Dietary adjustments can help buttress the body's defense system against all manner of illness, even a disease such as ovarian cancer. Aside from relying on conventional treatment methods such as radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, strive to manipulate every variable under your control to tip the odds in your favor throughout your fight with ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Diet
Consume a diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits with moderate amounts of whole grains while minimizing consumption of calories from fat, alcohol, processed foods and sugars to best increase your odds of surviving ovarian cancer. This advice comes courtesy of both the American Cancer Society and the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center. Fat calories should come mostly from natural, unsaturated sources such as fish, flax, palm, peanut, coconut, sesame, olive, nut and seed oils, as well as other fat-containing natural foods like coconuts and avocados. Overall, do not consume more than 30 percent of your daily calories from fat. The remainder of your diet should consist mainly of fruits and vegetables (with some whole-grain items as well) and a variety of low-fat protein sources such as seafood, chicken, turkey or low-fat beef. Additionally, attempt to maintain a normal body weight throughout your struggle with ovarian cancer, as allowing your weight to climb too high or too low decreases your overall chances of surviving the disease.
Meal Planning
Consume nothing but balanced meals throughout the day to take the guesswork out of managing your diet. Aim to consume four to six meals a day, spaced out evenly every three to four hours. In each meal, consume at least one protein source, one fruit, one vegetable, a half-serving of whole grains and one source of healthy fat. A good example of this would be a meal consisting of grilled salmon (protein) on a small bed of wild rice (whole grain), served with a spinach and tomato salad (fruits and vegetables) with an olive oil dressing (healthy fat). Making each meal an exercise in balanced nutrition will alleviate the stress of wondering whether your daily needs are being met, as would be the case with a more haphazard approach.
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