Nutrition And Skin Cancer Treatments
Millions of people are affected by skin cancer each year. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Luckily, many skin cancers can be prevented by limiting your exposure to sunlight. There are five types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. Treatment for each type of cancer can vary; however, the nutritional recommendations during treatment are the same.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help prevent free radical damage in the body. Antioxidants occur naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables. The most common forms of antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, lycopene and beta-carotene. Eating a diet with colorful vegetables, such as tomatoes for lycopene, citrus fruits for vitamin C, green leafy vegetables for beta-carotene, nuts for vitamin E and orange colored vegetables for vitamin A, promotes health and healing.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A study by the University Hospital of Leicester found that omega-3 fatty acids might improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment therapies. Fatty acids are needed by the body to create new healthy cells and promote healing throughout the body. Moreover, they can help block the formation of tumors in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in a variety of foods, including fatty fish, flaxseed oil and green leafy vegetables.
Whole Foods
When it comes to nutrition, whole foods are recommended. Whole foods are simply foods that have not been processed and do not contain additives. A whole food diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. By eating whole foods, you can help correct nutritional shortages caused by cancer treatments.
It is always best to improve the diet naturally rather than taking vitamin and mineral supplements. This is because most supplements are processed in such a way that many of the naturally occurring nutrients are destroyed. Additionally, whole foods provide the body with phytonutrients that may not be available in a supplement. These phytonutrients include flavonoids, carotenoids and plant sterols. These phytonutrients work in conjunction with vitamins and minerals to help improve nutrition and keep the body functioning optimally.
Skin cancer treatments can cause a variety of side effects, including an increased risk of infection, weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, nausea, low blood counts and malnutrition. All of these side effects can decrease the effectiveness of treatment and may delay or postpone treatment plans. Nutrition therapy helps prevent malnutrition during treatment and ensures the body is receiving the proper nutrients to promote health and healing.
For more information on skin cancer treatments, contact a company like TrueSkin Dermatology & Surgery, Inc.