It’s not a problem to eat enough food to get the calories and nutrients you need when you’re healthy. Most dietary guidelines provide guidance on what to eat and drink to help prevent chronic disease, meet nutrient needs, and promote health.
But following these nutrition guidelines can be difficult to do if you are experiencing side effects from cancer treatments. This is because the treatments and the illness can change the way you eat. For this reason, proper nutrition is especially important if you have cancer.
Eating the best protein and other nutritious foods can be advantageous for breast cancer patients. It’s important to make the best food choices throughout cancer treatment. Healthy eating during and after cancer treatment can help maintain your strength, make you feel better, and speed up recovery.
Weight gain or weight loss may be an unplanned side effect of breast cancer, depending on what treatment you undergo. In either case, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight during treatment.
One way that helps to control weight gain or weight loss is to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. Your nutritionist can create a plan for you to include the best protein and food from other groups that’s ideal for breast cancer patients.
To help tolerate treatment, your body needs good sources of nutrients, calories, and protein. In addition, treatment-related side effects such as nausea may be reduced by eating smaller meals. You could try eating mini meals about every three hours or 5-6 small meals. But always consult with your care team to ensure your regimen is on-point with treatment.
Best Protein For Breast Cancer Patients
Choose foods rich in protein because protein helps the body repair tissues and cells. Moreover, it helps your immune system recover from illness. All snacks and meals should include a lean source of protein.
Good sources of lean protein include:
1. Eggs
As a complete source of high quality protein, eggs contain all 9 essential amino acids, which makes them very healthy. Depending on the size, the average egg contains about 6-7 grams of protein. Most of the egg’s fat and nutrients are found in the yolk, because the white part contains about 88% water. A large egg has roughly 72 calories.
2. Lean Meats
Boneless skinless chicken breasts is high in protein (30 grams per 3.5 ounces) and low in calories. White fish such as flounder, tilapia, and cod are protein rich and very lean with about 100 calories per 3.5 ounce serving. The other white meat; lean pork loin has almost as much protein as chicken. Other lean meats include canned tuna, and shrimp.
3. Low Calorie Dairy Products
Regular yogurt has 9 grams of protein, compared to the 17 grams of protein in a serving of plain Greek yogurt. Because Greek yogurt is strained, it is more concentrated and thicker. However, avoid flavored yogurts as they contain added sugar. But feel free to add slivered almonds, fresh fruit, or cinnamon. Other low fat dairy products include milk, and cheese or dairy substitutes.
4. Beans
One of the best sources of protein for breast cancer patients, beans can be used as a base for chili, soups, stews, or salad toppers. Each half cup of beans contains five grams of protein. They are also a source of fiber, providing six grams per serving, unlike most other lean proteins.
Benefits Of Lean Protein
There are a few reasons why you don’t want to skimp on incorporating lean protein in your meals. In addition to filling you up, lean protein has fewer calories and less fat. It can also be beneficial in building and maintaining muscle. Plus, some proteins act as enzymes which are essential for things like blood clotting, digestion, and energy production.
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