This week, Melanie Bowen has asked to be my guest blogger.  She is an advocate for natural health and cancer patients. She focuses on the great benefits of different nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments that can significantly help those going through a time of illness. She has written the following article for your enjoyment.

As cancer becomes more common among younger men and women, families are having to learn how to accommodate its influence in their home life. Since one of the primary ways modern families connect with each other is at mealtimes, discovering cancer-friendly cuisine is an important aspect of keeping family ties strong. What’s more, as you eat foods that nourish the body and support it’s ability to fight cancer, you’ll be introducing your family to foods that improve their health as well.

What Is Cancer-Friendly Cuisine?

For those who are managing or recovering from cancer, including aggressive malignancies like pancreatic cancer or mesothelioma, good nutrition and household safety is crucial. The dietary needs of a cancer patient may change according to the types of treatments or stage of recovery they may be in, but that needn’t keep them from enjoying meals with their family. On one hand, cancer treatment can sometimes change one’s sense of taste, appetite or ability to keep food down. On the other hand, eating strategically, can help your body build its defenses against the disease. As you retool the contents of your cupboards, you’ll need to explore new flavours and textures to find the ones that you and your family like the best. Here are some suggestions:

Green Smoothies

If cancer treatments have left the tummy of you or a loved one with extra sensitivity, green smoothies are not only packed with nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants, they go down easily. Their texture eases digestion and makes nutrients easy to absorb. To make a green smoothie, combine fresh berries, agave nectar, vanilla extract, protein powder and a handful of spinach in your blender. The sweetness of the berries completely masks the flavour of the greens, while adding a powerful boost of antioxidants. They’re not only great for the patient; kids love their flavour, making them an ideal vehicle for sneaking nutrition into the diet of a veggie-resistant kid.

Cutting Processed Sugar and Carbohydrates

Current studies have revealed that cancer thrives in a body that consumes a lot of sugar. Whether you’re concerned about maintaining your remission or have concerns about mesothelioma life expectancy and exposure, you should be aware of your body and monitor your dietary intake. For moms, this is welcome news, as a diet that is lower in sugar also helps children avoid the perils of juvenile diabetes, obesity, and learning difficulties associated with sugary diets. It’s easy to avoid processed sugars from candy and cookies but what about the things you used to think were dietary staples, like pasta? Turns out, the answer is both simple and healthy. For example, you could try making your favorite lycopene-rich spaghetti sauce and serving it over ribbons of zucchini. The texture is just like pasta, without the processed carbohydrates or gluten. You’ll cut calories and help to make your body a little less hospitable to cancer.

We can’t help the fact that cancer has come into our lives. However, we can, with proper diet and devotion to self-care, control the quality of our lifestyle. Good meals and time together nourish the soul of our family. Cancer-friendly cuisines ensure that we can enjoy them.

I’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is an opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Written by Melanie Bowen.  To view more of her articles, please click here.

Until next time,

Meredith