Nutrition and diets for leukemia – Medical News Today

Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects blood cells. People who have leukemia may benefit from a diet containing certain foods.

Leukemia and its treatments can have a major impact on the body. People who have leukemia may benefit from a diet containing certain foods.

Read on to learn more about what foods are beneficial for people with leukemia and which foods to avoid.

There is no ideal diet for a person who has leukemia. But the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) states that healthy eating is good for:

The LLS recommends a diet for people who have leukemia should include:

Cruciferous vegetables are part of the Brassica genus. They include:

A study from 2014 suggests that cruciferous vegetables may be beneficial to people with leukemia. Researchers found that compounds in cruciferous vegetables, such as sulforaphane, could slow the spread of certain types of leukemia.

But they found that the amount of sulforaphane necessary to affect leukemia was more than a person would be able to ingest from food alone. Additionally, researchers conducted the study on samples outside the human body. Further research is necessary to determine whether sulforaphane is helpful in treating leukemia in humans.

Cancer treatments can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Neutropenia is a condition that occurs when a person has too few neutrophils, a type of white blood cell for fighting infections. Low neutrophil levels increase the risk of infections.

Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy, a type of cancer treatment. A doctor may recommend the neutropenic diet for someone who has neutropenia. A neutropenic diet involves avoiding certain foods to reduce exposure to bacteria, such as:

Some doctors may recommend the neutropenic diet for people who are undergoing leukemia treatment. But the LLC states that is no evidence that a neutropenic diet is helpful for people with leukemia. They recommend that people take care to prepare food safely rather than restricting certain food groups.

It is important to remember that different diets will work for different peoples needs. A person should follow their doctors advice on diet and nutrition during cancer treatment.

Certain supplements can interact with the medications that treat leukemia, such as:

Treatments for leukemia can cause side effects, including:

People may want to avoid foods that can aggravate the side effects of leukemia treatment, such as:

It is important that people do not rely on food, supplements, or vitamins to treat their leukemia.

Having a suppressed immune system due to leukemia can increase a persons risk of infection. The LLS recommends the following guidelines to ensure food safety:

People who have leukemia should always speak with their doctor before changing their diet. Making sudden dietary changes may affect health and well-being. If a person has any concerns about certain foods, they should speak with their doctor.

Nutritionists recommend a moderate and balanced diet for leukemia. There are no foods that can treat or cure leukemia, but some can help with side effects and reduce the risk of complications.

People undergoing treatment for leukemia should avoid certain supplements, such as St Johns wort. Additionally, various foods can aggravate the side effects of leukemia treatment, such as spicy or fatty foods. People should speak with their doctor if they have any concerns about certain foods.

When preparing and storing food, people with leukemia should be careful to follow food safety guidelines. This can reduce their likelihood of developing an illness or infection.

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Nutrition and diets for leukemia - Medical News Today