Food and Cancer
What do you need to know about food and cancer? It's the wild, wild West out there, so we worked with some brill experts and friends to bring you everything you need to know. Our guide is a no-nonsense, evidence based guide designed with you in mind.
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What do you need to know about food and cancer? It's the wild, wild West out there, so we worked with some brill experts and friends to bring you everything you need to know. Our guide is a no-nonsense, evidence based guide designed with you in mind.
Navigating all the information around diet and cancer can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of confusing stuff out there and we know you probably don’t have the time or energy to digest it all. So we’ve created this guide to everything you might be asking about how what you put into your body affects it during treatment and beyond.
We ran a survey and found that 43% of our community consult the internet for advice or information on nutrition. 20% refer to social media. 45% said they feel social media makes them confused about what to eat. Less than half said they felt comfortable discussing their diet with their oncology team. Basically, when it comes to what to eat when you've got cancer, it's less than clear.
We're in the process of updating our food and cancer booklet launching later in 2024, but if you'd like to get your hands on the original version, email us.
The latest research on nutrition and cancer
But it doesn't need to be. We’ve included the latest research and unpacked controversial topics in a balanced way offering you all the information you need to make decisions that work for you. Our expert contributors Dr Hazel Wallace, Dr Ailsa Sita Lumsden, Camilla Ferraro, Toral Shah and Monika Siemicka have got you covered on all the need-to-knows while community members Sarah Dixon, Dani Binnington and Alice-May Purkiss have made sure your concerns are covered.
Everything you need to know about food and cancer
We partnered with Hazel Wallace, aka The Food Medic, to get her expertise. She said:
"You never expect to get diagnosed with cancer, let alone when you’re in your 20s or 30s. When it does happen, it understandably shakes every aspect of your world. You don’t need me to tell you how much of a shock a cancer diagnosis can be, how hard treatments are, how difficult recovery can be, or how much it can change the way you feel about yourself and your body. Finding some sense of normality is key at such a turbulent time."
Giving your body the right support
If there’s one thing that remains totally constant throughout your treatment and recovery, it’s the need to give your body the support necessary to deal with all of the treatments and stresses that are being thrown at you. Food can play an important role here. But the internet, and of course social media, is the modern-day equivalent of the Wild, Wild West – full of misinformation, dubious claims, and conflicting advice. When we asked, 45% of you said that social media makes you confused about what to eat. So, how do you know what to trust and what to listen to? It’s a minefield, but hopefully, we can help with that.
"When I came on board as a Trekstock Ambassador, I realised there was a need for a nutrition resource that was available specifically for people going through cancer treatment and recovery. So Trekstock and I brought together a group of doctors, dietitians, patients, and members of the Trekstock community to create a no-nonsense, evidence-based, and easy-to-follow nutrition booklet to help support you." Hazel Wallace
Other resources
Life Kitchen by Ryan Riley
Life Kitchen is a not-for-profit organisation focused on helping people with cancer rediscover and revive their love of food. Life kitchen provides recipes and events for people living with cancer.
The Food Medic is an educational platform and media group, founded by Dr. Hazel Wallace, that's aimed at bridging the gap between traditional medical advice, nutrition and other areas of lifestyle. Through social media platforms, podcasts, books, and the website you will find informative articles which are grounded in science, easy-to-follow recipes, and actionable tips and guides, to help you make informed healthy lifestyle choices.
Founded by Toral Shah, The Urban Kitchen focuses on the role of diet and nutrition in the prevention of disease, and particularly cancer. Her mission is to help people enjoy delicious food every day, whilst ensuring they receive the appropriate health benefits from her personalised approach. As well as nutritional consultations and recipe development, she helps like-minded healthy eating brands to grow through her brand consultancy.
Dani Billington aka Healthy Whole Me is a wellbeing expert, yoga teacher and founder of the ‘Superfood Supperclub’. Dani’s journey to seek a holistic approach to her wellbeing started after her breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 33, and she is passionate about creating a wholesome, balanced and sustainable lifestyle for her herself, her family and her clients.
The Chemo Cookery Club has a selection of delicious recipes to help make everyday food a positive part of life for cancer sufferers and their carers. With tempting treats and healthy food ideas, the emphasis is on the nutritional values that can make a difference.