Suggested Diet


 

The following is a suggested diet compiled from many sources.  This diet is intended to promote general health, and is also anticipated to be helpful for brain tumor patients.

  • Eat plenty of fresh whole vegetables, preferably organic, in a variety of colors, favoring darker colors, several servings per day.  Avoid overcooking them.  Many vegetables can be eaten raw, and steaming is also a good option for most vegetables.  Juicing is also an option to consider.
  • Eat plenty of fresh whole fruits, preferably organic, in a variety of colors, favoring darker colors, several servings per day.  Eating fruits at the end of a meal will usually help reduce surges in blood glucose (sugar) levels.
  •  Among animal proteins, emphasize fish, but avoid fish containing mercury or other toxins; salmon (non-farmed), mackerel, herring, and sardines are good choices.  Chicken or turkey is second best after fish, and organic is preferable.  Beef is best avoided, especially grilled beef or overcooked beef.  Organic beef is much more acceptable than non-organic.
  • Drink plenty of water, say 6 or more glasses per day, but don't drink too much with meals.
  • Potatoes have limited nutritional value, and tend to increase blood sugar, so consider avoiding them.  Sweet potatoes appear to be better than white potatoes.
  • There are varying opinions regarding grains.  A compromise would be to consume them in moderation.  This applies to rice and bread also, with whole grain products being preferable.  "Enriched" products should be avoided.
  • There are varying opinions regarding dairy products.  A compromise would be to consume them in moderation. Soy milk is a good substitute for regular milk.  There are also good substitutes available for butter.
  • Avoid products containing saturated fats and partially hydrogenated fats.
  • Avoid salted, smoked, pickled, and processed foods, including foods containing preservatives.
  • Avoid sweets and anything else containing raw or refined sugars.
  • Avoid artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and aspartame.
  • Avoid soft drinks.
  • Avoid anything else than seems to be "junk food."
  • Avoid grapefruit products!  Through their effect on liver enzymes, they can adversely interact with drugs and other compounds such as supplements.
  • As your diet is changed, be on the lookout for possible allergic reactions.  They are generally uncommon, but they do occur.

See Derr et al 2008 and McGirt et al 2008 for the clinical importance of keeping blood glucose toward the lower end of the safe range.  See Surh 2003, Aggarwal and Shishodia 2006, and Wallace 2006  for useful reviews of the anti-tumor mechanisms of phytochemicals.

For books which provide detailed information on diet for cancer patients, see the following:

Home