Healthy diet for Breast cancer survivor

Options
Raj20
Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112

In order to maintain active and healthy one  must  take only minimum calorie requirement  with  lot of vegetables,fruits etc.

«1

Comments

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited June 2010

    Overeating  after the breast cancer treatment  causes obesity. I myself is facing the same problem.  I eat very little with great control of  my daily dozes. These days  I have only a cup of black tea made from green tea in the morning with 2 biscuits  followed by boil cereal  as breakfast. Then  packed for my office which last 8 hours. I always skipped my lunch to avoid further gaining of my weight. After comming back from office I refresh myself  and sit for some time with a cup of tea.I know this practice is not healthy but no alternative as I dont now how to make good food.  In the dinner, i used to have only boil rice and cereal  alongwith  steam vegetable only. If anyone  knows  about nutrious food  which can be enjoyed by  breast cancer survivor, please post  a  comment please.

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited June 2010
    you should be getting your carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables
    skip the cereals
    you need a lunch to keep your metabolism working otherwise your body thinks you are starving and will hang on to every calorie it gets!
  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited June 2010

    Hi barbe, Thanks a lot for your reply. You are right. I would be happy if I can contact you personally. But it will not be possible as I am staying in far corner of India. Anyways, we will keep on  writing  each other that will surely provide me  more strength. I will obviously follow your advice. Thank you once again.

  • speech529
    speech529 Member Posts: 337
    edited June 2010

    Hi rajkumari

    You do need to eat more than you state that you are eating.  Barbe is correct about this.  The internet has many resources for nutrition and exercise for cancer survivors.  Check out the information from the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org  

    There is a very good book titled "After Cancer Treatment" by Julie Silver, MD.  She is a breast cancer survivor and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  I think you will find her book a great support as you move through your continued recovery.

    All the best to you! 

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited June 2010

    Hi Speech, Thanks for  your support. I will check the website.

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited June 2010

    Hi Speech, Today is holiday, so  I cook lunch -   fish with lemon juice cooked in a traditional way. I first fried the fish then keep aside. Saute  white mustard seeds about one tea spoon  in a little bit of bran oil till little brownish  and then I put  water  with lots of fresh lemon juice on it . Keep in boil  till the  gravy reduces to half  and  put the fired fish and cover it  for  5 minutes. That was quite good. Do you think  the reciepe is nutrious ?

  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited July 2010

    The last 8 days I have not drank (soda)  --only had water and a cup of black coffee each morning and I have lost 5 lbs!!  Before Diagnosis--I was a sugarholic-- cookies, cakes, candy bars and at least a couple of 42 ounce sodas a day!!  I have come to the conclusion that (sugar is our worse enemy)--- and I am fighting to overcome!!  It is really hard when you have been raised as a child to 1st drink soda instead of milk or a healthy drink and 2nd to always have dessert after dinner!  I am looking forward to seeing what my body does as I cut down on sugar little by little--until I almost totally eliminate it from my diet. 

    I really thought about when I go in for a PET scan and they literally inject sugar into your veins so that cancer tumors will lite up on the scan -- that duhhhhh cancer must like sugar? 

    What do you think?

    Loretta

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    Cancer uses the carbohydrates first as fuel. That's all.

  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited July 2010

    Barbe: 

    So lots of fruits and veggies-- What about Ezekiel bread?  Have you tried it and what do you think about it? 

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    I have no idea what Ezekiel bread is and if I can even get it where I live...?

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited July 2010

    I have no idea about  Ezekiel bread but I use to eat  brown bread sandwishes with  vegetables without butter or cream in the breakfast sometimes when I feel like to  have a change. These days, I have changed  my  diet  routine -  early morning - antioxident extracted from  fresh fruit - after 30 minutes - oatmeal porridge 1  bowl.  Lunch  fresh fruits  any type of seasonal fruits- then  in between I drank lots of water which help me to wash away toxins from my body. After  office hour in the evening,  i take   green tea  made  from garden fresh tea leafs and cookies made out of  whiteoat.  The  place where I am staying  is very famous in India  for tea. Being  veg. I am used to  plenty of vegetables , but  sometimes , I cook different receipe totaly different  from anyone  as the one which I prepared seems to be dislike by others.  No alternative as I don,t know , it,s realy helpless so  to cook it  just  to live to enjoy life on my own way.

  • hymil
    hymil Member Posts: 826
    edited July 2010

    RajKumari, Your fish recipe sounds delicious! It is good to keep variety in the diet, and to enjoy life. Sugar in fizzy drinks is not good nutrition, but in vegetables the energy is released more slowly so you can last longer before you feel hungry again. I hope you continue to succeed with weight loss, because people who are overweight are more likely to have second cancer. I am also on reducing plan with vegetables and drinking more water.

  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited July 2010

    Barbe-- Most stores carry Ezekiel organic bread in their freezer section along with vegetarian foods or at least in Missouri they do.  I have started eating it and actually like the taste better than other breads-- It is flourless-low glycemic and complete protein --sprouted 100% whole grain bread.  On the package it states that exclusive sprouting process not only significantly increases vitamins, but also causes a natural change that allows the protein and carbohydrates to be assimilated by the body more efficienty. 

    Ingredients:  Organic sprouted wheat, filtered water, org sprouted barley, org sprouted millet, org malted barley, org sprouted lentils, org sprouted soybeans, org sprouted spelt, fresh yeast, org wheat gluten, sea salt.Total carbs is 15g (is that too many)? 

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    Fortunately I don't eat bread at all! Or at least, very rarely....

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    A low carb diet has no more than 30 g of carbs a day....FYI.

  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 32
    edited July 2010

    Hi Ladies, 

    Can anyone tell me how much protein we should getting. I'm sure I eat too much protein. I eat mainly fish and chicken.  

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    "They" say daily protein needs are only the size of a deck of cards. That's how much we need. Wanting now, that's different! I eat a lot of protein too. Not a huge fan of carbs....

  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited July 2010

    Ezekiel bread does unfortunately contain some soy. It is available here in health food stores and I assume in regular supermarkets as well. A slice of this bread with some almond butter makes a very nutritious snack. I learned this when I went to a nutrition class through the cancer centre.

    I agree with the need to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and to cut back on carbs. I've been told to eat a little bit of good carb with each meal.

  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited July 2010

    Barbe and hrf:

    OMG!  I have been consuming Ezekiel bread for about 2 weeks now Without realizing it had "soy' in it!!  Since I am about 97% ER+ -- that may not be a good choice for me.... I love Bread!  Does anyone know of any good breads that do not contain flour or soy?? 

    Thanks,

    Loretta

  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited July 2010

    Loretta, I eat rice flour bread that is gluten and wheat free. It is good (but not as good as Ezekiel bread).

  • somanywomen
    somanywomen Member Posts: 872
    edited July 2010

    Just found a great website to share for this topic...has so much info for us...full of lists/studies...I've been reading it all morning and here it is 12:30, I am still in my jammies.....

    www.foodforbreastcancer.com 

    Consumption of at least five vegetables/fruits per day plus regular exercise has been found to be associated with lower risk of metastasis of ER+/PR+ breast cancer. Certain foods and spices have been shown to be especially effective in inhibiting ER+/PR+ cell growth and proliferation and promoting apoptotic cell death. On the other hand, some foods and supplements appear to be especially risky for ER+/PR+ breast cancer patients.
     

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited July 2010

    While I am trying  to reduced my weight ,I  used to skip my lunch for about 1 year , only having  some fruits or biscuits. Even I was feeling very active , but yesterday my BP  gone down to 90/65 and  I got  fainted  in my office. My  doctor advised me to have proper food  with lots of high nutrients. I am confused now and scared too as I have  little knowledge of  cooking nutrious  food.And  I don,t belief  food cooked by others.I feel good only when cooking is done by myself. I don,t know  what to do and really confused what should I have to maintain my BP to become normal. Is having increase in my calorie only from vegetables will help to regain my BP or should I  swipt my food to non-veg ?  Is vegetable lost nutrients after baking or still contains the nutrients like normal cooking ?

  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited July 2010

    You don't have to cook every meal! A simple sandwich or soup is a great lunch. Cereal, toast or yoghurt for breakfast or a snack. I usually on have one cooked meal a day - dinner. Then I have a protein (meat) and vegetables raw (salad) or cooked. Keep it simple. When you skip a meal you actually retain your weight because your body thinks you're starving and it stores the food you eat instead of letting it go.

  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited August 2010

    Loretta, I'm 100% ES+ but I will have a little bit of Ezekiel bread once in a while. For example if I am hungry at night I'll have a slice with some almond butter and it's satisfying. The ingredient list shows soy at the very bottom of the list so it is minimal. I find soy in almost everything so it's difficult to avoid completely.

  • precioustime
    precioustime Member Posts: 233
    edited August 2010

    hrf:

    That's great to know- I can still eat me some Ezekiel bread because I actually think it tastes better than regular breads made with flour.  There are so many things that we should avoid and alot of times I forget I had breast cancer until about 4pm each day when I take my Tamoxifen....   On the serious note though-- I am trying my best to eat a healthier diet and I appreciate all the information I have gotten here on this forum.

    Loretta

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited August 2010

    Hi Barbe, How are u ? Thanks for your suggestion. It is quite impressive. I will follow it and try to regain myself.

  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited August 2010
  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited October 2010

    Yes  we are fighting cancer, cancer does not fight us.  We should fight cancer  with  advanced treatment  alongwith  appropriate medication, proper balance diet to make us strong enough while fighting. If we are tired , no strength then there is less possible  in fighting. So lets go  fighting  with strong will power, positive thinking etc.......

  • sdstarfish
    sdstarfish Member Posts: 544
    edited November 2010

    Hi, Rajkumari:

     My background is in nutrition and health. I have a blog about this topic exactly. I have loads of easy recipes and good nutrition info. The blog is called Pink Kitchen.Send me a message if you have any questions at all.

  • Raj20
    Raj20 Member Posts: 1,112
    edited November 2010

    Yes Lisa, I am interested in your Pink Kitchen. You know I have lack of knowledge on nutrition and health as I am still continuing the old  traditional style of cooking which I learnt from my mother. I have gone through many books, but it seems quite professional I would be grateful if you  could post few recipes and good nutrition so as to enable myself to try it. As I am staying in India the ingedients should be matced with Indian market. I simply love less oil, spice and no chilly at all. Normally I cook vegetables either boil or steamed. In indian market most of the vegetables contains high quantity of pesticides. So it is very difficult these days to have vegetables you know. Before boiling or steaming  I washed and soaked the vegetables with little bit of venegar to clean the toxins then strained water for some time and go for cooking. This process is lengthy but no alternative. The taste of mother,s cooking (prior 40 yrs) was very good. That was very tasty and we grow very healthy.

Categories