In the process of treatment and rehabilitation of
lung cancer patients, reasonable diet is very important, and family members play a key role in it. The following are some aspects that family members of lung cancer patients need to pay attention to in terms of diet:
1. Understand the nutritional needs of patients:
-Energy supplement: Lung cancer patients are often in a high metabolic state due to the consumption of tumors, and need sufficient energy. Family members should ensure that the patient takes in enough calories, which can generally be calculated according to the patient’s weight, activity level and other factors. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy, such as rice, noodles, potatoes and so on, but we should pay attention to the choice of complex carbohydrates with high fiber and avoid excessive intake of refined sugar.
-High quality protein intake: Protein is crucial for repairing body tissues and enhancing immunity. Family members should prepare foods rich in high-quality protein for patients, including lean meat (such as chicken, fish, beef), eggs, beans, milk and its products. For example, a proper amount of steamed fish or boiled eggs can be prepared for patients every day, which are easy to digest and absorb and can provide high-quality protein for patients.
-Fat selection: Choose healthy fat sources, such as olive oil, fish oil and other unsaturated fats. Moderate unsaturated fat helps to maintain the normal function of the body, but the intake of saturated fat and trans fat should be controlled, and high-fat foods such as fried food and animal viscera should be reduced so as not to increase the burden on the patient’s body.
2. Adjust diet according to the treatment stage:
-Before and after the operation: Before the operation, the patient’s diet should be rich in nutrition and easy to digest, and more liquid or semi-liquid food can be eaten, such as millet congee, yam paste, etc., to ensure that the patient has a better physical condition during the operation. After the operation, the patient’s digestive function may be affected to some extent, and the diet should gradually transition from liquid food to soft food and then to normal diet. In the initial stage, rice soup and vegetable soup can be chosen. With the recovery, digestible foods such as tofu and fish balls can be added to help patients supplement nutrition and promote wound healing.
-During radiotherapy and chemotherapy: radiotherapy and chemotherapy may cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, oral mucosal damage and other adverse reactions. Family members should pay attention to the color, fragrance and taste of food to increase the appetite of patients. Food temperature should be moderate to avoid too cold and too hot to stimulate the mouth. When nausea and vomiting occur, patients can eat less and more meals, choose light, digestible food, such as soda biscuits, baked steamed bread slices, etc. If the patient’s oral mucosa is damaged, the food should avoid rough and spicy, and the food can be beaten into paste or made into soup, such as pumpkin soup, spinach puree, etc., to reduce the stimulation to the oral mucosa.
3. Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits:
-Variety: Vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help to strengthen the patient’s immunity and fight against tumors. Family members should ensure that patients eat a variety of vegetables and fruits, such as green broccoli, orange carrots, purple grapes and so on. Vegetables and fruits of different colors contain different nutrients, and a variety of choices can make patients get more comprehensive nutrition.
-Cooking methods: Steaming, boiling, stewing and other methods should be used as far as possible to preserve the nutrients in vegetables. For example, Sautéed Broccoli without Garlic is healthier than fried broccoli and retains its vitamins and dietary fiber better. For some vegetables with hard texture, the cooking time can be extended appropriately to make them easier for patients to chew and digest.
4. Pay attention to food hygiene and safety:
-Freshness of ingredients: Buying fresh ingredients is the first step to ensure food safety. Family members should pay attention to choosing vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs without deterioration and odor. Avoid eating expired food or food with signs of mildew, such as moldy peanuts, spoiled meat, etc. The harmful substances in these foods may damage the health of patients.
-Cooking hygiene: In the process of cooking, pay attention to the cleanliness of the kitchen and disinfect the tableware regularly. Raw and cooked food should be handled separately to avoid cross-contamination. For example, the chopping board and knife for cutting raw meat should be separated from those for cutting vegetables and fruits to prevent bacteria and parasites from spreading from raw meat to vegetables and fruits that can be eaten directly.
5. Pay attention to water supplement:
-Drink enough water: Lung cancer patients need enough water to maintain the body’s metabolic and excretory functions. Family members should remind patients to drink more water, generally to ensure 1500-2000 ml of water intake every day. If the patient has fever, sweating and other conditions, it is necessary to increase the amount of drinking water appropriately. You can choose boiled water, weak tea and so on.
-Reasonable choice of drinks: Avoid giving patients drinks containing caffeine or a lot of sugar, such as coffee, cola, etc., which may affect the patient’s sleep or increase the burden on the patient’s gastrointestinal tract. If the patient’s appetite is not good, he can drink some homemade fresh juice properly, but he should pay attention to filtering out the residue to ensure the fineness of the drink.
In a word, family members of lung cancer patients should pay attention to diet and provide strong support for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients through scientific and reasonable dietary arrangements.
Lung cancer
