any ideas on food for energy
any ideas on food for energy Hi I finished my treatment in March didnt have rads went back to work in april abit tired at first but a lot better now But some days i feel so lifeless and its a real effort to do anything. Is there any way alter my diet that will help Mind you at moment my diet not very good I just dont fancy anything thats good for me [like veggies] eat plenty of fruit and have porridge then it gos down hill idont know if its because ijust carnt be bothered to do anything healthy or i just dont fancy anythink no taste to anthything Im on tamoxifen dos this have an effect on what you fancy to eat. Any ideas how long it takes your body to get back . I push myself at moment im painting bathroom ceiling going back for 2nd coat will be in trouble when hubby gets home ithink this is my way of thinking iam better and over it.sorry for babbling i seem to have lost plot of what i started out asking joanmary
Hello Joanmary Looking at your profile,. you have been through it in a big way recently. Really are you trying to be normal before your body has had time to adjust to all that has been happening? It’s had a fair old battering, both from the operations and from the handling during those operations.
My experience did not include operations, but did include enervation, anorexia and lassitude. In the end I was prescribed Ensure drinks which eventually seemed to build up enough energy to allow the system to kick in again. They are rather bland, but they do help - there is a range of flavours and they can be used to make smoothies.
Apart from that, I found reiki helped - whether it was just the nice feeling of relaxing for an hour with nothing to do or whether something else was happening, I did find it enormously helpful in overcoming by stretched nerves.
Tamoxifen usully doesn’t affect appetite or sense of taste, so it’s more likely to be the general exhaustion.
I think the answer is likely to be “take it easy” and if really worried, ask to see the nutritionist…
Hi joanmary
From what i understand, although Tamoxifen doesn’t affect your appetite or taste, it can affect your mood so may be not helping you there - maybe discuss with your doctor.
You have been through a lot and it can take some people a length of time to come out the other side and you have not given yourself long. maybe you need the break that you didn’t have after treatment?
i agree that diet won’t be helping your energy levels, and its all a bit catch 22. When i was going through chemo i put extra veg in just about anything to get more into me (omellete and beans for example, but threw masses of veg, prawns, etc in the omellete) and I also took supplememts, with the OK of my Onc, as Phoebe did with her Ensure. They are not to be dismissed if you are not getting enough from your food. See this thread, it may give some more info:
breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=1910&forum_cmd=3&forum_id=7&topic=4555
Also, i think you need to start treating yourself. it makes SUCH a difference. You have come through a lot, so you deserve some really good treats to make you feel good again: aromatherapy massage can do WONDERS for making you relaxed, energised and more ‘yourself’ again, weekend away, girls night out/in - go for as many ‘treats’ as you can manage. Start of with one, and work from there.
Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up or push yourself.
take it easy I agree with all of the posts you need to take it easy.
I too ate very unhealthy during treatment. Meat, fruit and veg was a complete turn off during chemo and I craved sugar infact everything that was bad for me! Pizza’s crisps, chocolate and coke, was my basic diet.
About a month after chemo my taste started coming back and I started eating a bit more healthier. To ensure I was getting the right food I enrolled on a health and nutrition course, long distance so I do it at home but I still obtain a qualification from it!
I just wanted to get back to normal like you, but your body needs the time to gradually get back to normal and the positives are, you appreciate life a whole lot more, I enjoy every meal now! my hair is growing in, in much better condition and I’ve never had skin like this before. Everyone comments on how clear and glowing it is!
Give it time, the results are worth waiting for.
Have enclosed a few articles I picked up which may be of help. The ten top power foods to give you energy and anti-cancer foods. I hope this helps.
All the best.
Karen xxx
Top 10 power foods
Everyone is always asking me what particular foods are good for lowering cholesterol, losing weight, controlling diabetes or blood pressure, or whatever malady befalls them. And I always respond with apparently disappointing replies that it is not just single foods, but lowering total calories, or saturated fat, etc.
As their eyes glaze over, they still want to hear what foods will restore or instill good health.
So I present, in no particular order, the top 10 “power foods.” You won’t find sausage rolls and doughnuts on this list. These are the super-healthy foods that you should have, or start to have, in your diet to cure whatever ails you.
Obviously there are some people who, for whatever reason, are supposed to avoid certain components that may be in the foods listed. These foods are also intended to be part of a varied diet in moderate amounts.
- Salmon. Fatty fish may not sound healthy, but study after study confirms that consumption of salmon lowers the risk of death from heart disease. It is indeed the fat - in particular, the omega-3 fatty acids - that help the heart by preventing sudden and fatal disturbances in heart rhythm. Research has shown that you are less likely to die from a heart attack if you eat at least one serving of salmon or other oily fish each week. Fresh fish might taste better, but tinned salmon also is high in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Nuts. Almonds, peanuts, walnuts and hazelnuts are bite-sized powerhouses of health-promoting substances that help prevent heart disease and cancer. High in monounsaturated fat, vitamin E, magnesium and fibre, a 30 or 40 gram serving is all that is needed to provide health benefits. And because they have a high fat content, a small amount is surprisingly filling.
- Beans. Yes, they are starchy, but they are also a great source of protein, fibre, folic acid, zinc, magnesium and potassium. Drained and rinsed, canned beans are a great, inexpensive and convenient protein source. Mix them with salads or soups.
- Oranges. These and other citrus fruits are loaded with cancer-battling bioflavonoids and immune system-boosting vitamin C. Go for the fruit, not just juice.
- Spinach. This dark, leafy green vegetable is packed with vitamin C, beta carotene, vitamin A, fibre, and some calcium and iron. These nutrients and potent antioxidants fight cancer and boost immunity, not to mention that it is a low-calorie food. There are not too many foods with this kind of value for money.
- Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are among the most nutritious of vegetables since they are packed with more disease-fighting beta carotene, fibre and other antioxidants. They are starchy, however, so use them in place of white potatoes, rice or other starches.
- Berries. These colourful fruits contain chemicals that act as antioxidants, believed by scientists to protect the body from the stresses of age, and may reduce risk of cancer. Seek out whatever is in season, or in the frozen section, pick up blueberries, strawberries, cranberries and blackberries. Top cereal, ice cream, yoghurt with a handful of berries or snack on frozen berries for a sweet treat…
- Porridge. You’ve certainly heard this before. It’s the soluble fibre in oats, barley or other wholegrains that has been shown to reduce cholesterol and risk of heart disease. However, there are other high-fibre cereals that will do just fine.
- Tomatoes. You say “tomato;” I say “lycopene.” This is the one vegetable where fresh is not as advantageous because the powerful antioxidants are more concentrated in cooked varieties. Keep tinned tomatoes on hand to throw in with other vegetables or pair up with fish, chicken, pork or beef.
- Low-fat milk or yoghurt. I rarely meet someone who gets the recommended amount of calcium in their diet. These dairy products are not that high in calories for the amount of calcium, protein and vitamins A and D that it contains. If you aren’t a milk drinker, eat yogurt or low-fat cheese, or get your calcium from green leafy vegetables, beans, pulses and nuts.
Anti-cancer superfoods
The World Cancer Research Fund estimates that around 35 per cent, and possibly as many as 70 per cent, of cancers are linked to dietary factors. Learn how to reduce your risk with the right foods
The list of dietary influences on cancers is long. Diets low in fruits and vegetables are factors in many cancers, those high in salt contribute to stomach cancers and those too high in calories overall can promote hormone cancers such as breast. Smoked and burned foods, such as those cooked on barbecues, are significantly linked to many cancers. And regular alcohol intake is strongly linked to
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increased breast cancer risk in younger (premenopausal) women. Additionally, smoking remains one of the biggest killers as a trigger of lung cancer.
But the good news is that while some foods, and chemicals in foods, have cancer-promoting, or carcinogenic effects, many more foods have very positive effects on the initiation and progress of cancer. They have strong anti-cancer effects that have been identified in countless research papers.
So next time you go to the supermarket, make a point of adding the following foods to your basket. By eating these foods on a regular basis you can significantly reduce your statistical risk of developing a number of types of cancer.
Broccoli
Effective against: most cancers
Works because: the slightly bitter flavour of broccoli (and its cousins Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower) is the reason for the impressive track record these vegetables have in deterring cancer. The bitter chemicals isothiocyanates and glucosinolates actually interfere with cancer progression and deactivate harmful oestrogens associated with hormonal cancers such as breast and ovarian cancers.
Garlic
Effective against: stomach, colon and most cancers
Works because: the smelly compounds in garlic are potent anti-cancer agents. All of the onion family, including leeks and shallots, contain these compounds but garlic is the most rich. Trials have shown that chemically induced cancers can be interrupted by the active compounds formed from allicin from garlic. To get the most out of garlic chop the clove and leave it to `mature’ in the air for 15 minutes, and then use it in your cooking. Heating prior to this ‘maturation time’ by air neutralises the important compounds.
Tofu
Effective against: breast, ovarian and prostate cancers
Works because: the isoflavones the soya bean contains have a gently oestrogen-mimicking effect in the human body. This helps to block the effects of more aggressive oestrogens, both natural and those from environmental chemicals from sources such as plastics and pesticides. This has the effect of limiting the risk of hormone-linked cancers in both women and men. Tofu may be more effective than other soya products or soya supplements as it has been fermented and so some potentially negative compounds are neutralised. The Japanese and Chinese who eat tofu regularly have low risks of these cancers.
Oily fish
Effective against: colon, prostate and breast cancers
Works because: the omega-3 fatty acids have a profound effect on cell metabolism and communication. These fatty acids also act as anti-inflammatory agents, which may be a reason for their influence on colon cancer. When the diet is higher in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the omega-3s, it also limits the intake and the effects of saturated fats, which are linked to increased risk of some cancers.
Food for thought Hi JoanMary,
I think that lack of energy is a side effect of the treatment you’ve had and the tamoxifen.
Quick and impressive protein-rich recipe which I’ve used - it might originally have come from an Ainsley Harriott cookbook.
Ingredients: salmon steaks, a jar of sundried tomato paste and breadcrumbs.
Switch on the oven to gas mark 6 (or whatever the electrical equivalent is). Put salmon steaks on oiled baking tray. Open jar of sundried tomato paste and using a knife spread the paste liberally over the top of the salmon steaks. Put one slice of bread in liquidiser to make bread crumbs. Sprinkle bread crumbs liberally on top of sundried tomato paste. Press the bread crumbs into the paste lightly and then add a few more.
Switch on grill. Put salmon steaks under the grill until the breadcrumbs on top start to go brown. (Watch carefully because if you turn your back it will go black!). Then switch off grill and put salmon steaks in the oven for 15 minutes.
While you are waiting for the salmon to cook mix a quick salad and cut yourself a couple of slices of French bread. Pour yourself a large glass of white wine. Drink the wine.
When the fifteen minutes are up take the salmon steaks out, place with the salad and the French bread. Eat, pour yourself another glass of wine and relax.
Best wishes,
Sue