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Diet for Stomach Cancer



A proper diet for stomach cancer is an important part of any treatment. It is essential that patients with stomach cancer get the requisite amount of vitamins, proteins, and minerals to prevent malnutrition and encourage healing and recovery.

Symptoms of stomach cancer can often make eating very difficult. There may be loss of appetite, fatigue and other problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea. A dietician can help work out a proper diet for you if you are having problems with digestion or are losing too much weight. In severe cases, stomach cancer patients may receive their nutrition with the help of an intravenous feeding tube. An adequate diet and nutrition after any form of stomach surgery is also important.

Suggestions include:

  • Take a daily multi-vitamin supplement to increase your intake of calcium, iron and vitamins. In some cases, vitamin B-12 injections may be given.
  • Have several smaller meals throughout the day rather than three heavy meals. This helps prevent dumping syndrome associated with stomach surgery causing side effects such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
  • Do not drink water or liquids in between meals. Drink your fluids either before or after your meals.
  • Avoid foods high in sugar and fats. A regular diet high in sugars contributes significantly towards stomach cancer as well as other diseases such as hypertension and diabetes
  • Avoid starchy foods and products made with refined white flour
  • Increase your intake of whole grains in the form of whole cereals, breads, pastas and oatmeal. Dietary fibers encourage the proper elimination of waste from the digestive system and prevent carcinogens from collecting in the intestines.
  • Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages

Apart from changes to your diet, other natural remedies for stomach cancer include:

  • It is believed that the Indian gooseberry can treat stomach conditions and reduce the spread of cancer cells in the stomach. Gooseberry can be taken in the form of pills or tinctures for at least a period of four months for the best results. However, before starting any herbal or alternative treatment it is important to consult with your doctor first in order to prevent any adverse reaction to your other medications.

Treatments
Prevention
References
  1. Chia-Jung Chiang, Hoda Kadouh, Kequan Zhou, Phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of gooseberry as affected by in vitro digestion, LWT - Food Science and Technology, Volume 51, Issue 2, May 2013, Pages 417-422, ISSN 0023-6438, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2012.11.014.
  2. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643812004628)