By Marla Stone, RD, LD, Oncology Dietitian
The Armes Family Cancer Care Center
The National Cancer Institute defines cancer as, “…a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.” According to the American Cancer Society, one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Nutrition plays a role in cell growth and can help reduce your risk of developing cancer by providing an adequate amount of nutrients needed to support healthy cell growth. Cancer is a disease that is multi-factorial including, but not limited to lifestyle, environment, age and genetics. While we cannot control all of these factors, we can control some of them, which will help decrease the risk of developing cancer.
In order to fuel the body appropriately and provide adequate nutrients all day long, it is best practice to aim for smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. This is not to say you cannot consume breakfast, lunch and dinner but, rather, that you control your portions with these three meals and incorporate balanced snacks between them. There are also many different types of oral nutrition supplements available that have a variety of nutrients along with the convenience of grab-and-go. While it is recommended to get all of our nutrients from the foods we eat, sometimes nutritional supplements are necessary. Each individual is different, so it is best to discuss the varying options of nutritional supplements and food/snack recommendations with a registered dietitian to find what will best meet the individual needs of your body.
