Samara Says: Why Nutrition is Crucial for Cancer Patients

In the third episode of “Samara Says,” wellness coach and founder of Carer: Personalized Cancer Care, Samara Mahindra, explores the essential role of nutrition for cancer patients. She emphasizes that during any recovery, especially from a serious illness like cancer, the body requires the right nutrients to heal. Cancer treatment, by its very nature, has a significant impact on a patient's diet and overall health.

The challenge of nutritional deficiencies

According to Mahindra, “All cancer patients go through some issues with their nutrition.” Cancer treatments often cause side effects like nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, and weight loss, all of which make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet.

Additionally, cancer treatment can harm the gut, which is where the body absorbs most of its nutrients. This makes it even more crucial to focus on eating the right foods. Mahindra advises that even when a patient feels too nauseous to eat, certain foods can help combat this and other side effects. Food is not just about sustenance; it's a powerful tool for managing fatigue, boosting energy, and helping the body heal from both the disease and the treatment. For patients on liquid or semi-solid diets, or those with feeding tubes, nutrition becomes even more vital to prevent significant weight loss and nutritional deficiencies

Food as medicine for the immune system

"food really is medicine."

The right diet can improve digestion and nutritional status, which in turn helps rebuild the immune system.
Insights from UCLA Health stated that 70% reside in the gut. Since cancer treatment often affects the gut, it's critical to priorities "restoring and rebuilding your gut." Proper nutrition is the key to doing so.

Withstanding and recovering from treatment

Mahindra explains that nutrition helps patients withstand the rigors of treatment. Many patients experience neutropenia, a condition where their blood cell counts drop extremely low. Proper nutrition can help keep these counts high, giving patients the energy they need to recover and endure their treatment sessions.

Beyond blood counts, a healthy diet can help control a variety of other symptoms and adverse effects, such as weariness and pain. "Food really is medicine," Mahindra says in closing, emphasizing the importance of healing the body and the psyche. A comprehensive recovery is practically impossible without a proper diet.

Nutrition, she states, helps "reboot the immune system, improve your nutritional status, manage the symptoms of the treatment, and help you withstand the treatment." It is, without a doubt, one of the most important elements of a cancer patient's recovery and healing journey.