Alternative diets and supplements

 

There is a lot of attention in the media surrounding diets to “beat cancer”. This includes a lot of speculation about foods that “cure” or “feed” cancer. There is currently no scientific evidence that any of these popular diets improve cancer survival or quality of life.

Some of these diets restrict whole food groups (e.g. dairy and gluten), when there is no need to. This puts you at risk of nutritional deficiencies and weight loss which may compromise your cancer treatment.

Alternative diets are therefore not recommended. If you are still keen to follow a particular diet, please discuss this with your doctor or nurse or ask to see a dietitian to ensure your diet is nutritionally complete.

For more information, click here to watch our video on whether you should follow a special diet.

 

Do I need vitamin supplements?

 

If you are eating a healthy balanced diet and have not lost weight, you should not need to take any extra vitamin and mineral supplements during your cancer treatment. You may be prescribed a specific vitamin or mineral if you have been diagnosed with a deficiency after a blood test. Vitamin and mineral supplements can be helpful if you are struggling to maintain a balanced diet or have problems absorbing your food properly. These can be prescribed by your doctor if they suspect that you are lacking a particular vitamin or mineral.

Alternatively, they can be bought at most pharmacies and supermarkets. A one-a-day multivitamin and mineral tablet is recommended. Choose products that have no more than 100% of your recommended nutrient intake (RNI) for each vitamin and mineral.

It is now recommended that everyone takes a Vitamin D supplement of 10 micrograms (mcg) or 400IU per day during the winter months from October to April.

High dose vitamin and mineral supplements are not recommended as they may interact with your cancer treatment. Avoid taking supplements such as Berrocca, 500mg or 1000mg Vitamin C, 15mg or 25mg Zinc.

Herbal supplements are also not recommended during cancer treatment. They are not always tested and may cause an interaction.

If you are already taking a vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement that is not prescribed, or want to buy an over-the-counter product, always check with your doctor, nurse or dietitian that it is safe to use during your treatment.

For more tips, click here to watch our video on vitamin and mineral supplements.