Diet helps fight fatigue in cancer patients

• Fatigue is a common side effect of cancer that can be caused by the disease itself, chronic pain, depression or emotional distress.
• Another cause is poor nutrition brought on by treatment side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and an altered sense of taste and smell.
• The food you eat provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function each day.
• When you don't eat well, your body doesn't have the fuel it needs and you tire very easily.
• Carbohydrates -- Eat complex carbohydrates (whole grain breads and cereals, potatoes, pasta and fruits, vegetables) and limit simple sugar intake (candy, desserts, other sugary foods).
• Iron -- Eat iron-rich foods to help prevent anemia (red meats, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, dried beans).
• Nutrients -- Include nutrient-dense foods that provide a lot of nutrition in a small volume (cheese and crackers, root beer float, nutritional supplements, oatmeal made with whole milk or heavy cream instead of water).
• Snacks -- Eat small, frequent meals/snacks every two to three hours to help you consume adequate amounts of calories and protein.
• Fluids -- Drink plenty of fluids (8-10 glasses per day, 8 ounces each), and drink fluids between meals if you are having trouble eating enough at meal time.
• Vitamins -- Take a multivitamin with minerals daily.