Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of lung cancer and the correct kind of nourishment can help speed up recovery. To strengthen a compromised immune system and support treatment, the right kind of food is required. There are some foods that need to be avoided and some that need to be cooked with care to prevent food poisoning and illness. Here is a list of some such foods.
Eggs
Avoid eating eggs unless absolutely sure that they haven’t been unrefrigerated or cracked. Home-cooked is safest because eggs could carry salmonella that cause food poisoning and sometimes even death. Uncooked yolks are a complete no-no, and definitely do not eat foods that could have raw eggs in the final product. This includes even some salad dressings.
Cured meats
Processed and uncooked meat like cold cuts can carry the listeria bacteria that could cause food poisoning.
Cheese
Not all cheese, but some soft ones like Brie and feta that could be made from unpasteurized milk should be off-limits. In fact, any milk or dairy products including cream or custard-filled sweets that could be made from unpasteurized milk should be avoided because raw milk can contain bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella that may cause food poisoning.
Sprouts and leafy greens
Bacteria grow well in warm moist conditions and so do raw vegetable sprouts. Don’t eat these uncooked. Leafy greens are healthy but hard to clean. Avoid adding these to an eating regime to reduce the risk of illness.
Sushi
Shellfish that are raw or undercooked can carry the Hepatitis A virus. Lightly cooked fish and sashimi can have bacteria that can make one ill. Well-cooked fish (some types) can also have high levels of mercury.
Caffeine
Avoid caffeinated drinks as these can cause constipation brought on by loss of fluids.
The point of following a strict food regimen for lung cancer is to not tax the immune system that is already weakened.
Apart from these foods, one must also avoid food that is difficult to digest. This includes:
Sugary and greasy food
Fried food
Very spicy food
Very hot food
Thoroughly cooked food must take center stage because the heating process kills the harmful bacteria that lurk in raw and undercooked food.
