EATING WELL Nutrition tips from Dietitian and Survivor, Jean LaMantia.

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Jean LaMantia

Eating Well

A Dietitian and Survivor Shares Her Best Nutrition Tips. Tania Amardeil

Focusing on nutrition gives cancer patients a greater sense of well-being and control.

Women who have been diagnosed with cancer or who are in remission have a lot on their minds — and nutrition may not be high on their list. Yet, nutrition can be a critical part of one’s cancer journey.

Jean LaMantia, a Torontobased registered dietitian, and cancer survivor, recommends approaching nutrition in two phases: Phase 1: Nutrition that will help you get through your treatment, and Phase 2: Nutrition Post-Treatment as a positive step to potentially prevent recurrence.

PHASE 1

NUTRITION DURING TREATMENT

“During my lymphoma treatment, I had severe nausea and vomiting, and so I had to get strategic about what I could eat and what I could keep down,” says LaMantia.

While you’re going through treatment, don’t worry about eating the “perfect” diet. LaMantia recommends taking this pressure off and simply eating in a way that helps manage your side effects.

TOP TIPS DURING TREATMENT

Eating cold and room temperature foods, as they have less aroma and are less likely to trigger nausea

Prioritizing highly-nourishing foods, especially protein sources Plating food beautifully on a small plate to combat low appetite

Adding extra calories to your meal with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

PHASE 2

NUTRITION DURING TREATMENT

Post-treatment, nutrition can play an important role in your recovery and healing. “After treatment, cancer survivors who are in remission can experience a lot of anxiety, worrying about recurrence,” says LaMantia. Proactively doing your best to eat healthy foods that could lower your risk of recurrence can put your mind at ease. “I find that it can be very empowering and can help you take back control,” adds LaMantia.

According to LaMantia, the key is to focus on foods that are supportive of the immune system, anti-inflammatory, and proven to target cancer cells.

TOP FOOD PICKS POST-TREATMENT

Mushrooms Foods high in vitamin E

(especially wheat germ and almonds)

Garlic and onions

Spices including Ginger & Turmeric Omega 3 fatty acids

(found in fish like salmon, mackerel, rainbow trout, sardines, herring, and anchovies)

Cruciferous vegetables

(broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale)

Berries Whole grains

(quinoa, wild rice and whole grain pasta)

Protein foods

(Skinless poultry, low-fat yogurt, dried peas, beans or lentils)