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Nutrition Services for Cancer Patients
Nutrition Services for Cancer Patients
Nutrition is an important part of life, cancer treatment, recovery, and prevention. Food is one of the few things you can be in control of during your treatment. The oncology certified registered dietitians at the Stanford Cancer Center are here to help you make informed choices about nutrition, answer your nutrition-related questions, and help you to achieve and maintain good health.
Care and Treatment
Nutrition for Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Check out our recipe gallery for recipes containing foods known to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Certain risk factors for colorectal cancer can be reduced by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Keeping physically active
- Making smart food choices
Step 1. Manage your weight
If you are overweight or obese, weight loss is an important first step in reducing your risk of colorectal cancer development and recurrence. This increased risk comes from higher blood levels of insulin and related hormones that appear to encourage cancer growth. Aim for a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9. Even if your BMI is far from the target range, a body weight loss of 10% can reduce your cancer risk.
Step 2. Get and stay physically active
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.
Physical activity does not have to be expensive or difficult. You can walk around the block or in a local park. You can ride a bike or join a recreational league. As long as it makes your heart beat faster and your lungs breathe more deeply, you will get the benefits of physical activity. Choose activities that you enjoy. This way you will be more likely to continue doing them.
Step 3. Make smart food choices
Plant-based, high-fiber diets that are moderate to low in red meat with minimal processed meat and alcohol have been shown to reduce colorectal cancer risk.
Eat more:
- Vegetables: salad greens, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, eggplant, carrots, etc. All varieties of vegetables have cancer-preventative properties so consuming a wide variety is the key. Research now shows that garlic is helpful in prevention of colorectal cancer so be sure to include it in your meals daily.
- Fruit: berries, melon, apples, pears, oranges, bananas, etc. Whole fruit gives you the most benefits, so choose the whole fruit and limit or avoid fruit juices.
- Whole Grains and Beans: quinoa, oats, black rice, barley, farro, wild rice, lentils, beans, etc. They are high in fiber which is protective against colorectal cancer. These foods contain many other substances that have been linked to lower cancer risk. It is for this reason that experts suggest increasing fiber intake from whole foods rather than supplements.
Eat less:
- Red meat (beef, lamb, pork): the type of iron in red meat and certain other compounds can increase cancer risk. For this reason, it is recommended to consume 18 ounces or less of red meat weekly.
- Processed meat (cold cuts, bacon, sausage and hot dogs): these items contain high levels of nitrates and sodium, which are both carcinogenic. It is recommended to eat processed meats rarely or not at all.
- Fast food: high in calories making weight management more difficult. Also high in sodium but low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and fiber.
- Alcohol: alcohol turns into cancer causing compounds in the body. These compounds can also damage the cell lining of the colon. Avoid alcohol or if you choose to drink you should limit intake to 1 drink (12 oz. beer, 5 ounce wine, 1.5 oz. liquor) per day.
Additional information:
- Learn more about colorectal cancer.
- See more evidence on food, nutrition and physical activity in relation to the prevention of colorectal cancer.
- Check out Nutrition for colorectal cancer survivorship.
Source:
Adapted from: American Institute for Cancer Research, RP 1/2015
Recipes
Cancer Fighting Recipe of the Week: Week 3
In honor of Colon Cancer Awareness month, we'll be featuring four colorectal cancer friendly recipes each week during the month of March.
Basil Broccoi
Broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are all cruciferous vegetables. This vegetable family contains powerful phytochemicals, including carotenoids, indoles and glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, which have been studied and shown to slow the growth of many cancers.
- Asparagus and Scallion Soup with Almonds
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Broccoli Sunflower Salad
- Butternut Squash Soup
- California Citrus Greens Salad with Garlic Dressing
- Carrot and Apple Soup
- Creamy Irish Soup
- Crunchy Chicken Salad
- Curried Chicken Salad
- Curried Chickpea Salad with Walnuts
- Easy Pea Soup with Tarragon
- Egyptian Red Lentil Soup
- Fall Stew in a Pumpkin with Poblano-Cucumber Salsa
- Pumpkin Bisque
- Roasted Asparagus Salad
- Salmon Salad with Pimento and Herbs
- Shredded Carrot and Beet Salad
- Spicy Black Bean Salad
- Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
- Spinach, Red Bell Pepper and Feta Cheese Salad with Yogurt Dressing
- Spring Pea Soup
- Summer Rice Salad
- Sweet and Spicy Carrot Salad
- Vegetable Soup
- Whole Grain Salad
- 10 Minute Italian Chicken Stir Fry
- Anytime Burrito
- Baked Tofu Kabobs
- Barley, Turkey & Butternut Squash Casserole
- Bean and Vegetable Enchilada Casserole
- Bean Surprise
- Broiled Portobello Mushrooms
- Cajun Salmon over Polenta
- Chicken Chili
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Cranberry Salmon
- Cranberry-Turkey Salad Sandwiches
- Crispy Parmesan Turkey Cutlets
- Crunchy Veggie Wrap
- Easy Spinach Lasagna
- Eating Well Sloppy Joe
- Egg, Spinach, and Bacon Sandwiches
- Fish Filet with Squash and Herbs
- Greek-Style Scallops
- Grilled Ginger Tuna
- Grilled Halibut with a Tomato-Herb Sauce
- Grilled Portobello Burgers
- Grilled Vegetable Polenta with Pan Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce
- Halibut with Citrus and Garlic
- Healthy Jambalaya
- Hearty Beef Stew with Winter Vegetables
- Hearty Mediterranean Stew
- Herbed Polenta with Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
- Indonesian Salmon
- Lasagna Rolls
- Lemon Dijon Salmon
- Mediterranean Grilled Veggie Pockets
- Molasses-Cured Pork Loin with Apples
- Mushroom Goulash
- New American Plate "Tetrazzini" Casserole
- New Tuna Salad
- Peppers Stuffed with Barley, Parmesan and Onion
- Pizza Meat Loaf
- Pumpkin Gnocchi
- Quinoa and Mushroom Pilaf with Dill
- Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Maple Mustard Sauce
- Scallion Crusted Arctic Char
- Seared Scallops with Beet Puree and Arugula Salad
- Soft Tacos with Southwestern Vegetables
- Spaghetti alla Carbonara
- Speedy Summer Ratatouille
- Spicy Broccoli, Cauliflower and Tofu
- Steamed Halibut on Spinach with Lemon Sauce
- Stuffed Cornish Hens
- Summer Tofu Kebab with Peanut Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Sweet and Sour Tofu
- Tofu Cutlets Marsala
- Turkey & Cranberry Wrap
- Turkey Reuben Grilled Sandwiches
- Udon Noodles with Spicy Peanut Ginger Sauce
- Veggie Pita Pizzas
- White Wine Coq au Vin
- Whole Wheat Pasta with Fennel, Peas and Arugula
- Zesty Roasted Chicken
For Patients
PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
Review the New Patient Packet for information about:
- What to expect on the day of your appointment
- Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
- Other patient resources
Ask your physician for a REFERRAL for a Cancer Center Nutrition Appointment
Our dietitians are available for 45 minute consults by appointment only, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Download our nutrition appointment flyer.
Questions about your appointment or need to make a change?
For Health Care Professionals
Our dietitians are available for 45 minute consults by appointment only on: Mondays – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
HOW TO REFER
Call us at 1-650-498-6000 to refer a new patient for a nutrition consultation. If you wish to refer a patient to the Stanford Cancer Center, please call the Physician Helpline.
Download our nutrition appointment flyer.
Returning Patient
Questions about your appointment or need to make a change? Call:
Nutrition Services for Cancer Patients at Stanford Cancer Center Palo Alto
650-498-6000
Nutrition Services for Cancer Patients at Stanford Cancer Center South Bay
408-426-4900