Cancer and after
(By Lisa Sarah John, Courtesy Bangalore Times, Aug 14, 2006)
The occurrence of cancer is more common
today. It is affecting people of all age groups, young and old alike. There is no choice but to accept and treat it. The common
procedure is to surgically remove the tumour and then to follow this up with radiation, chemotherapy, etc.
Following certain dietary principles can help you to feel more comfortable, strong and help
you recover.
Drink plenty of water and liquids to cool the body as it is heated through chemotherapy and radiation. Two
litres of water, buttermilk, lemon juice or tender coconut water are a must.
Eat sufficient protein to build tissue and that will keep your muscle tissue from wasting
and breaking down. Dals and pulses must be eaten for both lunch and dinner. Two or three glasses of skimmed milk and curd
are necessary. Two egg whites a day are a good source of high quality protein. A piece of chicken or fish may be eaten at
lunchtime.
Eat 2-3 fresh fruits daily to get a good supply of vitamins B and C. This keeps your immunity
up and increases your resistance to colds, coughs and the flu. Eat a salad of cucumber, carrots, onions, radish for lunch
and dinner. Raw vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly to protect against diarrhoea. Cut down on total fat intake.
Keep weight down to ideal as more fat in the body could develop the cancer again. Excess fat in the body serves as a medium
for the cancer cells to grow in it.
Eat plenty of fibre in the form of whole cereals — atta, ragi, oats, pulses like channa,
rajma, moong and salads and fruits.
Moderate but very regular exercise is a must. A 20-30 minute walk daily helps to give you
a good blood circulation, builds your resistance to infection and helps to keep fat from accumulating in your body.
If
you consume alcohol, limit consumption of alcoholic beverages to a maximum of 1-2 drinks, once or twice a week. However, it
is best to avoid it completely.
Limit consumption of smoked foods, tandoori and barbecued items. Stop smoking and chewing
of tobacco and paan. All this can be summed up in our Miracle Formula: Walk — 20-30 minutes, 6-7 times a week
Water— 2-3 litres. Diet— Eat 3 regular balanced meals. Eat plenty of fibre. Restrict intake of fatty
foods.
Avoid:
* Cream of milk, butter, cheese, ghee and paneer. * Nuts and coconut chutney. * All fried foods —
mixture, muruku, chaat, chips, bonda, vada, poori, paratha, pickles and papad. * Cakes, pastries, cookies and puffs. * Ice
cream, chocolates, mithai and desserts. * Red meats — mutton, beef and pork.
There is a marked difference between being a few kilo grammes overweight and having an obesity problem.
The earlier obesity is identified the better. At five, a child’s average weight should be about 20 kgs and height about
110 cm. By 10, the weight should be about 25-30 kgs and height about 130 cm.
Signs of obesity start showing around 7-8
years. If by now, the child is already 30 kgs or more, then parents need to look into her/his diet and lifestyle seriously.
Thinking that it is only puppy fat which will disappear is not the solution. Today, children come with obesity problems at
age 10, 11 and 12, weighing 60-80 kgs. I also see teenagers who are 80-100 kgs.
Overweight is 5-10 kgs more than your ideal weight. Anything above this must be dealt with very seriously
as early as possible. It’s observed that there is a very strong connection between gland-related problems like diabetes,
thyroid and imbalances of reproductive hormones.
Also, adults who are 20-30 kgs overweight must consider the health and weight status of parents, grandparents
and close relatives on both sides. Those with close relatives having diabetes might observe a tendency to be plump since childhood.
They might also gain weight rapidly, half to one kg in 3-5 days of holiday eating.
Those with a thyroid or reproductive hormone imbalance will see the same weight gain or weight loss
pattern and also find themselves feeling lethargic and sleepy, even during the day. What is the solution? Obese people must
work much harder than others to be normal.
The first step is to start regular exercise. Hormones take no holidays, so take no holidays from exercise.
Walk everyday for 20-30 minutes, twice a day if possible, and you can lose weight. Children can do 20-30 minutes daily for
a start. But there is no way to balance hormones without regular walking. Walking is the best exercise because it can be done
anywhere, even when you travel.
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