“You can eat whatever you want.” This is one of the worst pieces of advice that many health professionals continue to give cancer patients across the world. This World Cancer Day, let’s break this down.

Today, more people are being diagnosed with various types and stages of cancer. While advancements in medical science have led to better technology, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, immunotherapy, clinical trials, and hormonal treatments, the alarming lack of attention towards cancer-specific nutrition persists.

We have seen cases where individuals successfully break down tumors and enter remission, only to be told by their healthcare professional, “It’s all good. Now you can go back to your normal life. Eat whatever you want.”

Then, three, six, or twelve months later, they return with metastatic cancer—now more aggressive than before. Why does this keep happening despite medical advancements, improved treatments, and our supposed understanding of cancer?

The reality is, it’s only getting worse. Based on my experience in the field of integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine, while medical treatments are life-saving, a patient’s lifestyle and nutrition also play a crucial role in management, possible remission, and long-term health.

⚠️ The Dangers of ‘Eat Whatever You Want’

Am I against chemotherapy or radiation? Absolutely not. As an expert in integrative and lifestyle medicine, I fully respect and believe in their necessity. However, the notion that patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation can eat whatever they want, relying solely on medical treatment to manage their condition, is dangerous.

As human beings, we are hardwired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. The food we love eating provides pleasure, so when an authoritative figure or expert in the field of health tells us that we can eat anything while undergoing treatment, we readily accept it because it spares us the discomfort of dietary restrictions. But in doing so, we might be making a choice that leads to cancer recurrence or even metastasis.

The widespread advice that ‘you can eat whatever you want’ is a major reason why people continue to get sicker even today.
Why? Let’s discuss.

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Representational image only. Photo Credits: Freepik

🔍Understanding the Body’s Terrain and Cancer Growth

When you are diagnosed with cancer, it means that your body’s internal environment has allowed a cancer cell to mutate, spread, and grow. Your body has created an environment conducive to cancer development.

You can undergo any treatment you choose, but if you do not change the terrain of your body—meaning if you do not alter the internal environment that supports cancer growth—then chemotherapy and radiation will only break down the tumor temporarily. Your PET scans may show no visible cancer, but unless you address the root cause, that cancer is likely to return.

Current PET scans can only detect cancer cells of a certain size. If cancer cells are too small, they might not be visible. But over time, these cells can grow, and at your next PET scan, this cancer might have spread to different organs. This is not to scare you but to remind you why beyond your ongoing treatment, your nutrition and lifestyle matter.

💯 The Truth About Weight Loss During Cancer Treatment

One of the most misguided recommendations given to cancer patients is to ‘eat more’ to counteract weight loss that comes with treatment. It is essential to understand that this sudden weight loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy, but the solution is not overeating or consuming processed foods with refined sugar.

What is required is to repair the body and provide it with the nutrients it needs to manage the collateral damage and side effects of treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation target cancer cells, but they also harm healthy cells in the process, including immune cells—the body’s natural defense system against cancer spread and recurrence. This is one of the prime reasons why our programs also focus on managing the side-effects of any medications and ongoing conventional treatments that our patients are on.

Cancer patients may experience cachexia, a severe condition characterized by muscle wasting. In cachexia, the body consumes its own muscle for energy, making it difficult to reverse weight loss simply by eating more. Consuming excessive food, especially high-carbohydrate foods, can worsen cachexia.
Yes, maintaining the right body weight is important. But there are right and wrong ways to do that. This is another reason why speaking to your integrative nutrition or oncological nutritionist is crucial. They have the expertise to understand what might be happening and build a nutrition protocol for cancer patients. It isn’t always about adding more foods but rebuilding your gut microbiome and the right digestive enzymes and working on stimulating the appetite to be able to create a better internal environment.

🦠 How Do Cancer Cells Feed and Spread

Cancer cells metabolize glucose differently from healthy cells. In a normal cell, glucose is broken down efficiently by mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of energy for use and storage at the cellular level. However, cancer cells ferment glucose inefficiently, producing lactic acid as a byproduct. This lactic acid creates an acidic environment, further promoting cancer growth and preventing the process of apoptosis or normal cell death

Lactic acid enters the bloodstream, travels to the liver, and is reconverted into glucose, continuing a vicious cycle that sustains cancer cells. This inefficient glucose metabolism also prevents healthy cells from absorbing essential nutrients, leading to malnutrition and fatigue.

Despite this, many professionals still tell cancer patients that refined sugar is fine, you can eat whatever you want. But consider this: PET scans detect cancer by injecting radiated sugar into the body. High FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) uptake in certain organs indicates cancerous activity. If sugar feeds cancer in a PET scan, why would it be advisable for cancer patients to consume it freely?

🥗 Smart Nutrition for Cancer Patients

If you are diagnosed with cancer, your priority should be getting the right energy to your cells through nutrient-dense foods. Small portions of high-quality foods may help provide essential nutrients without feeding cancer cells.

Focus on:

  • Soaked nuts and seeds
  • Coconut oil
  • Complex vegetables
  • Whole grains in moderation
  • Foods rich in essential amino acids, such as beans, pumpkin seeds, and select vegetables
  • Avoid excessive protein intake because breaking down large amounts of protein requires energy, which a cancer patient’s body may not efficiently produce

Please note that this can also vary case-to-case. Work with an integrative nutritionist who can guide you according to your unique case and bio-individuality.

🍽️ The Role of Smart and Scientific Supervised Fasting in Cancer Treatment

Countries like Cuba and Mexico, which operate outside the influence of the FDA and pharmaceutical companies, have pioneered interesting approaches to cancer treatment. One such approach is supervised fasting. Patients undergo fasting for 10 to 30 days, during which their bodies divert energy from digestion to healing and cellular repair. By the fourth day of fasting, many patients no longer feel hungry, and their bodies start utilizing stored energy for recovery.

Please note that fasting for any cancer patient should only be done under the supervision of their primary healthcare expert.

🔗 The Connection Between Cancer, Digestion, and Cleansing

Many cancer patients often suffer from constipation during chemotherapy. Instead of simply prescribing laxatives, it is crucial to understand that chemotherapy depletes B vitamins, which play a role in digestion. Replenishing these vitamins through food can help alleviate symptoms naturally.

To all the women who are breast cancer survivors, be mindful of constipation. In estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cases, constipation can cause estrogen to be reabsorbed into the liver and back into the body, increasing the risk of recurrence. Instead of relying on laxatives, focus on consuming the right foods and vitamins to support digestion naturally.

Similarly, many cancer patients are prescribed antacids to manage acidity, but this only suppresses symptoms rather than addressing the root cause. Instead, making dietary changes to create a more alkaline environment can help counteract the acidic conditions that contribute to cancer growth.

❤️ The Mind-Body Connection

Healing is not just about treating the physical body; it also involves addressing the mind and emotions. Chronic stress, suppressed emotions, and negative thought patterns can contribute to disease progression. In my podcast with the amazing Sister BK Shivani, we addressed how suppressed and deep seated emotions like unforgiveness and resentment can significantly impact how your cancer progresses.

Watch a snippet here.

 


This reminds us of why emotional wellness, breathwork and reconnecting with our inner spirit are also important aspects of managing cancer. If your cancer management plan does not include mental and emotional healing alongside medical and nutritional interventions, it is incomplete.

💭 Final Thoughts

The next time someone tells you to eat whatever you want, remember that this could be detrimental to your health.

Food acts as information to your genes, influencing how your body functions. From the very first sip of breast milk, the nutrition you consume begins to shape your DNA and gene expression. This process continues as we grow and transition to solid foods. When we deviate too far from the foods that nourished us early on, it can lead to health problems like gut issues, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

Whether you are undergoing cancer treatment, in remission, or simply managing your health, every morsel of food you consume communicates with your genes, which in turn regulate your hormones.

During cancer treatment, it’s essential to adapt your nutrition to support your body’s specific needs. Before chemotherapy, focus on foods that build up your body. During treatment, prioritize foods that support and sustain you. After chemotherapy, foods that cleanse and help your body recover are crucial. When undergoing radiation, your nutritional needs will evolve to match the changes in your treatment protocol. If you want to achieve better outcomes, you must continually adjust your approach to food and lifestyle. By doing so, you can manage treatment side effects more effectively.

This World Cancer Day, remember that when you consciously make a shift to eat, move, sleep, think, and breathe better, there is always hope and scope to improve your quality of life.


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Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your nutrition, exercise routine, or lifestyle.