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Nutrition
Why is nutrition important?
By improving your nutrition you can help to boost your natural defence mechanisms as well as improve your energy and vitality. We are interested in helping you learn more about good quality, nutritious and appetising food and how it can help you. We do not advocate extreme or faddy diets.
Guidelines for healthy eating
Breast Cancer Haven’s nutritional information, suggest a range of foods high in fruit and vegetables, grains and pulses containing antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fibre to ensure overall health and wellbeing. Where practical, we suggest that foods should be organically grown and in season. We suggest reducing levels of saturated fats (except when weight loss is a serious problem), refined carbohydrates, additives, preservatives, processed foods, hydrogenated fats and stimulants such as alcohol, tea and coffee.
What happens in a nutritional consultation?
The initial consultation at Breast Cancer Haven assesses your nutritional needs. The information given varies according to your stage of treatment, needs and nutritional objectives. Your individual diet plan is adjusted accordingly knowing that any change for the better is good no matter how small. Information about supplements is given if you request it or if it deemed necessary following your nutritional assessment. Tests such as Nutri-Energetics Systems (NES) are available as an investigative tool.
The use of food supplements
For those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the focus of the consultation is usually on food itself. Supplements that contain antioxidants are not given during chemotherapy or radiotherapy as they may interfere with the effectiveness of treatments. Exceptions to this would be when dietary intake is so poor that supplementation is needed to help you reach the optimum of essential nutrients in the body.
When is it appropriate to have a nutritional consultation?
It is appropriate to have a consultation at any time as the focus is on healthy food. The use of supplements is adjusted during chemotherapy and, often at this time, supplements are not suggested and they will be discussed in a follow up consultation.
Number and length of appointments
The first nutritional consultation lasts about an hour. Prior to this, you will need to fill in a short nutrition questionnaire and an eight-day food diary. This enables a nutritional assessment to be made. A half-hour follow up consultation is usually given four to six weeks later to assess the results of the dietary changes and any supplement programme suggested. Exceptions to this would be someone on chemotherapy, where the follow-up would be recommended after treatment is finished. If you choose to come to a follow-up after your medical treatment is finished, you can focus on developing and maintaining an ongoing healthy eating plan.
For a qualified nutritionist, speak to one of our Nutritionists at Breast Cancer Haven or visit the British Association of Nutritional Therapists website.
Breast Cancer Haven Have produced the following factsheets on pdf files:
Haven Recipes - please click here.
Sprouting Seeds - please click here
Smothies click here
Juicing - please click here
Nuitritional Information - please click here
Creating a Healthier Environment - please click here