Leukaemia is a kind of cancer that affects the cells of the blood. Leukaemia patients may benefit from a diet rich in particular foods.
The effects of leukaemia and its therapies may be devastating to the body. Leukaemia patients may benefit from a diet rich in particular foods.
Continue reading to find out which meals are good for persons with leukaemia and which foods to avoid.
There is no such thing as an optimal diet for someone with leukaemia. Healthy nutrition, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), is beneficial for:
assisting the body in the replacement of blood and tissue cells that have been destroyed as a result of cancer therapy
strengthening the immune system and assisting the person in maintaining or regaining strength
lowering the chance of problems.
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Food products to consume:
A leukaemia patient’s diet should contain the following foods:
- a variety of vegetables and legumes, which should account for roughly half of most meals’ entire fruits, such as apples or blueberries grains, with at least half being whole grains
- dairy items with no or little fat
- water, tea, or coffee low-fat protein sources, such as chicken, fish, and soy healthy oil, such as olive or canola oil water, tea, or coffee
Cruciferous veggies are cruciferous vegetables.
Also check out: What is the difference between leukemia and lymphoma?
Brassica is a genus of plants that includes cruciferous vegetables. They are as follows:
- broccoli \cabbage
- kale, cauliflower, bok choy
According to research published in 2014Trusted Source, cruciferous veggies may help persons with leukaemia. Sulforaphane, a chemical found in cruciferous vegetables, was discovered to limit the spread of some forms of leukaemia, according to researchers.
But they found that the amount of sulforaphane necessary to affect leukaemia was more than a person would be able to ingest from food alone. Additionally, researchers conducted the study on samples outside the human body. Further research is necessary to determine whether sulforaphane helps treat leukaemia in humans.
Also check out: Causes Of Leukemia and Prevention
The diet that is Neutropenic
Cancer therapies can impair the immune system, making foodborne diseases more likely.
Neutropenia is a condition in which a person’s neutrophils, a kind of white blood cell that fights infections, are insufficient. Infections are more likely when neutrophil levels are low.
Neutropenia is a frequent adverse effect of several medications.
Chemotherapy is a sort of cancer treatment that has a trusted source. If you have neutropenia, your doctor may advise you to follow the neutropenic diet. To decrease microbial exposure, a neutropenic diet entails eliminating specific items, such as:
unpasteurized beverages, such as fruit juice,
- milk, or raw milk
- yoghurt
- soft cheese produced from unpasteurized
- milk raw or undercooked meat
- raw or undercooked seafood and shellfish, including sushi and sashimi
- uncooked or unpasteurized egg
- refrigerated pâté or deli meats, such as dry-cured uncooked salami
- raw sprouts, such as alfalfa sprouts
- unwashed fruit and vegetables
- food from buffets or salad bars
- well water
Some doctors may recommend the neutropenic diet for people who are undergoing leukaemia treatment. But the LLC states that is no evidence that a neutropenic diet is helpful for people with leukaemia. They recommend that people take care to prepare food safely rather than restricting certain food groups.
Also check out: Leukaemia: Causes and Symptoms
It is important to remember that different diets will work for different people’s needs. A person should follow their doctor’s advice on diet and nutrition during cancer treatment.
Food, supplements, and vitamins to avoid
Certain supplements can interact with the medications that treat leukaemia, such as:
- St John’s wort: St John’s wort is a supplement that some people use for treating depression. It can reduce the effectiveness of imatinib, which is useful for treating chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
- Green tea: Some people use green tea supplements for weight loss and reducing digestive symptoms. Green tea supplements can reduce the effects of bortezomib, a drug for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Treatments for leukaemia can cause side effects, including:
- mouth ulcers
- diarrhea
- hair loss
- rash
- nausea
- vomiting
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage
People may want to avoid foods that can aggravate the side effects of leukaemia treatment, such as:
- foods high in fiber or sugar
- greasy, fatty, or fried food
- very hot or very cold food
- milk products
- alcohol
- spicy foods
- caffeine
- apple juice
- food sweetened with xylitol or sorbitol
- foods that can hurt the mouth, such as those that are crunchy, sour, or salty
- citrus fruits
- tomatoes and ketchup
People mustn’t rely on food, supplements, or vitamins to treat their leukaemia.
Keeping food safe
A person’s risk of infection increases if their immune system is reduced due to leukaemia. To guarantee food safety, the LLS advises the following guidelines:
- washing dishtowels and sponges regularly
- rinsing fruits and vegetables before consumption
- cutting away any bruised or damaged parts of fruits and vegetables
- removing outside leaves on heads of cabbage and lettuce
- when preparing raw or cooked meat using separate cutting boards, dishes, and utensils
- avoiding rinsing raw meat before cooking
- marinating food in the refrigerator using a food thermometer to ensure meat is fully cooked
- ensuring food is cooked all the way through before eating
- thawing frozen items in the refrigerator or microwave rather than leaving them on the counter
For leukaemia, nutritionists prescribe a moderate and well-balanced diet. Although no meal may treat or cure leukaemia, several can assist with side effects and lower the risk of problems.
Certain supplements, such as St John’s wort, should be avoided by those who are receiving leukaemia therapy. Furthermore, some meals, such as spicy or fatty foods, might increase the negative effects of leukaemia therapy. If people have any worries regarding particular meals, they should consult their doctor.
People with leukaemia should observe food safety recommendations while preparing and storing meals. This may lessen their chances of contracting a sickness or infection.
