My wife has been in and out of hospital with low magnesium and potassium and sodium levels amongst other things due to having chemo, she is home today and in much better condition but still weak and has been told to eat bananas.................... so if that's the best the doctors can do after 5 weeks then ill be a specialist by christmas lol. my mission now is to come up with some agreeable recipes that have sodium and magnesium and potassium in them, which is not to difficult by the looks of it but I don't want them to be boring so if you have any ideas either for breakfast dinner or tea or lunch or just a snack then please leave me a comment.
Photo is Marley acting cute after being caught being naughty.
Beans and nuts, whole grains such as brown rice and whole wheat bread and green leafy vegetables. Lots of choice there! Start her morning with a muesli with almond milk. Lunch on broccoli, hummus, tomatoes & mushrooms. A stew for dinner with more greens such as spinach, peas and other ingredients such as carrots for colour and taste, onions for their alkalising nature, barley for taste and body. And no oils in sight!
Yes, BadHare the body loves oils, since time began. When we were cavemen we needed oils for our survival and so we ate seeds and nuts wherever and whenever we could find them. In those days there was no refined oils.
These days you can go to a store and buy as many nuts and seeds as you want. You can go to another store and buy as much oil as your body craves. The body also craves salt and sugar. This is almost hard-wired into our psyche if not our social conscience.
But, as per the theme of this forum, the question is what is healthy for the human body? Surely what is healthy is what enables our bodies to function properly physically and mentally. Nothing more, nothing less.
Anything more (which is the norm in modern society) is unhealthy, in my book. As such it is likely to impair one either physically or mentally or both. The standard body reaction is inflammation in the body - somewhere. That could then manifest as something like arthritis with painful signposts (as it did with me). Or it could appear as heart disease, cancer, strokes or dementia etc with few warning signs.
The research on this is legion. If you want me to post a few links I can.
Fortunately for me I had a wake-up call that I have largely recovered from, ie 40 years of arthritis, most lately rheumatoid. This last part almost brought my life to an end in total despair of the 24-hour a day agonies that became my life.
If you think your body is different from everyone else's, that's fine. I can understand that. It's human nature. I loved cheese (almost totally salt & oil) and ate loads for most of my adult life. Now I would not touch it with a barge pole.
We've evolved to crave things our body needs to survive, but not adapted to getting them 24 hours a day.
My osteoarthritis, being trauma rather than autoimmune like yours, feels better for the nuts & seeds I eat for oils. I've avoided what are now known as bad fats for 25 years, & in favour of a diet free of processed "food" for 31. I rarely eat anything considered inflammatory at home, but I'm still fairly strict when out. I have never liked meat, being as much a preference as disliking the effect it had on my body, but do like cheese in moderation, despite disliking salt. A fat free diet had the effect of making me fatter.
My point about or bodies being different is that I have a different nutritional need to you being hypothyroid, to my diabetic friend, to my friend who runs marathons, & to my friend who has cancer. Like you, I have chronic pain, & have adapted my diet to what suits me best. I'm sure I'll change it again as my health conditions alter, & new evidence is presented from sources I trust. However, I don't think Marley28's predicament regarding his wife's cancer is helped by anyone b****ing on here, when all he asked for was information to help his poorly partner.
Apologies from me, Marley28!
Lucozade Sport the non fizzy version is good for balancing electrolytes.
Dioralyte sachets is another good one
bananas will help as will tonic water.
i have not had chemo but have another condition that causes same problem.
Forums are best places to learn what to do.
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Ive been told on here that sugar {Lucozade} feeds cancer so I'm a bit apprehensive to try that
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that is ok like i said i am not on chemo. I know i need the sugar else i get low blood sugar
There's a lot more like this, but seem to be aimed primarily for sporty type electrolyte replacement, rather than poorly types. This website wasn't overly helpful when I did a specific search. other than explaining the side effects: news.cancerconnect.com/canc...
I've read coconut water is the best substitute for sports drinks, being natural & containing non of the junk. However, there's the water from inside a coconut which is supposed to make an effective replacement for blood plasma (I read somewhere), & also coconut milk made from the flesh.
Medjool dates are also very high in potassium, & despite their sugar content are low GI. Ignore that if you think inappropriate. A friend did a research project on them, & stated one contains 10% RDA of magnesium.
I'm not a salt lover, but find I like the taste of himalayan salt in porridge as it's sweet. it's supposed to have more minerals than ordinary salt, so could be added into something easy to drink such as soup.
I looked up this website from a post last week, hoping it would be near my friend, or another friend's sister: togetheragainstcancer.org.u... I'm sure someone at this charity would be able to point you in the right direction.
Thank you for the links Mel ill certainly look into them and ask advice.
Neil
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I'm sure Marley wont mind the attention
Unfortunately my wife only had 1 lot of chemo and developed a chest infection then pneumonia and then low sodium and magnesium and potassium problems so was in hospital for 5 weeks but is getting better now and we are looking towards re-starting her other 3 sessions of chemo.
What a terrible experience, & on top of having cancer! I am sad & disappointed that you have been left to deal with this yourself. I spotted a support group in my area. Perhaps contact Macmillan to see if there is any available help for both your wife & yourself. carers need support, too!
I'd not meant for help from McMillan, but to see if they knew of any local support groups that can give you specific dietary advice. Does HU have a dedicated forum? Some areas have alternative therapists available to help balance the effects of chemotherapy & the stress you must be going through.
My friend's sister has online & real support group, & I've spotted a building in a local town where I shop sometimes. I'm pretty sure there's a social event on a different day to my pain club, as well as a place for general poorly problem support in my nearest town centre. I'm hoping you'll be able to find something like this Leicester group: togetheragainstcancer.org.u...
One thing for sure, is that there must be people who have gone through what you're dealing with, & emerged the other end, so will be able to advise you better.
Magnesium and potassium are something I keep an eye on for myself too as I seem to have low levels.. the good news is there are some extremely versatile ingredients to work with if you want to get a good dose through daily diet. (I also supplement)
Ideas - breakfast- a spinach and avocado omelette, natural yoghurt with flaked almonds and pumpkin seeds, a smoothie with figs, spinach, banana, seeds and honey. Yum!
Lunches/dinners/sides - Spanish omelette (with diced potato), potato salad, bean salad, sweet potato soup, salads with asparagus, spinach and seed sprinkles, spinach and artichoke dip on pumpkin seed crackers, salmon and mash and stir fried greens.
Snacks- dark choc is brill for magnesium, you could make figs dipped in dark choc for a gorgeous hit of magnesium! Or just keep dark choc and almonds around!
Maybe your wife's appetite won't be up to eating much so you might need to squeeze in the nutrition where you can!
You're a lovely person to go in search of help to support your partner. Times sound hard for you both. I'm sure she is so glad to have someone on her team. Wishing you so so so many warm wishes for a quick recovery and smooth journey xx
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I would enjoy every one of those ideas but my wife is a fussy so and so and would probably only eat the banana you mentioned, BUT she hates drinking tea or at least she did and now loves it so I'm hoping her taste buds are changing like I have been told they might. I have been given some FORTISIP off a neighbour but need to speak to my wifes GP first wether shes allowed them or not, they are packed with what she needs but it does say take under doctors guidance. Thank you for your help I will look into these recipes and fingers crossed they will agree with her taste buds
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Ah that will be hard if fussiness is a factor! I'd eat anything and I forget not everyone does!
I'd run your concerns by the doc, and ask if he thinks a supplement is a good idea! It sounds like it might be a good safety net if appetites and tastes are an issue!
I haven’t got any recipes unfortunately, but I went through Hodgkin’s lymphoma when I was 19 and I’m remission now for nearly 6 years in feb! And one thing that I struggled with was being able to taste things, as a lot of it tasted metallic due to chemo. I ate a lot of pickled onion monster munch (which I know is naughty) but it’s the only thing strong enough to taste! If you ever need someone to talk too that’s not a nurse or doctor and just for random things then I’m always here! Sorry I was no use for the dietary requirements!
Well wishes to you and your wife!
P.s I don’t think I could stay mad at Marley after being naughty either!
Also maggies is a counciller support place for families of cancer patients and the patients themselves but they do dietary plans etc... Macmillan will help you with dietary requirements too! Although I got help off clic seargants and teenage cancer trust!
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Hard time filling up on healthy 
Waking up in the middle of the night nauseous - connected to sugar at night?
Arts and crafts up cycled Christmas tree 🎄
