Biologically Based Practices — Nutrition

Introduction

Nutrition is the taking in and use of food and other nutrients by the body and is a three-part process. Food and drink are first consumed, then broken down into nutrients, and finally distributed through the bloodstream to different parts of the body. Key nutrients must be consumed through diet to maintain proper nutrition.

In general, a plant-based diet high in whole-foods, fruits and vegetables, low in saturated fats, and with an adequate intake of the "healthy" fats and protein is the prevailing view for decreased risk of cancer. Teaching and exposing your children early in life to a healthy diet will help them adopt and maintain healthy eating habits through adulthood and minimize their risk of chronic disease. Studies have found that mere exposure to new foods on a continual basis can alter the dietary habits of children.

Potential Application for Children with Cancer

Children with cancer are often required to follow strict protocols requiring adherence to the administration of medication, clinic and hospital visits. Often food is an outlet for patients as this may be their only means of control. Research has shown that patients who eat well during treatment are better able to cope with the side-effects of chemotherapy which may allow for higher doses of chemotherapy to be administered. Yet, many times maintaining adequate caloric intake can be a challenge.

Involuntary dietary alterations are also commonly encountered as a result of the anticancer therapy. These side effects impose additional limitations on food intake, such as, taste changes, dry mouth, mouth sores, diarrhea, and constipation. Nutrition is a non-invasive medical therapy that can be implemented to help patients cope with many of these side-effects. In some cases, nutritional changes through dietary intake or dietary supplements may ameliorate the side-effect, as is commonly the case with constipation, diarrhea and mouth sores. Thus, dietary restrictions which further limit a patient’s dietary regimen should be judiciously implemented so as to not further limit the dietary options of a patient.

Throughout the past few decades phytonutrients have been shown to exert considerable anticarcinogenic properties at all stages of cancer development; initiation, promotion, and/or progression. Phytonutrients are found in a range of fruit, vegetable, and whole grain foods. Ellagic acid (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries) have been found to inhibit covalent binding of carcinogens to DNA; dietary fiber (apples, blueberries, pears, squash, and broccoli) has been shown to reduce absorption of carcinogens in the intestine, and benzyl isothiocynates (cruciferous vegetables) have been found to stimulate Phase I and II detoxification transcription, translation, and activity. Although it is too early to determine the precise quantity of these foods that must be consumed to yield a protective effect, human studies have found as little as 10.5 oz of Brussels sprouts is adequate to stimulate cellular production of detoxification enzymes. Other human studies have found a minimum of 10.3 oz of spinach will elevate the antioxidant capacity of human blood. These elevations were not due to the endogenous vitamins found in these food items.

How does the Integrative Therapies Program’s nutrition service work in the hospital and outpatient clinic?

The Integrative Therapies Program’s nutritionist is available Monday thru Thursday, 9am-5pm, to meet with patients and their families regarding nutrition during and after cancer treatment. With an emphasis on a whole foods diet, cancer prevention, and a family approach, our nutritionist provides counseling and recommendations to patients and their families.

Last updated: October 13, 2009