The Best Fruits And Vegetables For People Living With Cancer

Eating healthily plays a vital role in lowering your cancer risk. That’s true. But do you know it is also very important for people with cancer? 

Eating healthy foods, fruits, and vegetables is suitable for people with cancer. Either they are being treated for cancer or are recuperating from cancer. 

These fruits and vegetables have some chemicals that reduce the growth of cancer cells and the effects of cancer treatment, and they also speed up the recovery process. 

Let’s see some of these fruits and vegetables and how they help for cancer treatment. 

Apples 

Remember the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? This can be traced back to the many extraordinary qualities of the fruit. 

It helps to increase and maintain stability and also speeds up the rate of digestion. The fruit also helps avoid fluid retention, which is very common during cancer treatments. 

Bananas

Bananas are perfect for people who have undergone cancer treatment. They contain vitamin C, manganese, and vitamin B6. They also contain pectin, a fiber that helps alleviate diarrhea, a side effect of cancer treatments. 

The fruit is also very good for lowering the risk of colon cancer. 

Blueberries 

Blueberries are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and manganese. It also contains lots of antioxidants and is very effective in reducing the effects and growth of cancer. 

Ever heard of chemo brain? This refers to damages in the brain leading to memory and focus impairment in the course of treating cancer. Blueberries also help with that. 

Carrots 

These are very rich in beta-carotene, which might be very helpful in the prevention of some kinds of cancer. They also contain antioxidants, vitamins A and K, etc. 

Carrots are good for the immune system during and after the treatment of cancer and can lower breast and prostate cancer risks. 

Cruciferous vegetables 

These vegetables are rich in manganese, vitamin C and K, and other special compounds like sulforaphane. 

Examples of cruciferous vegetables are: 

• Cauliflower 
• Broccoli 
• Kale
• Turnips
• Brussels sprouts 
• Cabbage 
• Radishes
• Horseradish 
• Arugula 
• Rutabaga
• Bok choy, etc. 

These vegetables have good anticancer abilities. They can slow cell growth and stimulate cell death in colon cancer. 

Grapefruits

These are packed with loads of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential compounds like provitamin A, lycopene, etc.

The lycopene in grapefruit allows them to reduce some side effects people treating cancer experience. It also helps with chemo brain. 

However, there are concerns that grapefruit can affect some medications. So you need to speak with your doctor before eating them. 

Legumes 

These are not only good for people with cancers but can also help to lower cancer risk. Legumes include: 

• Lentils
• Beans, and 
• Peas

Oranges 

This is one of the very common citrus fruits that’s certain to give you all the vitamin C you’d ever need. Aside from vitamin C, it contains other ingredients like folate, thiamine, potassium, etc. 

Oranges are good for the immune system and can help make it stronger during cancer treatment or after it. They can lower the spread of cancer and reduce the risk of anemia by increasing iron absorption. Anemia is a very common side effect of chemo.

Lemons 

Lemons are almost like oranges; they are both citrus fruits and contain a healthy amount of vitamin C and potassium. In addition, lemon has iron, limonene, vitamin B6, etc. 

They help slow down cancer growth and help to improve your mood, and ensure stress is far away from you. 

Some other fruits and vegetables that are good for people living with cancer include: 

Pomegranates: Good for memory and chemo brain. Also, for joint pain reduction 

Mulberries: Helps to prevent anemia and contain lignin which boosts the immune system 

Pears, Cherries, and Strawberries: Reduces the growth of cancer cells. 

The Bottom Line 

Fruits and vegetables have an important role to play in your health. Especially if you just finished receiving cancer treatment or are in the process of the treatment. 

These fruits and vegetables are good. While some will help reduce the growth of the cancer cells, others will reduce some side effects.