7 Dietary Interventions to Fight Leukaemia (Blood Cancer)

Leukaemia is a cancer of the body’s blood that forms tissues which include bone marrow and the lymphatic system as well. Some are found in children while others are mostly diagnosed in adults. Symptoms vary depending on the type of leukaemia but sometimes include fever or chills, persistent fatigue, easy bleeding, or bruising.

Good food can help you heal faster and feel healthier when you are undergoing cancer treatment. Whether you’re currently going through treatment, or have just finished up, including the right diet will help build your immune system. Let’s take a closer look at what dietary interventions helps to fight leukaemia. Always remember when you are putting the right things into your body; your body will thank you!

• Make protein-rich foods a priority: The side effects of chemotherapy can include nausea and vomiting, which takes away some people’s appetite. People with leukaemia need to get enough protein because it will keep them strong and also helps the immune system to recover better. Protein-rich foods include nuts and seeds, soy products such as tofu or soy milk, wheat or oat cereals, and eggs (well-cooked).
• Try consumption of 10 fruits and vegetables a day: Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals that have cancer-fighting properties. People with leukaemia especially need to consume more of such fruits and vegetables. For example, you can sprinkle cinnamon on baked apples, have some berries on top of a smoothie bowl or have an apple as a snack in the daytime.
• Hydration is the key: Drinking enough water is very important during cancer treatment because some cancer therapies can cause dehydration to the body. Some side effects like diarrhea and vomiting can also contribute to dehydration. Avoid sugary drinks like fruit juice, soda, and sweetened teas. If you don’t like the taste of water, try adding fresh fruits to enhance the taste. Alcohol consumption should be limited and time your intake of coffee and tea to avoid limiting your iron absorption.
• Add healthy bacteria to your body: Your stomach has healthy bacteria that help your body better handle food especially in case of cancer. You can feed those healthy bacteria called probiotics to your body by eating yogurt with live active cultures and drinking kefir, a liquid yogurt that contains healthy bacteria.
• Go for Iron-rich foods to avoid anaemia: People with leukaemia often experience anaemia, a condition caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or iron. Anaemia causes fatigue and can often be managed with nutrition. Include foods like fish, meat, legumes and also increase the consumption of Vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, cruciferous vegetables, and tomatoes because they enhance the absorption of iron in the body.
• Vegetables should be steamed thoroughly: steaming the vegetables will enhance the nutrients of vegetables and kill all the harmful bacteria. You can drink low-sodium vegetable juice, add steamed sweet peas, cauliflower, and zucchini to a salad or make a vegetable soup from kale, spinach, and collard green only after steaming the vegetables.
• Eat small & frequent meals throughout the day: Eating small meals will ensure your body is getting enough calories, protein, and nutrients to tolerate the treatment efficiently. Smaller meals may also help to reduce treatment-related side effects like nausea. Try eating 5-6 small meals about every three hours.

Over to You:

If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic or acute leukaemia, or are in the recovery phase, a wholesome diet filled with foods that fight leukaemia is the key. Follow the above-mentioned dietary interventions and fight leukaemia strongly.