eating small amounts more often rather than larger meals, chewing thoroughly, cutting back on fluids during meals, limiting simple sugars to prevent dumping syndrome, and keeping up protein along with iron, B12, and calcium as you find your way back to everyday life.
After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis, When You Have No Idea What to Eat — A Practical Guide to Your Diet
A clear rundown of the diet questions that confuse people most after a hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer diagnosis. Everyday amounts of soy foods are fine, but be cautious with high-dose isoflavone supplements. During chemo, eat small, gentle meals often. Manage your weight and bones while on hormone therapy, cut back on alcohol, and keep your distance from unproven health products. In the end, an ordinary, varied, moderate plate is what matters most — and your oncologist and a dietitian are where you get the answer that fits you exactly.
That Pricey "Anti-Cancer Olive Oil" — How Much of It Is Real?
A plain-spoken take from a fellow patient on the hype behind expensive "anti-cancer" olive oil, the sleight of hand in its ingredient labels, and how to pick a perfectly good bottle without overpaying.
Don't Let the "Foods to Avoid" Lists Run Your Life
Rather than getting swept up in the "bad foods for cancer" lists floating around online, the priority during treatment is eating enough and eating a balanced diet, protein included. Learn to tell the difference between foods worth avoiding for hygiene reasons and the fear-driven taboos, and talk over your diet directly with your own care team and dietitian.
Before You Buy Oysters, Flip the Bag Over Once - Look for the Words "For Cooking Only"
A "for cooking only" label on supermarket oysters is a warning that they may carry norovirus, which can be dangerous for patients whose immunity is lowered by chemotherapy or surgery. If you do want to eat them, cook them all the way through at over 95C (203F) for more than a minute.