Ovarian Cancer Diet

Tumors that are malignant or cancerous in nature begin to develop on the ovaries, thus leading to ovarian cancer. Factors which cause ovarian cancer include hereditary genes, infertility, obesity and hormonal treatments. Although it is not possible to control some of the factors which cause this cancer, a special ovarian cancer diet combined with good weight management measures can help reduce the severity of ovarian cancer. An ovarian cancer diet cures the symptoms of this cancer because it is rich in certain healthy foods which can also help in overcoming this condition completely. An anti ovarian cancer diet should always include plenty of vegetables, whole grains and soy products which contain vital minerals and vitamins which can help in fighting cancer.

Vegetables contain innumerable antioxidants and nutrients that could help contain the cancer cells within the body. Apparently, eating such a vegetable rich diet could provide a lease on life to women who are battling ovarian cancer as compared to the ones who don’t. Cancer patients should consume foods that are of varied colors; broccoli, tomatoes, capsicum, spinach, carrots, kale and so on are considered nutritious. These vegetables are very rich in antioxidants and a person suffering from ovarian cancer should have at least 4 or more servings of fruits and vegetable everyday to enable their bodies to fight cancer. On the other hand nutritious carbohydrates can be obtained from whole grains which contain fibers, antioxidants, vitamins, phytochemicals and minerals. Cancer patients should consume grains like wheat, barley, rye, brown rice as well as oats. Sugary desserts and cereals, white flour and other enriched grains should be substituted with whole grain foods to prevent ovarian cancer.

Including soy products in ovarian cancer diet nutrition also helps reduce the risk of cancer. Soy foods are also beneficial to cancer patients. Therefore foods such as tofu, soy milk & soy products are considered to be good. However, it is important to consult your doctor with regard to your diet because excessive consumption of soy could lead to the development of breast cancer. This is extremely important especially if you are at risk of developing breast cancer. Coping with an ovarian cancer diet during chemotherapy can be particularly difficult because of the side effects of chemotherapy treatments. Many patients who undergo cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation suffer side effects like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and intolerance to certain foods. It is therefore difficult for such patients to cope with these side effects and mask bad tastes. However, there are a number of tasty recipes which can be prepared using energy boosting foods which can greatly benefit cancer patients suffering from treatment side effects. An ovarian cancer diet after surgery should include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and lower amounts of sugars and refined flour. The HCG diet and ovarian cancer are also interrelated. HCG diets are very low calorie diets which can create hormonal imbalances in the body and cause diseases like ovarian cancer and tumors. The HCG diet has not been formulated as per FDA rules and regulations and hence it is important to consult a doctor before embarking on any such diet. The main aim of an ovarian cancer diet therapy is to provide good nutrition so that the immune system and the body are strong enough to fight cancer or cancer causing agents. Maintaining a regular ovarian cancer dietary intake is very important for patients who are suffering from this disease. It is equally important to follow these dietary guidelines to prevent ovarian and other types of cancers.

Ovarian Cancer Foods to Eat, Avoid

Eating the right foods to help fight ovarian cancer is the key in overcoming and preventing this disease. Micronutrients like carotenoids and lycopene are found in a number of fruits and vegetables and can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Carotenoids are red, yellow and orange pigments found in vegetables and fruits and therefore spinach, corn, broccoli, yams, oranges, cantaloupe, carrots and collard greens are good ovarian cancer foods to eat as a part of your daily diet. These are some of the best foods for ovarian cancer prevention and treatment as they contain important antioxidants which prevent DNA damage in the body. Lycopene is another strong antioxidant which can be found in tomatoes and tomato products like marinara sauce. Including foods that prevent ovarian cancer in your daily diet can help you steer clear of such diseases and also strengthen your immune system to fight various other illnesses. Other good examples of foods that fight ovarian cancer are tea, kale and broccoli. Tea contains potent chemicals which are helpful in fighting ovarian and breast cancers. On the other hand kale and broccoli contain vital cancer fighting flavonoids and must be included in an ovarian cancer diet. The list of foods to avoid ovarian cancer also includes parsley, celery, red wine and green tea. Red wine, parsley and celery all include a plant flavonoid known as apigenin which destroys free radical that are responsible for causing cancer. However drinking too much wine can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer and hence it is advisable to limit consumption to just one glass a day. Fresh parsley and celery are always better options than the dried versions as they have a higher antioxidant content. Green tea contains antioxidant compounds called polyphenols which lower the risk of ovarian cancer and is also beneficial to those already suffering from this disease. Ginger root is another good example of foods that cure ovarian cancer. Ginger root causes apoptosis and autophagic death of cancerous cells and can help treat ovarian cancer. Furthermore it is also important that a post ovarian cancer diet is prepared under medical supervision and includes the important foods which will prevent this cancer from reoccurring in the body.

Cancer is a very serious, life threatening disease. The triggers of this disease are not known and no cure has been established. Therefore the best that one can do is to control one’s lifestyle and diet so as to avoid the risk of developing cancer.

Submitted on January 16, 2014