Nutrition
Good nutrition is needed
for general good health and is particularly important when
you are ill.
During this time, it is important to give your body the proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals it needs for energy, repair of normal
tissue, and to keep your immune system strong to fight disease. Food is not
only something to delight the taste but is an essential ingredient in the
fight against disease. It is as important as your medicine or medical
therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy). Because of your
illness or treatments, you may not be able to eat in the same way as before.
You might find that your pleasurable experiences around eating are affected.
What Kinds of Food Do I Need?
A good rule to follow is to eat a variety of different foods every day. No one food or group of foods contains all of the nutrients you need. A diet to keep your body strong will include daily servings from these food groups:
Fruits and Vegetables: Raw or cooked vegetables, fruits, soups and fruit juices provide certain vitamins (such as A and C) and minerals the body needs. Vitamin A and C, important for the healing process,are provided by green & yellow vegetables like spinach (Palak), Beet roots, carrots, etc. Green coconut water is a rich source of vitamins and minerals.
Protein Foods: Protein helps your body heal itself and fight infection. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, yogurt, sprouted grams, dals and cheese give you protein as well as many vitamins and minerals.
Grains: Grains, such as bread, chapati, rice, and cereals, provide a variety of carbohydrates and B vitamins. Carbohydrates provide a good source of energy, which the body needs to function well.
Dairy Foods: Milk, Cottage cheese (Paneer), Dahi and other dairy products provide protein and many vitamins and are the best source of calcium.
Coping With Side Effects
The following offers practical hints for coping with treatment side effects that may affect your eating. These suggestions have helped other patients manage eating problems that can be frustrating to handle. Try all the ideas to find what works best for you. Share your needs and concerns with your family and friends, particularly those who prepare meals for you. Let them know that you appreciate their support as you work to take control of eating problems.
Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite or poor appetite is one of the most common problems that occurs with leukemia and its treatment. Many things affect appetite, including nausea, vomiting and being upset or depressed about having leukemia. A person who has these feelings, whether physical or emotional, may not be interested in eating. The following suggestions may help make mealtimes more relaxed so that you feel more like eating.
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Stay calm, especially at mealtimes. Don't hurry your meals.
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Involve yourself in as many normal activities as possible. If you feel uneasy and do not want to take part, don't force yourself.
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Try changing the time, place, and surroundings of meals. A candlelight dinner can make mealtime more appealing. Set a colorful table. Listen to soft music while eating. Eat with others or watch your favorite TV program while you eat.
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Eat whenever you are hungry. You do not need to eat just three main meals a day. Several small meals throughout the day may be even better.
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Eat food often during the day, even at bedtime. Have healthy food handy. Taking just a few bites of the right foods or sips of the right liquids every hour or so can help you get more nutrition.
Changed Sense of Taste or Smell
Your sense of taste or smell may change during your illness or treatment. A condition called mouth blindness or taste blindness may give foods a bitter or metallic taste, especially meat or other high-protein foods. Many foods will have less taste. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or the leukemia itself may cause these problems. Dental problems also can change the way foods taste. For most people, changes in taste and smell go away when their treatment is finished.
There is no "foolproof" way to improve the flavor or smell of food because each person is affected differently by illness and treatments. However, the tips given below should help make your food taste better. (If you also have a sore mouth, sore gums, or a sore throat, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian. They can suggest ways to improve the taste of your food without hurting the sore areas. Choose and prepare foods that look and smell good to you.
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Try using small amounts of flavorful seasonings such as basil.
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Serve foods at room temperature.
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Try using coriander, ginger or onion to add flavor to vegetables.
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Ask your dentist about special mouthwashes and good mouth care.
Nausea
Nausea, with or without vomiting, is a common side effect of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy. The disease itself, or other conditions unrelated to your leukemia or treatment, also may cause nausea.
Whatever the cause, nausea can keep you from getting enough food and needed nutrients. Here are some ideas that may be helpful:
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Ask your doctor about medicine to help control nausea and vomiting. These drugs are called antiemetics.
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Try toast, yogurt, sherbet,oatmeal, fruits and vegetables that are soft or bland, clear liquids (sipped slowly), and lime.
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Avoid fatty, greasy, fried, spicy or hot food with strong odors; and sweets such as candy, cookies, or cake.
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Eat small amounts often and slowly.
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Avoid eating in a room that's stuffy, too warm, or has cooking odors that might disagree with you
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Drink fewer liquids with meals. Drinking liquids can cause a full, bloated feeling.
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Drink or sip liquids throughout the day, except at mealtimes. Using a straw may help.
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Eat foods at room temperature or cooler; hot foods may add to nausea.
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Don't force yourself to eat favorite foods when you feel nauseated. This may cause a permanent dislike of those foods.
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Rest after meals, because activity may slow digestion. It's best to rest sitting up for about an hour after meals.
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If nausea is a problem in the morning, try eating dry toast or crackers before getting up.
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Wear loose-fitting clothes.
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Avoid eating for 1 to 2 hours before treatment if nausea occurs during radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
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Try to keep track of when your nausea occurs and what causes it (specific foods, events, surroundings). If possible, make appropriate changes in your diet or schedule. Share the information with your doctor or nurse.
Vomiting
Vomiting may follow nausea and may be brought on by treatment, food odors, gas in the stomach or bowel, or motion. In some people, certain surroundings, such as the hospital, may cause vomiting. If vomiting is severe or lasts for more than a few days, contact your doctor.
Very often, if you can control nausea, you can prevent vomiting. At times, though, you may not be able to prevent either nausea or vomiting. You may find some relief by using relaxation exercises or meditation. These usually involve deep rhythmic breathing and quiet concentration and can be done almost anywhere. If vomiting occurs, try these hints to prevent further episodes.
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Ask your doctor about medicine to control nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).
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Do not drink or eat until you have the vomiting under control.
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Once you have controlled vomiting, try small amounts of clear liquids(juices, water, lemonade and milk). Begin with 1 teaspoonful every 10 minutes, gradually increase the amount to 1 tablespoonful every 20 minutes, and finally try 2 tablespoonfuls every 30 minutes.
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When you are able to keep down clear liquids, try a full-liquid diet (clear liquds with small servigs of fruits, vegetables and cereals). Continue taking small amounts as often as you can keep them down.
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If you feel okay on a full-liquid diet, gradually work up to your regular diet. If you have a hard time digesting milk, you may want to try a soft diet instead of a full-liquid diet. When you feel okay on the soft diet, gradually add more foods to return to your regular diet.