10 Hydrating Foods for Cancer Patients

The significance of hydration

About 60 p.c of the physique is made up of water. Protecting the physique effectively hydrated reduces the chance of challenges like kidney and urinary tract infections or constipation. Even wholesome folks must drink loads of water every day to stave off the unfavourable results of dehydration.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all reply to how a lot water every individual wants. It could differ primarily based on a number of elements, together with age, gender, bodily exercise stage and general well being. Your physician might help you identify the correct amount for you.

Nonetheless, rule of thumb for wholesome people is to drink between eight and 10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day, says Kayla Morgiewicz, MS, RD, Superior Dietitian at City of Hope Chicago. That’s roughly 4 to 5 16.9-fluid-ounce bottles a day.

If you happen to’re searching for a extra particular guideline to observe, purpose to drink between half an oz to an oz of water per pound of physique weight every day. For instance, for those who weigh 150 kilos, you need to attempt to drink between 75 to 150 ounces of water a day. That might change, although, for those who stay in a sizzling local weather or are very bodily lively.

There additionally isn’t a hard-and-fast rule for a way a lot water most cancers sufferers want. “I don’t give a normal, general suggestion as a result of it’s particular to every affected person and what his or her remedy entails,” Morgiewicz says, “however we going over hydration, on the whole, as a result of numerous sufferers are having diarrhea or vomiting as a part of chemotherapy, so it’s important that we replenish these fluids.”

The indicators of dehydration

Your physique alerts you to dehydration in a number of methods, and it doesn’t at all times contain feeling thirsty. Probably the greatest methods to watch for dehydration, in reality, is to test the colour of your urine. On the whole, the darker the colour, the extra dehydrated you might be.

Widespread indicators of dehydration embrace:

• An elevated coronary heart fee
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Complications

Hydrating meals for most cancers sufferers

One of many largest challenges for most cancers sufferers who wrestle with taking in sufficient water and vitamins is discovering palatable meals they will maintain down. However you possibly can sneak water into your weight loss program in plenty of methods. For instance, 20 percent of the water we absorb every day comes from the meals we eat. Even a slice of pizza is 40 to 49 percent water.  

Nonetheless, it’s in all probability not a shock that among the finest hydrating meals are contemporary vegetables and fruit. Most are made up of 90 p.c water or extra. Greens additionally include phytochemicals, that are pure compounds present in crops that include antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties and assist struggle free radicals—unstable molecules within the physique believed to have the potential to trigger cell or DNA injury—and stop illness.

Beneath are 10 hydrating meals and methods to include them into your weight loss program.

Apples

Apples, that are 84 p.c water, rank among the many high fruits produced on the planet and are supply of vitamin C and fiber. They’re additionally wealthy within the flavonoid quercetin, a kind of naturally occurring plant chemical that has antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties, and pectin, a kind of fiber that will assist stop constipation and decrease LDL (low-density lipoprotein), or dangerous ldl cholesterol.

You possibly can reduce apples up for a simple snack (and unfold them with low-fat cheese or nut butter for additional taste) or add them to salads or soups.

Asparagus

Roughly 92 p.c water, asparagus is an efficient supply of zinc and nutritional vitamins A and Ok. It additionally incorporates fiber and carbohydrates that will assist regulate digestion, blood sugar and fats absorption.

Asparagus is scrumptious when served contemporary in salads or flippantly seasoned as a aspect dish. It may also be steamed, boiled, stir-fried or grilled.

Celery

Celery, which is 95 p.c water, isn’t notably excessive in any vitamin or mineral, however it’s supply of vitamin Ok. It additionally incorporates folate, potassium, fiber and small quantities of nutritional vitamins A, B and C.

Take pleasure in uncooked celery with dips or peanut butter, or you possibly can add it to salads and sandwiches, braise it, juice it or use it in soups.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are 96 p.c water and  include a bunch of nutritional vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and hint steel components that assist the physique metabolize meals. A few of these vitamins embrace nutritional vitamins B and C, folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and zinc.

You possibly can incorporate cucumbers into your weight loss program in all kinds of the way. One of many important methods, although, is just including chopped cucumbers to salads and sandwiches. You possibly can eat them as a aspect with a dressing or dip, and even disguise them in a smoothie.

Lettuce

Lettuce can also be 96 p.c water. It incorporates quite a few vitamins, together with nutritional vitamins A, C and Ok, in addition to folate and potassium.

Lettuce supplies tons of well being advantages, together with offering antioxidants, selling coronary heart and immune well being and decreasing most cancers danger. Because the core ingredient in most salads, lettuce isn’t arduous so as to add to your weight loss program. Plus, it’s an awesome addition to sandwiches and wraps. Simply do not forget that the darker the leaves, the extra nutrient-rich the lettuce.

Mushrooms

Relying on the sort, mushrooms are between 80 p.c and 92 p.c water. They’re stuffed with nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants—and so they’re versatile. You possibly can eat them uncooked or chop them up and disguise them as meat in burgers and meatballs. You too can slice them and add them to salads, cream them for soups, sauté or grill them as a aspect, or fill them with tomato sauce and sprinkle them with mozzarella cheese and oregano.

Spinach

Spinach, at 92 p.c water, has darkish, leafy greens that assist the pores and skin, hair and bones keep wholesome. Spinach additionally supplies vitamins like protein, iron, vitamin C and E, iron, potassium and magnesium.

Maybe most nutritious when served contemporary in salads or hidden in smoothies and juices, spinach can also be a enjoyable addition to egg dishes, soups and stews.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are 94 p.c water and wealthy in vitamins. They’re loaded with vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants like lycopene, which has been linked to a decreased danger of coronary heart illness.

You possibly can take pleasure in tomatoes by including them to wraps, sandwiches, sauces and salsas. Cooking tomatoes additionally seems to extend nutrient consumption. For instance, stewed tomatoes have extra lutein and zeaxanthin (plant-producing pigments referred to as carotenoids) than sun-dried tomatoes or uncooked cherry tomatoes.

Watermelon

Made up of 92 p.c water, watermelon is filled with antioxidants like lycopene and nutritional vitamins A and C.

Add watermelon to smoothies, salsas and salads, or pair it with cheeses, nuts and different proteins. Or eat it uncooked as a salad or dessert.

Zucchini

Summer season squashes, together with zucchini, are about 94 p.c water. Technically a fruit, zucchini, which is wealthy in antioxidants and micronutrients, is a wonderful supply of vitamin C and the hint mineral manganese, in addition to potassium and magnesium. It’s additionally excessive in fiber and will assist enhance general intestine well being.

You possibly can add summer season squashes like zucchini to your weight loss program in some ways, together with puréeing them and including them to soups. You too can add them to salads and sandwiches, spiralize them into noodles, bake them into bread or simply eat them plain.

Different hydrating meals ideas

After all, you don’t need to restrict your weight loss program to solely the meals above. Take prunes, for instance. You might not just like the style, however for those who like oranges, that are 87 p.c water and include plenty of vitamin C, you possibly can combine plum juice with orange juice for hydration advantages, Morgiewicz says.

You too can discover oral rehydration formulation available on the market, like Liquid I.V.^® Hydration Multiplier^® and  DripDrop^® Dehydration Relief Fast™. These options are made up of water, sugar and electrolytes—particularly, potassium and sodium.

One other solution to make hydration extra attractive is by utilizing water infusions, Morgiewicz says. Merely add these flavors to your water bottle and allow them to sit in a single day:

• Strawberry, lemon, basil
• Orange, blueberry
• Watermelon, mint
• Citrus, cucumber
• Raspberry, rose petals, vanilla
• Strawberry, lime, cucumber
• Blueberry, lavender
• Citrus, cilantro
• Rosemary, lemon

Meals and drinks to keep away from

Whereas you will get water from the meals you eat in plenty of methods, you need to keep away from sure meals that will negatively affect hydration. These embrace merchandise like high-salt meals, caffeine and alcohol.

Nonetheless, for most cancers sufferers who’ve bother swallowing or protecting sure meals down, the record of meals and drinks to keep away from is brief. “I wouldn’t prohibit an excessive amount of when, actually, any diet is best than nothing, oftentimes,” Morgiewicz says. “And every individual’s analysis and treatment plan are totally different, so their weight loss program needs to be, too.”

If you happen to’ve been identified with most cancers and want to be taught extra about your remedy choices, or for those who’re enthusiastic about a second opinion about your most cancers analysis and remedy plan, call us or chat online with a member of our workforce.