9 Foods that Patients with Leukemia Should Avoid

Leukemia is a type of cancer involving growth of abnormal, or cancerous, blood cells in the body. Such blood cells begin growing in the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing blood. While the exact cause of leukemia is unknown, some triggers include genetic predisposition, previous cancer interventions, and exposure to benzene and certain other such chemicals. Besides timely intervention, a healthy lifestyle can promote symptom management. Here are some foods to avoid with leukemia:

Foods to Avoid with Leukemia

Sugary foods

Although the direct link between sugar and cancer is not yet fully established, sugar increases one’s risk of developing lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cholesterol, which can impede healing from leukemia and other cancers. Moreover, high blood sugar levels can cause elevated blood pressure, which is also a consequence of leukemia treatment. Thus, sugary foods can worsen the side effects of leukemia intervention. It is best to limit or avoid added sugar while healing from leukemia, replacing it with natural sugar sources like fruits and fresh fruit juices.

Spicy foods

Spicy foods give rise to digestive problems like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can worsen the impact of the side effects caused by leukemia treatment. Thus, patients with leukemia should avoid highly spiced foods, replacing them with mild, easily digestible alternatives.

Red meat

Red meat contains certain compounds that increase inflammation and promote the development of cancerous cells in the body. Hence, doctors typically recommend that patients dealing with leukemia avoid red meat in all its forms, instead opting for lean meat sources like poultry to ensure adequate protein intake.

Sushi

Consuming foods prepared using raw fish, such as sushi, can increase one’s susceptibility to several infectious diseases. These risks are particularly elevated among patients with leukemia and other types of cancer, as even mild food poisoning can lead to serious repercussions among these patients. For this reason, patients with leukemia should strictly avoid sushi and other raw fish foods. On the other hand, cooked fish, particularly omega-3-rich fatty fish like salmon and tuna, have been found to reduce the adverse effects of cancer treatment in the long run. Therefore, one should replace raw fish with cooked fish preparations like grilled, steamed, or baked fish while healing from leukemia.

Unpasteurized or soft cheeses

Soft or unpasteurized cheeses increase one’s risk of infection and food poisoning, worsening leukemia symptoms and treatment side effects. Hence, it is best for patients with leukemia to avoid all forms of unpasteurized milk, including unpasteurized cheese varieties and cheeses with blue veins. As a thumb rule, one should steer clear of all milk products that read “unpasteurized.”

Processed foods

The consumption of highly processed foods has been repeatedly linked to different forms of cancer. These foods also increase one’s risk of developing cholesterol, diabetes, and heart diseases, which significantly impact the healing process of patients with leukemia. Therefore, patients with leukemia should avoid processed foods and replace them with healthy carbs and fats, which can reduce one’s cravings for unhealthy foods and ensure a balanced meal plan.

Raw vegetable sprouts

While sprouts are packed with nutrients and should be a part of one’s meal plans, raw vegetable sprouts may increase one’s risk of infections, especially when they are not handled properly. Thus, patients with leukemia and other forms of cancer should strictly avoid buying raw vegetable sprout packets. One should also remember to wash sprouts thoroughly and boil them in clean drinking water to prevent the spread of any infections.

Pickles and highly salted foods

Pickles and other foods high in salt content contain high levels of salt. Since sodium feeds cancer cells, it is important to avoid excessive salt intake while healing from leukemia.

Ready-to-eat foods

Packaged, ready-to-eat foods like instant soups and noodles typically contain monosodium glutamate or MSG. Although there is no conclusive evidence of the direct link between MSG intake and cancer, MSG has several harmful effects on the body. As a result, many experts recommend that patients with cancer should avoid foods containing MSG. It is a good idea to replace instant foods with fresh, home-cooked ones.

Foods that Patients with Leukemia Should Have

Lean meat

Lean meat sources like chicken and turkey breast and venison are excellent sources of protein, which helps with growth and repair in the body. Hence, patients with leukemia should incorporate such lean protein sources into their meal plans.

Leafy greens

Leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and Brussel sprouts contain high levels of iron, which the body needs for energy and sustenance, especially when one is undergoing cancer treatment. Patients with leukemia should have leafy green vegetables regularly. However, it is important to ensure that these vegetables are properly washed and cooked, as having them raw can increase one’s risk of infections.

Healthy carbohydrates

Healthy carb sources like whole grains and potatoes cooked with the skin on are required to increase one’s energy levels and deal with the symptoms of leukemia as well as its treatment side effects.

Fresh fruits

Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, oranges, cherries, and papayas are loaded with vital nutrients that the body requires to fight against leukemia and other cancers. However, one should wash fruits thoroughly to prevent the spread of infections.

Plant-based protein

Plant-based proteins like tofu are lean protein sources and make for healthy meals while healing from cancer. Thus, it is a good idea to include these plant-based protein sources in one’s meals, especially if one is following a vegetarian meal plan.

In addition to avoiding and including certain types of foods, patients with leukemia should remember to stay hydrated, as cancer treatment can cause acute dehydration. One should also include other healthy fluids like coconut water, fresh fruit juices, soups, and home-made smoothies and avoid aerated and soft drinks, which are loaded with sugar and empty calories. Timely treatment, coupled with certain healthcare measures, can help with steady progress among patients with leukemia.

References

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/chronic-myeloid-leukemia/about/what-is-cml.html#:~:text=Leukemia%20is%20different%20from%20other,all%20leukemias%20are%20the%20same

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20374373#:~:text=Certain%20genetic%20disorders%2C%20such%20as,Smoking

https://www.healthline.com/health/leukemia/is-leukemia-curable#:~:text=As%20with%20other%20types%20of,that%20remain%20in%20your%20body

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4365-leukemia

Leukemia treatment and hypertension – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8784271/#:~:text=Hypertension%20is%20a%20common%20acute,and%20intervention%20may%20be%20indicated

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar#:~:text=Consuming%20too%20much%20added%20sugar,pathological%20pathways%20to%20heart%20disease

https://reversefactor.in/foods-to-avoid-when-cancer

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/3-nutrients-cancer-survivors-should-know-flaxseed-omega-3s-iron.h00-159305412.html#:~:text=Your%20body%20needs%20nutrients%20to,says%20clinical%20dietitian%20Haley%20Gale

https://www.cityofhope.org/foods-avoid-while-undergoing-cancer-treatment#:~:text=For%20these%20patients%2C%20even%20mild,and%20may%20make%20you%20sick

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000061.htm#:~:text=All%20milk%2C%20yogurt%2C%20cheese%2C,%2C%20Gorgonzola%2C%20and%20Bleu )

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/242892/ultra-processed-foods-linked-increased-risk-cancer/#:~:text=The%20study%20found%20that%20higher,with%20ovarian%20and%20brain%20cancers