Generally speaking, adhering to a healthy diet is always going to be a good move. There’s nothing wrong with having the occasional greasy burger with a side of fries, but consume that combo too often and bad things could happen.
For cancer patients in particular, the diet can make a huge difference when it comes to the quality of life they can enjoy.
When Paul Kraus, a Holocaust survivor, author, and longest living mesothelioma was diagnosed with his disease, he wasted no time trying to fight against it. Kraus’ plan of attack against his mesothelioma diagnosis included implementing numerous lifestyle changes, and these included new dietary guidelines.
Combined with different forms of therapy and medication, those dietary changes have contributed to Kraus becoming the longest living survivor of mesothelioma.
For others who have been diagnosed with testicular, pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal mesothelioma, it’s well worth taking the time to formulate a new diet that can keep them healthier and in better shape as they continue to battle this difficult disease.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Healthier for Mesothelioma Patients?
It seems like an obvious point to make, but it is still important to emphasize that a healthy diet can be beneficial to mesothelioma patients. When dealing with this type of disease, it can be easy to lose perspective and feel that something like adopting a new diet will not make a difference, but that is far from being the case.
Mentioned below are some of the benefits that mesothelioma patients can experience by following an improved diet.
A Better Diet Can Help a Patient Maintain a Healthy Weight
The effects of mesothelioma on the body can be quite devastating to the point where it becomes difficult for a patient to even maintain a healthy weight.
That’s easy to understand considering that loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue are common symptoms of mesothelioma and they are also side effects of chemotherapy, a possible form of treatment for the disease.
When mesothelioma takes hold, a patient can lose weight rapidly, which is why is so important to follow a diet that can fight against that.
Per Asbestos.com, eating different types of fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids can help prevent sudden weight loss. Examples of fish that contain those helpful omega 3 fatty acids are mackerel, salmon, and sea bass.
If the patient does not want to eat fish, other sources of healthy fat such as avocadoes and nuts can be helpful.
A Better Diet Can Improve a Patient’s Energy Levels
Fatigue is an inevitable symptom of mesothelioma and it can render any patient bedridden for extended periods of time. Mesothelioma patients need to consume foods that can counteract that fatigue.
Carbohydrates can supply patients with the energy they need, but it’s important for them to be discerning with regards to where the nutrients are coming from. Everyday Health recommends getting carbohydrates from healthier sources such as whole wheat bread, pasta, or brown rice.
A Better Diet Can Address Swelling Caused by the Disease
One of the main symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma is swelling around the abdominal region. That’s due in large part to the disease itself affecting the abdominal lining. Read more about this here.
Compared to the other symptoms of the disease, abdominal swelling may seem relatively minor, but the pain it causes the patient is not something that can be easily ignored.
For the abdominal swelling, patients can consume more dishes that make use of the spice known as turmeric. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory benefits can provide badly needed pain relief for a mesothelioma patient.
Conclusion
When combined, the benefits of following a healthy diet listed above can lead to improved quality of life for mesothelioma patients. For people fighting against peritoneal meso or the other types of the disease, anything that can improve the quality of life is very welcome.
A healthy diet will not solve all the problems caused by mesothelioma, but it can certainly help.