Diet & Nutrition
What you eat and drink is important not only for prevention, but also during your fight against colorectal cancer and into your survivorship. There is no “magic bullet” when it comes to diet and nutrition, but there are several proven strategies and ways to improve your health through food and drink.
Eating and drinking to prevent cancer
Research has proven that diets including the following foods and food groups may aid in your efforts to prevent colorectal cancer. The following diet tips have been proven to reduce chronic inflammation in the body, which lowers cancer risk.
Fiber
High fiber intake from whole grains, nuts/seeds, and legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas and dry beans). Try to build up to eating 30 grams each day. Brown rice and rice bran have been studied and shown to reduce polyp formation and inflammation.
Fruits and Vegetable
Consume plenty of unprocessed or minimally processed fruits and vegetables. In addition to providing nutrients and fiber, fresh fruits and veggies can also help you stay hydrated. Try to eat at least five servings a day. Eat the rainbow!
Meats
Reduce red meat (meat from mammals, such as beef or pork) consumption to no more than 18oz. per week. Lean proteins like fish and poultry cause less inflammation, and thus, lower your cancer risk. Processed meats (such as hot dogs and deli meats) have been proven to be a cancer risk factor. Avoid if possible, and consume in moderation otherwise.
Alcohol
Avoid alcohol, as it’s shown to increase cancer risk. If you choose to drink, drink in moderation. Consider swapping in a mocktail instead of a cocktail.
Sugar
Sugar is not necessarily something you have to completely avoid, however it’s ideal to limit foods with sugar. It’s sneaky and is found in foods you wouldn’t expect, such as ketchup and white bread. Look out for high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners. Consider natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup over processed, granulated sugar.
Try to avoid or limit sugary drinks. Keep in mind that drinks advertised as “healthy,” such as sports drinks, are often loaded with sugar.
Diary
Eat more dairy. Low fat dairy consumption may be linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer.
What to eat as a colorectal cancer patient
As you move from diagnosis to treatment and surgery, your dietary needs will change. After surgery, you will be on a “low residue” diet. This is a diet low in fiber. It will minimize the amount of work for your colon and rectum.
Think “white bread and white rice, not whole grain bread and brown rice,” and avoid foods like raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grain products, beans, and fried meats.
This is a short-term diet to be used following surgery and under the guidance of a medical professional.
You may not feel like eating or drinking during treatment. Foods may taste differently, and side effects like mouth sores or cold sensitivity might make it hard to eat. It’s important to make sure you get proper nutrients and combat unwanted weight loss.
The Chef Doc’s 6 Tips for Food and Nutrition
Colin Zhu, DO, is a board-certified doctor in both family medicine and lifestyle medicine. He’s also a chef who interned at a Michelin Star restaurant. He’s blended his medical and cooking backgrounds to become a standout in the field of culinary medicine, which studies how the foods that we eat (or don’t eat) affect our health and well-being. To Dr. Zhu, food should help us prevent disease and build resilience—and, at the same time, it should be enjoyable and tasty. Let food be thy delicious medicine, to paraphrase Hippocrates.
Marsha’s Thoughts on Diet Diversity
For the first time in many decades, discussions about diversity are on the table (no pun intended) in nearly every area of American life. Unfortunately, this topic has often been neglected during diet and nutrition conversations—and we’re not talking about the importance of eating a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables.
Tips for Eating
- Eat small meals and take small bites.
- Eat foods high in protein first, as your body needs more protein when you’re on treatment.
- Give yourself permission to eat the same thing on repeat, if you like it and it’s tolerable.
- Talk to a nurse if you are too nauseated to eat. Medications to curb nausea may be available.
- If people offer to cook for you, say “YES!” and give them some ideas of what you can eat.
- Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water. Sip on fluids throughout the day.
- Suck on ice chips and sip on shakes and smoothies throughout the day if food is challenging to keep down.
- Keep room-temperature water nearby at all times.
- Eat foods that are high in water content.
*If you are on FOLFOX, CapeOX, or any drug regimen involving oxaliplatin, stay away from cold drinks and stick to room temperature beverages.
Wellness Wednesday // Week 17 Chelsey Schneider
Oncology Dietitian, Chelsey Schneider shared a video with us all about nutrition and introduces Ina the Intelligent Nutrition Assistant from Savor Health!
Get Help
Request a consultation with the hospital’s nutrition team. Or find a Registered Dietitian with certification in Oncology by searching the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Please note that Registered Dietitians are credentialed professionals (like an RN or MD) and must undergo extensive schooling. This is not the same as a “nutritionist,” which anyone can call themselves.
Talk to your nurse before leaving the hospital and request a list of what you can and cannot eat.
Savor Health
Savor Health® is a digital health company delivering precision nutrition solutions to help individuals manage chronic conditions, optimize their health, and prevent disease. Our proprietary Expert Platform uses AI, clinical guidelines, and expert input to deliver highly personalized, evidence-based nutrition interventions tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Launched in 2019, Ina®, the world’s first Dietitian-on-Demand, replicates the expertise of a registered dietitian. Accessible 24/7 via SMS, Ina® delivers personalized nutrition guidance, answers to common nutrition questions, and expertly curated recipes—all grounded in clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed evidence.
Ina® provides hundreds of thousands of personalized interventions to support individuals with complex, multi-condition needs—including cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and more. Whether users are managing a diet-related condition or aiming to stay well, Ina® empowers them with the right nutrition support, when and where they need it.
Your Gut Health: Cooking Tips and Tricks
Taking care of your entire digestive system is always important, but as you undergo treatment, it can be especially challenging to even want to eat. Join us as we focus on ways to stay nourished during the time when you need it the most as we provide cooking tips and tricks, and talk about the good bacteria and the bad bacteria that contribute to your gut health.