For many patients with cancer, taking the appropriate diet becomes a challenge. Side effect of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, is the loss of appetite that may further deplete the patient’s will to live. Boosting appetite is boosting one’s chances of survival, nutritionists say.

“Most importantly, cancer patients must take energy food like carbohydrates and sugar to invigorate them,” says Sanirose Orbeta, a noted nutritionist. Food rich in carbohydrates assist in releasing the needed energy to sustain the body. Protein from meat products will only slow down the patient’s digestive system. If patients don’t feel like eating solid foods, Orbeta suggests, they can try liquid or powdered meal replacements during times when it is hard for them to eat food.

The National Cancer Institute published a booklet, “Eating Hints for Cancer Patients Before, During and After Treatment,” which suggests that patients should always keep snacks within easy reach so they can have something whenever they feel like it. Water is essential to the body’s proper functioning. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may reduce the flow of saliva and cause dry mouth. To deal with this, cancer atients can have a sip of water every few minutes to help them swallow and talk more easily.

Sometimes food presentation or changing the form of food to make it more appetizing in presentation will also help stimulate the patient’s appetite. “I think that’s the secret of encouraging patients to eat more. Presenting food or meals in an attractive way helps a lot,” Orbeta observes.

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