Breast cancer patients often ask me what to eat in the weeks leading up to their surgery. Making sure you take in nutrients to promote healing and decrease inflammation is important, but I do not recommend crash dieting or fad cleanses prior to surgery. It is also important to focus on activities that make your brain happy- relax, spend time with friends/family, and get enough sleep to make sure your immune system is ready for surgery. Below are some other tips for healthy eating to optimize postoperative recovery.
Antioxidants and Health
Antioxidants come from vitamins and minerals in the food that you eat. Their job is to remove the harmful free radicals from the bloodstream. Free radicals are the toxic byproducts that are the result of the body turning food into energy. Free radicals can damage DNA and impair the immune system. Most fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants. Many of these foods are identifiable by their bright red, yellow or orange colors. Foods such as tomatoes, spinach, carrots, berries, red grapes, cranberries, apples, peanuts and broccoli are good sources of antioxidants.
Protein for Healing
Protein plays an important role in healing, and making sure you are not protein-deficient before surgery can help speed your recovery. Eat cottage cheese, yogurt, fish, tuna, chicken, turkey or eggs to provide yourself with good sources of protein. If you are a vegetarian try to include legumes in your diet before surgery. Almonds, walnuts and peanut butter are also natural protein sources.
What to Avoid
Before your surgery, avoid foods that increase the inflammatory response. According to the Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine, foods that increase the inflammatory response include refined carbohydrates, such as sugar and white flour; saturated fats from red meat and organ meats; trans fats from commercially baked cookies, cakes and pastries; and alcohol.
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