Dietary Tips to Fight Cancer
By Dr. Meenu Walia
(On the occasion of Cancer survivor Month)
1. Eating a diet high in fiber may help prevent colorectal cancer and other common digestive system cancers. For this you could substitute whole grain bread for multigrain bread and use brown rice instead of white rice.
2. Diets high in non starchy vegetables and eating fruits in vitamin C protect against oesophageal cancer. While eating vegetables containing caretenoids reduce the risk of lung cancer, lycopene rich fruits and vegetables lower the risk of prostate cancer.
3. Water is essential for fighting cancer as it stimulates the immune system. Also the more fiber you add to your diet, the more fluids you must drink as fiber absorbs fluids.
4. High meat diet can have a toll on your health if you have a sedentary lifestyle. By reducing the amount of meat in your diet, you can substantially cut down the risk of cancer. You can use a little bit of meat (portion size equal to your palm) to add flavour or texture to your food instead of making it the main element. Even in such cases try to avoid processed meats and opt for leaner meats like chicken, fish and turkey.
5. Even though a diet high in fat can cause cancer and cholesterol problems, some types of fat may actually protect against the same. Fats solid at room temperature are considered bad for you. The best fats are unsaturated fats which can be found in olive oil, canola oil, nut s and avocados. Also focus on omega-3 fatty acids which fight inflammation and support brain and heart health.
The writer is Dr. Meenu Walia, first DNB Medical Oncologist of India, is the Director of Max Oncology Centre at the Max Hospital, Patparganj in New Delhi.
PROFILE of Dr. Meenu Walia
Dr. Meenu Walia, the first DNB Medical Oncologist of India, is the Director of Max Oncology Centre at the Max Hospital, Patparganj in New Delhi. With degrees of MBBS from the Maulana Azad Medical College, MD (Gold Medalist) from the University of Delhi, & DNB (Medical Oncology) from the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, She has been associated with the field of Oncology for more than 25 years and is skilled in managing both Solid Cancer & Hematological Cancer patients.
She has extraordinary expertise in treating Abdominal Solid Organ Cancers, Gastro-Intestinal Cancers, Leukemia/Lymphoma, and Stem Cell Transplantation. With a special interest in Clinical Research, she has been appointed the Principal Investigator for various randomized Multi-Centric International Clinical Research trials where newer options for Cancer treatment are evaluated.
Dr Meenu Walia has many publications in national and international journals to her credit. She always keeps herself updated with the latest in Oncology by regularly attending workshops and conferences. Prior to joining the Dharamshila Hospital & Research Institute, she was associated with the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. Dr. Walia is a member of various prestigious organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). She is also the proud recipient of many prestigious awards.
She was awarded the Third Prize for Paper Presentation at the National Cancer Conference in 2003 at Delhi, the First Prize in a Quiz Competition on Carcinoma Ovary at AIIMS (`Symposium on Carcinoma Ovary`) in 2004, the First Prize for Poster Presentation at the National Cancer Congress in 2004 at New Delhi, Special Award for the year 2005 as Consultant in the Department of Medical Oncology at the Dharamshila Hospital & Research Center, and many more