Keto diet plan for cancer patients has become the latest trend and it has been only a couple of years since the first person who had been successful with this diet came out with the story. I’m sure you’ve heard of this before on the news or in some magazine or even on Facebook or discussed it with someone at work and wondered if you should try it too!
The ketogenic diet is a diet that’s been shown to have a number of benefits for cancer patients, including weight loss and improved overall health. The keto diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carbohydrate eating plan.
Cancer patients are often advised to follow a keto diet, which is low in carbohydrates and high in fat. This diet plan can help cancer patients manage their weight, since it restricts the amount of sugar and processed foods that they eat.
Keto Diet Plan For Cancer Patients
Keto Diet Plan For Cancer Patients is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that’s been touted as a way to lose weight and improve health. It’s been gaining popularity in recent years, with more people adopting it as their preferred way of eating. But one group that may benefit from it the most? Cancer patients.
About Diet Chart Food Items To Limit Do’s And Dont’s Food Items You Can Easily Consume
Instead of sugar, the ketogenic diet cancer promotes the use of ketones for energy in our body. This helps weaken the cancer cells and gives the patient a edge to fight the disease. Medical treatments kept on one side, supplementing it with diet helps ace up the chances of emerging victorious from the fight with a disease as big as cancer.
The diet includes:
- Avocados, coconut oil, butter, raw seeds and nuts, olive oil and eggs.
- It allows a low carbohydrates diet that includes kale, cauliflower and cabbage.
- Protein necessary comes from wild game and dairy products. A high protein diet may end up feeding cancer while a moderate protein diet may weaken the cancer cells, thereby making recovery more speedy.
- While taking medical help too, it must be taken care of that the diet does not include any food item which is allergic to the prescribed medication. If so, the diet must be changed immediately, else it would make recovery more difficult by adding on to the disease with the allergy.
Diet Chart
| Sunday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup strawberry smoothie + 1 cup cottage cheese + 5-6 tofu pakora |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup black beans soup + 1 cup sauteed vegetables (mushrooms, spinach, capsicum- with butter and olive oil) |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 plate chicken salad with veggies (chicken breast) (onion, tomato, capsicum, mushrooms) |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 sliced cucumber |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy spinach soup with cottage cheese |
| Monday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup blackberry smoothie + 1 cup soybean salad + 1 cup grilled cottage cheese |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup vegetable poha |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup black chana salad (cucumber, tomato, spinach) |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup vegetable upma |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy mushroom soup with cottage cheese pakora |
| Tuesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup blueberry smoothie + 3 boiled eggs + 1 cup suteed veggies (capsicum, mushroom, tomato) |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup vegetable poha |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 bowl fish stew + 1 cup brown rice |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup avocado smoothie |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy cauliflower soup |
| Wednesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cheese omelette (2 eggs, 20 gm cheese, tomato, capsicum) + 1 portion cucumber lettuce salad with olive oil dressing |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup greek yogurt |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 grilled chicken breat with green salad (cucumber, lettuce, capsicum, mushroom) |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup raspberry smoothie |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy chicken soup |
| Thursday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup soy milk + fish pakora + green salad (cucumber, tomamto, lettuce, capsicum, spinach) |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup Cooked broad beans salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup grilled soy chaap with mint chutney |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 sliced cucumber |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy toamto soup |
| Friday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 vegetable omelette (2 eggs) + 1 cup strawberry smoothie + 2 walnuts |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup kidney beans salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 plate chicken salad with veggies (chicken breast) (onion, tomato, capsicum, mushrooms) |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup of chicken stew with garlic and pepper |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup creamy broccoli soup |
| Saturday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup scrambled egg (2 eggs) + green salad (lettuce, capsicum, spinach) + 1 cup soy milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup Broccoli cream soup |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 bowl fish stew + 1 cup brown rice |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup vegetable upma |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup chicken stew |
Food Items To Limit
- Sugar : Anything containing added sugar, such as soft drinks, candy, juice, sports drinks, chocolate, cakes, buns, pastries, ice cream, and breakfast cereals. Avoid sweeteners as well.
- Starch & Grains: : Bread, pasta, potatoes, french fries, potato chips, cereals, porridge, muesli, etc.
- Processed Oils: Margarine, cooking oils.
- Beer: As they are full of carbs
Do’s And Dont’s
Do’s:
- Choose grass-fed meats, skin-on poultry and fattier fish.
- Drizzle on coconut, olive and flaxseed oils.
- Do mix up the fats you’re using.
Don’ts:
- Eat carb-rich foods like bread or pasta.
- Go for starchy veggies like potatoes or turnips.
- Decrease the consumption of lentils and pulses to 5%.
Food Items You Can Easily Consume
- Meats : Any type, including beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish and shellfish.
- Eggs : Whole eggs including yolks.
- Vegetables : Grown above ground including, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, olives, spinach, mushrooms, cucumber, lettuce, avocado, onions, peppers, tomatoes etc.
- Dairy : Always select full-fat options like real butter, cream, sour cream, yogurt & high fat cheeses.
- Nuts & Seeds : Almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts,macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds
Is Keto Diet Good For Cancer
Is Keto Diet Good For Cancer, Ketogenic diet has been found to be effective in reducing weight and improving health by changing the metabolic state of our body. This kind of diet is also known to reduce symptoms of epilepsy, diabetes and even cancer.
A ketogenic (keto) diet is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate way of eating. It can help you lose weight by forcing your body to burn fat instead of carbs as its main source of energy.
In recent years, some early evidence has suggested that the ketogenic diet may help treat some types of cancer. One theory is that cancer feeds on the sugar you eat, but a high-fat diet starves the tumors.
So far, no major cancer group recommends keto diets for either prevention or treatment of cancer.
How Keto May Affect Cancer
How Keto May Affect Cancer, For people with certain kinds of cancers, keto may help to shrink tumors or prevent them from growing. The premise behind keto is simple: eat fewer carbs and more fat. The body converts any excess carbs into glucose, which it uses for energy. If you don’t get enough glucose from food or drinks, your body starts breaking down fat instead. It also makes ketones (a type of molecule) that can be used as an alternative source of fuel by cells throughout your body. Some studies show that this process may help kill cancer cells without harming healthy ones nearby.
The standard diet recommendation is to limit fats to no more than 30% of your calories. Carbs should make up half or more of your daily total, with protein filling the rest. But a keto diet flips that formula. You eat as much as 90% of your diet in fats, with little or almost no carbs from foods like pasta, beans, and fruits.
Without enough carbs, your body switches to burning fat for fuel. That process, called ketosis, breaks the fat down into molecules called ketones.
But cancer cells are rewired to get most of their energy by quickly breaking down lots of glucose, a form of carbohydrates called simple sugar. A keto diet may shortcut the feeding because some cancers can’t use ketones to grow.
That has led to hopes that a ketogenic diet may help boost the powers of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.
Can a Ketogenic Diet Help Fight Cancer?
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States
Researchers estimated that 606,520 Americans would die from cancer in 2020. That means more than 1,600 deaths a day, on average
Cancer is most commonly treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Many different diet strategies have been studied, but none has been particularly effective.
Interestingly, some early research suggests that a very low carb ketogenic diet may help
Important note: You should never, ever delay or avoid conventional medical treatment of cancer in favor of an alternative treatment such as the ketogenic diet. You should discuss all treatment options with your healthcare provider.
A brief overview of the ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet is a way to eat that promotes fat burning. It’s a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that has been used for decades to treat epilepsy in children.
The ketogenic diet is a very low carb, high fat diet that shares many similarities with other low carb diets, like the Atkins diet.
It involves significantly reducing your intake of carbs and replacing them with fat and protein. This change leads to a metabolic state called ketosis.
After several days, fat becomes your body’s primary energy source.
This causes a substantial increase in the levels of compounds called ketones in your blood
In general, a ketogenic diet provides 70% of calories as fat, with 20% of calories from protein and 10% of calories from carbs
There are many versions of the ketogenic diet, though. Some versions are even higher in fat.
SUMMARY
The ketogenic diet is a very low carb, high fat diet. Fat intake may be 70% of total calorie intake, if not higher.
The role of blood sugar in cancer
The role of blood sugar in cancer is a very important factor in the development of cancer, as it can be a contributing factor to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance refers to a situation in which the body’s cells do not respond normally to the hormone insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar.
Many cancer therapies are designed to target the biological differences between cancer cells and normal cells.
Nearly all cancer cells share one common trait: They feed off carbs or blood sugar in order to grow and multiply
When you follow a ketogenic diet, some of the standard metabolic processes are altered, and your blood sugar levels go way down
Basically, this is claimed to “starve” the cancer cells of fuel.
As in all living cells, the long-term effect of this “starvation” may be that the cancer cells will grow more slowly, decrease in size, or possibly even die.
It seems possible that a ketogenic diet could help reduce the progression of cancer because it causes a rapid decrease in blood sugar levels
SUMMARY
A ketogenic diet can lower blood sugar levels. This may help reduce tumor growth and even starve cancer cells of energy.
The Effects Of A Ketogenic Diet On Cancer In Animals
The Effects Of A Ketogenic Diet On Cancer In Animals is a low carbohydrate diet, has been shown to reduce the growth of cancer cells in mice. This is because reducing the intake of carbohydrates results in the body producing ketones from fat stores, which provide an alternative fuel for the brain and muscles.
Researchers have studied the ketogenic diet as an alternative cancer therapy for decades.
Until recently, most of these studies were done in animals.
A large number of these animal studies have shown a ketogenic diet can reduce tumor growth and improve survival rates
One study of mice with metastatic cancer tested a ketogenic diet with or without oxygen therapy. When compared with a standard diet, the ketogenic diet resulted in a significant decrease in tumor growth
The ketogenic diet also increased mean survival time by 56.7% (the equivalent of around 17 days). This number increased to 77.9% (or around 24 days) when combined with oxygen therapy
Another study found that using a very low carb diet to restrict glucose levels prevented the growth of squamous cell carcinoma tumors in mice with lung cancer or esophageal cancer. Study subjects received only 0.1% of their calories from carbs
The diet was even more effective at preventing tumor growth when it was combined with the diabetes drug canagliflozin.
The ketogenic diet alone didn’t help to shrink existing tumors, and neither did the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. However, combining these two methods was effective at helping to shrink tumors
Some members of the same research team had previously determined that squamous cell cancers were more reliant on glucose for their energy needs than other cancers, such as adenocarcinomas
In some cases, following the ketogenic diet made the anticancer drugs phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors (PI3K inhibitors) work more effectively. This effect was partly attributed to the fact that the ketogenic diet reduces insulin levels
SUMMARY
In animals, the ketogenic diet seems to be a promising alternative treatment for cancer.
Ketogenic Diet For Cancer Treatment
Ketogenic Diet For Cancer Treatmentare designed to reduce the body’s reliance on glucose as an energy source by increasing ketone production. The use of a ketogenic diet for cancer treatment has been around for decades, with the first studies showing its effectiveness in preventing tumor growth and improving survival rates.
Despite the promising evidence in animals, research in humans is only just emerging and largely limited to case studies.
Currently, the limited research seems to show that a ketogenic diet may reduce tumor size and the progression rate of certain cancers
1. Brain cancer studies
Much of the research on cancer looks at glioblastomas, which are particularly aggressive brain tumors.
A 2010 case study marked the first time that research was published on the effects of treating a glioblastoma with a combination of standard therapy and a restricted ketogenic diet.
The case study followed a 65-year-old woman. Following surgery, she received a very low calorie ketogenic diet. During this time, the tumor’s progression slowed.
However, 10 weeks after returning to a normal diet, she experienced a significant increase in tumor growth
Results from later research are also promising. Almost all of the later research has concluded that a ketogenic diet leads to reduced glucose levels.
In addition, the studies showed that a ketogenic diet is safe and may help to enhance the effects of traditional cancer treatments
In another study, 3 out of 5 people with a glioma experienced complete remission after adopting a ketogenic diet combined with radiation or chemotherapy.
The other two participants, though, experienced a progression in the disease after they stopped the ketogenic diet
Similar case reports from 1995 examined the reactions to a ketogenic diet in two girls who were undergoing treatment for advanced brain cancer.
Researchers found that glucose uptake was decreased in the tumors of both girls.
One of the girls reported improved quality of life and remained on the diet for 12 months. During that time, her disease showed no further progression
2. Studies of other cancers
Following a ketogenic diet for 12 weeks significantly increased the physical function of women with ovarian or endometrial cancer.
Some participants in the study followed the high fiber, low fat American Cancer Society (ACS) diet instead. The women who followed the ketogenic diet were more likely to report that they could readily complete activities such as climbing stairs or moving a table
They also experienced other benefits, such as increased energy and decreased cravings for starchy foods and “fast food fats” like pizza
The ketogenic diet may also help improve the body composition of people with various types of cancer.
In a study of 81 people, researchers observed benefits such as reduced fat mass in people with rectal or breast cancer and the preservation of skeletal muscle mass.
Study participants experienced these benefits even though they were also undergoing radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both. These standard cancer treatments have been known to negatively affect body composition and appetite
3. Quality-of-life study
One quality-of-life study investigated the effects of a ketogenic diet in 16 people with advanced cancer.
Several people dropped out of the study because they didn’t enjoy the diet or due to personal reasons. Two people died early.
Out of the 16 participants, 5 remained on the ketogenic diet for the entire 3-month study period. They reported improved emotional well-being and reduced insomnia, without any negative side effects caused by the diet.
Some parameters, such as fatigue and pain, remained the same or worsened over time. Because the study participants all had advanced disease, this outcome was expected
Although the ketogenic diet showed benefits for quality of life, the relatively low compliance rate indicates that it may be hard to get people to stick with the diet.
SUMMARY
A few small studies and case reports in humans suggest that a ketogenic diet may help slow the progression of cancer. However, a lot more research is needed.
Ketogenic Diet And Cancer Prevention
Ketogenic Diet And Cancer Prevention is becoming increasingly popular as a way to lose weight and improve health. However, what many people don’t realize is that it has also been shown to have powerful effects on cancer prevention.
Some mechanisms suggest that a ketogenic diet may help prevent the development of cancer in the first place.
Primarily, it may reduce several of the main risk factors for cancer.
1. May decrease IGF-1 levels
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone that’s important for cell development. It also reduces programmed cell death.
This hormone plays a role in the development and progression of cancer
The ketogenic diet reduces IGF-1 levels, thereby decreasing the direct effects insulin has on cell growth
This may reduce tumor growth and cancer risk over the long term
2. Can help blood sugar levels and management of diabetes
Other evidence suggests that people with elevated blood sugar levels and diabetes have an increased risk of developing cancer
Research shows that a ketogenic diet can be very effective at lowering blood sugar levels and managing diabetes, at least in the short term
Some people may find it challenging to adhere to the diet over a long period of time, though. More studies on the long-term safety of the diet are also needed.
3. May decrease obesity
Obesity is also a risk factor for cancer
Since a ketogenic diet is a powerful weight loss tool, it may also help reduce the risk of cancer by fighting obesity
SUMMARY
The ketogenic diet reduces IGF-1 levels, blood sugar levels, and the risk of diabetes and obesity. These factors may lead to a reduced risk of developing cancer in the first place.
Effects Of Cancer On The Body
Effects Of Cancer On The Body are disease that affects the body in numerous ways. It can affect organs and other parts of the body, including the skin and bones, as well as your brain and spinal cord. Cancer can also affect your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections.
It’s important to note that no major cancer group recommends the ketogenic diet for either cancer prevention or cancer treatment, despite the promising research.
The ketogenic diet has its benefits, but it comes with risks, too.
For instance, the diet is very high in fat. In addition, many foods allowed on the diet, such as red meat, have been shown to increase the risk of some cancers
The diet is very limiting in terms of foods known to prevent cancer, such as whole grains, fruits, and some vegetables.
It can also be challenging for those undergoing traditional cancer therapies to consume enough calories while on the diet. Low carb diets, such as ketogenic diets, often result in weight loss
Compliance is poor, which makes the diet challenging for people with cancer. The restrictive nature of the diet can sometimes be too much for a person with cancer, especially when food can be a source of comfort
The diet isn’t appropriate for everyone and could even cause harm. If you’d like to explore the ketogenic diet, speak with a medical professional first. They can help you decide whether the diet’s right for you in the first place and work with you along the way.
The Bottom Line
A ketogenic diet provides many benefits for health.
According to animal studies and some preliminary research in humans, it may also help treat or prevent cancer.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the current research is still emerging.
You should never, ever avoid conventional cancer treatment in favor of an alternative treatment like the ketogenic diet.
Your best bet is still to follow the advice of your oncologist. Mainstream medical treatments are very effective at treating many common types of cancer.
That said, perhaps a ketogenic diet could be a good choice as an adjuvant therapy, meaning that it’s used in addition to the conventional treatments.
What are the benefits of a Ketogenic Diet in cancer care?
As said above, a Ketogenic Diet is actually not suitable for all cancers across the board. It is suitable in SOME types of cancer, and for SOME types of people (taking their BMI, digestive capabilities, co-morbidities and lifestyle into account).
Overall for keto and cancer, the research is still evolving. Most currently available research articles are animal studies, preclinical trials and individual case reports. While animal studies are quite promising, with many showing evidence for an increased anti-tumour effect when used in conjunction with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, large scale human trials are still limited. The clinical benefit of a Ketogenic Diet in cancer care is largely hypothetical at this stage, and should be applied with caution. Further, actual compliance to a strict Ketogenic Diet is proving to be challenging, potentially predisposing patients to a yo-yo diet effect: something we want to avoid.
What we do know is that a Ketogenic Diet CAN be useful for weight loss and particularly loss of central adiposity and visceral fat. It can, under practitioner supervision, be used as a tool in certain types of cancer and metabolic conditions to reduce fat mass and increase insulin sensitivity.
Other benefits of a ketogenic diet to treat cancer
Several other processes may explain how a ketogenic diet can aid cancer treatment.
Firstly, reducing carbs can quickly lower calorie intake, reducing the energy available to the cells in your body.
In turn, this may slow tumor growth and the cancer’s progression.
In addition, ketogenic diets can provide other benefits.
1. Lowered insulin
Insulin is an anabolic hormone. This means that insulin makes cells, including cancerous cells, grow when it’s present. Therefore, lower insulin levels may slow tumor growth
2. Increased ketones
Cancer cells can’t use ketones as fuel. Research in animals shows that ketones may reduce tumor size and growth
FAQ
The keto diet and cancer: What patients should know
There’s no one food that can cure cancer, but that doesn’t stop such myths from circulating. And while researchers are starting to find some links between nutrition and cancer, more research is needed.
The ketogenic diet – also called the keto diet — is among those diets rumored to cure cancer. We talked to Maria Petzel, a senior clinical dietitian at MD Anderson, to learn more. Here’s what she had to say.
What is the keto diet?
The keto diet is a low-carbohydrate diet. The diet’s strict guidelines recommend eating more fat and protein while cutting most carbohydrates and sugars out of your diet.
Cutting out carbs forces your body to burn the fat you’ve already stored. This process, called ketosis, usually begins three to four days after eliminating carbs from your diet.
What are the pros and cons of the keto diet?
For most people, the keto diet will result in weight loss, but this might not be the healthiest way to do it. When your body burns fat because it is starved of carbs, it makes ketones. Ketones are a type of acid made by your liver and then sent into your bloodstream. Too many ketones can led to dehydration and alter the chemical balance of your blood.
Cutting out entire food groups can also be hard to stick with long-term, and most people regain some or all of the weight lost when they quit the keto diet and resume a less extreme diet.
In addition, diets high in fat are associated with heart disease and obesity. Many keto diet-safe foods, like red meat, can increase your cancer risk.
Is there any evidence that the keto diet can cure cancer?
No single food can cure cancer, but some research has shown a link between the keto diet and slowed growth of some types of tumors in mice. A few studies in humans with certain types of brain tumors have also shown promise. On the contrary, a very low-fat diet has been found to reduce risk of recurrence for certain types of breast cancer. Some researchers are conducting more clinical trials with cancer patients, looking at how diet affects patients, along with chemotherapy and radiation. We hope that this research, as well as future research, will help us better understand the role that the keto plays in cancer.
What should cancer patients who are considering the keto diet know?
While there’s the potential that the keto diet could help some cancer patients, it can also harm others. Depending on your type of cancer or cancer treatment, your body may not be able to break down the proteins and fats. This could lead to other digestive problems.
That’s why it’s important to talk to your doctor or a dietitian before beginning the keto diet — or any other diet. Different diet plans work for different people, and your doctor or dietitian can help you determine if a new diet will help you reach your health goals.