what to eat, etc...?

debisongbird

Hello everyone,  I am about to start rads next week and want to make over my diet. During chemo I ate whatever I wanted (or could tolerate.) Some things I gave up because I just couldn't eat them. But now, I want to eat healthy and take vitamins. I'm wondering what others are doing. What vitamins do you take and in what dosages. Also, I am trying very hard to give up sugar. One, I am prone to thrush, etc. and two, I actually gained weight during chemo. Lots of chocolates and frozen yoghurt. Now, I want to change. I know sugar will be the most difficult to give up. I love cookies. And, I am supposed to start AROMASIN after rads. I am also nervous about that. Anyone else on Aromasin? I've heard you gain weight within weeks of taking it???!!! Yikes!!! Anyway, any suggestions or help you could pass on would be appreciated. Thanks, Debi Songbird

baywatcher

My suggestion is to adopt a plant based diet. Limit refined carbs and sugars. That means giving up cookies. I was a cookie monster too. Avoid meat and dairy. Eat all you want of colorful fruits and veggies. Read "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell and "Anti-Cancer" as well as "Food for Life" by Neal Bernard. 

Good Luck 

lexislove

Debi,

I was advised NOt to take vitamins / supplements during rads. Rad onc said....I dunno I just listened lol.

Anyways, after I had to loose the weight too. I cut out ALL suger, carbs and dairy and I basically had 1 slice of flour free bread a day. No fatty meats Ex, beef / pork. I only ate chicken breasts, turkey and fish. I used no oil just Pam spray and no sauces.They contain mostly sugar. Sugar Free Jello cups were my life saver. It was basically the Dr. Bernstein diet. a friend had gone on it and losta ton of weight.....and I borowed her guidlines.

 It was hard, but I lost about 25lbs in 2.5 months. This was drastic but I was soooo depressed on the weight gain. When I got diagnosed back in 2007, I had lost my "baby" weight after my daughter. I lost 30 lbs...it took me a year. but when I started chemo those 30 lbs quickly came back on. I ate whatever I could handle...I had cravings just like being pregnant it was very strange.

I am on Tamoxifen but have NOT gained weight because of it.

Before Christmas I went to a Naturalpathis Doctor regarding supplements ext. My concern was prevention of recurrence and energy and over all healthy living. Here were her recommendations and I follow them daily:

Multi Vitmain with extra B Vitamins 6,12, good quality Omega 3 Fish Oil, Vitamin D 100mg, Calcium + Magnesium 1000mg ( I don't eat dairy thats why its high), Co Enzyme Q10 100mg, and 2 intestinal flora capsules containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus Longum.

Jorf

I agree with baywatcher in general but am a strong believer in following sweet cravings to a certain extent. If you think you can never have them you'll drive yourself crazy and crave them all the time. There are no absolutes in food choices other than there are no absolutes (at least in my mind). I am very plant based but plant based does include whole grains and chocolate adding up to chocolate chip cookes (big grin!). Seriously tho I do, mostly, avoid feeding the 42 (or however many there are) sweet teeth in my mouth other than a small amount of dark chocolate twice a day. I also don't eat animal products with fat in them other than a little cheese 2-3 times per week (non-fat yogurt several times a week).

My supplement at this point is 2000 IU vitamin D3. I am planning to add fish oil tomorrow after a talk by a memory specialist to our journal club last week and I ought to have it anyway because of my d@mn family's genes of high cholesterol.