NHL and Diet ?

[Shar0n]

What dietary changes have you made since being diagnosed with NHL ?

What were your reasons for making these changes?

[CaroWoods]

I'm pleased you've asked this Shar0n because I know I need to make changes to my diet but not sure where to start, so others advice and comments will be really useful.

[Shar0n Volunteer in reply to CaroWoods]

Hi CaroW, there's plenty of info online re healthy eating now - but they basically all boil down to variations on: cutting back on sugar and starch; having enough but not too much protein; consuming healthy fats like butter and olive oil; plenty of greens but smaller amounts of fruit.

Any kind of exercise that you enjoy is good to encourage deeper breathing and good circulation. I enjoy swimming 3 times a week and also try to fit in a 15 minute brisk walk as often as possible up to twice a day. I have to confess this is far removed from what I did prior to diagnosis!

[TezzM]

Hi Sharon, from advise gained from this site I read Dr Ken Crawford's " You are what THEY eat" . His reasoning is hard to argue with, and so I am taking his advice and SLOWLY eliminating sugars and acids from my diet. No chocolates😢 Biscuits or puddings. No soft drinks or beer😭 Adding to my meals more greens🤢 Including herbs, lots of pepper on everything, only rye bread and I drink the juice of half a lemon in water morning and evening.🍋 The idea is to make your body more alkaline and starve the cancer cells of what they need . One important result so far, I have lost nearly 3 kilograms in 3 weeks😁

[Shar0n Volunteer in reply to TezzM]

I can't argue with anything you're doing TezzM - it's similar to my own regime except for the lemon juice. I will have to re-read Dr. Ken Crawford's book and see if there is anything I can add.

[TezzM in reply to Shar0n]

Shar0n, I started these changes to my diet very slowly, after a while you can feel what is good for you and that it is working. We all know we must be aware of weight loss bu this is slow and steady. Next, I will try to increase exercise 🏃🏊

[jmcobb50 in reply to Shar0n]

Lemon juice acts as a dexotifier and alkalinizes the water. Cancer cannot live in an alkaline envornment. I cut out red meat as well. Take Turmeric every day as well. Cut coffee (very acid) down but not entirely gone.

[laylalulu in reply to TezzM]

This is awesome I too have lost 16/17 lbs yay

[laylalulu in reply to TezzM]

Tezzm may I ask about the benefits of drinking the lemon in the water please?

[TezzM in reply to laylalulu]

laylalulu, lemon juice is a strong alkaline and is said to assist in reducing the acidity of your body. It works for me, I have been taking prescribed antacids for years, maybe this will enable me to stop.

[laylalulu in reply to TezzM]

Awesome thank you, I too have come off the prescribed tummy meds. I'll be adding some juice to my water 😊

[R-16728 in reply to TezzM]

I've been working on the Crawford diet too. re. chocolate; In the face of eliminating almost all sugar products, I'm rewarding with a couple of pieces of 85 per cent cacao dark chocolate most days. I've also introduced many pecans and walnuts as snacks. I'm using artichoke hearts instead of lettuce and eating many mushrooms stir fried with purple onion and parsley. I haven't eliminated whole grain bread but I'll try rye bread on your suggestion. I eat an orange every day, but now I peel it with a knife to leave the white underneath intact. I'm also eating pears with skin.

[TezzM in reply to R-16728]

Good stuff. I also snack on pecans, and have added mushrooms as a regular addition to meals. See if you can get sourdough rye it seems to have a better texture. Also find a mix of fresh herbs with lemon juice, honey and olive oil makes a great dressing for salads. We can only try and see what works best for ourselves

[deestb in reply to TezzM]

A big thank you to all of you...When I was diagnosed with Waldenstroms (NHL) I was so scared....immediately cleaned up m diet...I didn't need to lose weight and was encouraged to eat more in case I needed radiation ..(that didn't happen ) Well am still on watch and wait no treatments so far.....I have really slipped by consuming too many empty calories...so you all have given me a wake up call...haven't stopped working out...that is so important and am grateful because spin and strength training in the future might not be an option as they require lots of energy so am really appreciating right now and keeping present...will check in and be accountable re nutrition am a life time member of Weight watchers for now but need to consume "better" calories..

[jamoza]

Shortly after my diagnosis in 2012 I took up running and heard about the benefits of a low carb, high/healthy fat (LCHF) diet via a running podcast interview with Dr Tim Noakes. I just knew in my heart that this was for me. Cutting out processed meals and concentrating on good carbs has virtually eliminated the heartburn which I used to suffer from daily and I'm convinced that the diet has been a factor in me not needing any treatment , as I've explained elsewhere in this forum. My tumours have shrunk (if not gone altogether) and I feel fitter and healthier now than I ever did in the years before I was diagnosed with fNHL.

[laylalulu in reply to jamoza]

I so agree with you Jamoza, my heartburn and upset tummy comes back whenever I eat crappy foods now, so that alone says something. I too have got back into walking g and a couple of strengthing workout classes. Loving life it clears your mind and soul do you agree? Keep up the good work!

[Shar0n Volunteer]

I am following a low carbohydrate, moderate protein and high healthy fat programme myself. I only stopped eating grains this year though. Before that - since 2014 - I included oatmeal bread and porridge in my diet.

Its a balancing act to make sure that I get adequate but not too high a level of protein and plenty of vegetables - without raising the carb levels too high - but so far, although I still have raised nodes in my neck, I haven't needed treatment. As you indicate, jamoza, exercise is a very important component in staying well.

[R615-r1122_ in reply to Shar0n]

I also changed my diet to low carb ,no grains high protein and lots of veggies . I also do 15 minute miles for three miles every day . . I have high energy and still in remission , since July ... I did everything after Chemo , that I did before . Kicked by butt , but I was determined to keep going . I had Rituxan & Bendamustine for two days , a month .

[laylalulu]

Hi, I've always considered myself to be a healthy eater before I was diagnosed with NHL. I did indulge in a higher percentage of carbs and sugar than I should but I always would keep my weight somewhat under control lol. So the last few months I have been following almost 0 sugar and carbs even the veggies are monitored for high sugar, but higher protein intake.Anyway after reading that cancer feeds on sugar I was very happy that I got sugar out of my diet, and hopefully keep it at a minimum. My doc says my blood work is excellent and has put me on every two years for a visit while bloodwork is every three months still. I do believe eating healthy is very important, add a half hour walk to your day and we r doing good things for our bodies I believe. Have a good day everyone!😊💪 stay strong and healthy

[R-16728]

I'm really pleased to see this discussion has begun. I'm looking forward to trading ideas. I'm working hard to introduce the Crawford diet into my life.

[Felix_2010]

I have almost finished my chemo and this is something I'm putting my thoughts to - how to be healthy after my treatment. I have a friend who is doing the Keto diet but I'm scared that being in ketosis isn't healthy in the long term, even though I can see why people enjoy it. Who wouldn't like losing weight fast??

I'm confused by all the advice. Drink juices, cut out carbs, be more alkaline. I wish there was a definite plan that was proven to help. I previously lost weight on Slimming World, but I don't think that's going to work for me in terms of being healthy.

Confused.Com!

[laylalulu in reply to Felix_2010]

Hi Felix_2010, the world of eating healthy is confusing, I don't feel you have to do this ketosis thing but there is a very healthy alternative it is called Beyond Diet if you Google it. The basic idea is low sugar or a healthy sugar alternative. Lower carbs, lots of veggies and organic if you can afford it. Read labels sugar is in everything, work on small changes like no white sugar, breads other than sprouted grains, lean cuts of protein. Check out that diet and just take a couple of things to make dietary changes. Dairy is also very Inflammatory to our systems. Water water water lol

[Felix_2010 in reply to laylalulu]

Thanks for this. I'll definitely check it out.

[Shar0n Volunteer]

Robert Miller, a 28 year survivor of follicular lymphoma has a lot of dietary information on his site lymphomasurvival.com. He says that lymphoma is a disease of moderation. No extremes in diet etc. Enough sleep, enough of the right foods, moderate exercise twice a day to keep blood sugar from spiking; he recommends only a small amount of unsweetened cranberry and/or pomegranate juice, diluted with water daily.

Protein according to the amount of exercise you do; plenty of green vegetables and a little fruit; fairly low carbohydrates - mainly from the vegetables, and of course healthy fats like butter and olive oil.

It seems to have helped him despite a couple of episodes requiring chemo over the years as his scans are now clear. This is a fascinating discussion as we are all learning from each other and it's something over which we have control.

[Tinkerbellcgy in reply to Shar0n]

After reading the above, I went to the lymphomasurvival.com site. I read the home page and it indicated that in order to read any of the articles and/or other information contained therein it was necessary to register. I went through the registration process only to discover that after registration one would need to pay a sum of money in order to read the articles. Had this monetary requirement been addressed on the home page, I would not have proceeded to registration. I have since e-mailed Robert Miller requesting he remove any and all of my registration particulars. I refuse to buy into less than savoury business practices and I would caution others about this individual and his Web site.

[Hidden]

Sadly I did make dietary changes but not for the better. When I was diagnosed I went through a terrible depression because I pretty much lost everything simply because of timing. I now survive on CPP disability (1125.00/mth) and have therefore turned to high carb and high sugar foods just to make me feel happy for a minute. I admire all of you for your strength to make the right changes, but I just can do it. The only good thing I do for myself is drink plenty of water, probably too much, but I love it.

[Shar0n Volunteer]

Shadow, you are doing a good thing for yourself by drinking water. Rome wasn't built in a day! If you were to add just a portion of vegetables - whichever one you like - each day, that would be a start. A few minutes every hour even walking around your home would be exercise. Baby steps are the best way. Every morning try and think of one little good thing you can do for yourself, no matter how small. You deserve it.