Thrive Beyond Cancer: Optimizing Wellness With Diet And Exercise

Key Takeaways:

• Physical activity is beneficial even for those dealing with advanced stages of cancer as it can stimulate appetite, alleviate constipation, and combat fatigue.
• Maintaining a healthy weight is key for cancer survivors because excess weight can potentially increase the risk of a cancer relapse and negatively impact survival rates.
• Taking a standard multivitamin and mineral supplement that meets 100 percent of the Daily Value can assist cancer survivors to maintain their nutrient levels, especially if a healthy diet proves challenging.
• Certain supplements, particularly those with high folic acid or antioxidant content, may be harmful during cancer treatment.
• Although a vegetarian diet offers numerous health benefits, there’s insufficient direct evidence to suggest it can hinder cancer relapse. Therefore, cancer survivors opting for a vegetarian diet should ensure complete nutrient intake.

The narrative around cancer survival has shifted, with the US, in particular, recording approximately 9.5 million cancer survivors. Remarkably, more than two-thirds of these individuals bravely battle past their five-year mark of diagnosis. A central component to this ongoing journey of survival revolves around appropriate diet and exercise.

Guidelines for Living Healthy Post-Cancer

The American Cancer Society, in an endeavor to quell common concerns, has updated its nutritional and physical activity guidelines for individuals who have bravely survived cancer. These were recently put forth in an investigative report that featured in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Updated Recommendations for Cancer Survivors

1. Physical Activity: Even those dealing with advanced stages of cancer can potentially benefit from physical activity. It can stimulate appetite, alleviate constipation, and combat fatigue.
2. Weight Considerations: Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial as excess weight can potentially heighten the risk of a cancer relapse and negatively impact survival rates.
3. Vitamins and Minerals: A standard multivitamin and mineral supplement that meets 100 percent of the Daily Value can assist cancer survivors in maintaining their nutrient levels, especially if a healthy diet proves challenging.
4. Supplement Caution: Certain supplements, particularly those with high folic acid or antioxidant content, may be detrimental during cancer treatment.
5. Vegetarian Diet: Although a vegetarian diet offers numerous health benefits, there’s insufficient direct evidence to suggest it can hinder cancer relapse. Astute nutrition intake is important for cancer survivors choosing a vegetarian diet.
6. Alcohol Usage: The effects of alcohol are double-edged. It may augment the risk of new cancers in survivors, while simultaneously reducing chances of heart disease.

This informative report also evaluated some of the most advertised dietary regimes and alternative supplements for cancer care. It concluded that there is minimal to zero scientific proof to validate their effectiveness.

Further Information

To deepen your understanding of thriving beyond cancer, access more resources here.

Please keep in mind that while the content of this article enhances your knowledge about survival beyond cancer, the topic is continuously evolving, so current exploration on this subject matter is encouraged.