1. Getting good nutrients while going through cancer treatment can be overwhelming, especially when you are always nauseous, have no appetite and everything tastes like metal. What’s the best way to ensure you are fueling your body with the best nutrition to give you the energy you need each day?

Managing Nutrition with Nausea, Lack of Appetite, and Metallic Taste:

1. Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of three large meals, try eating small, frequent meals throughout the day to avoid overwhelming your stomach.

2. Easy-to-Digest Foods: Opt for bland, easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) when you're feeling nauseous.

3. Cold or Room-Temperature Foods: These can be more palatable than hot foods and might reduce nausea.

4. High-Calorie, Nutrient-Dense Foods: Smoothies, shakes, soups, and broths can provide necessary nutrients and calories in a more tolerable form.

5. Flavor Adjustments: Use plastic utensils to reduce the metallic taste. Adding tart flavors (like lemon or lime) can also help mask metallic tastes.

6. Stay Hydrated: Sipping on fluids throughout the day, including clear broths, herbal teas, and electrolyte drinks, can help maintain hydration.

2. It’s hard not to constantly worry about recurrence or wondering if you’re eating the right things during treatment? What is one tip you can share with the cancer community that will ease the overactive mind when choosing what to eat during treatment?

One Tip to Ease the Overactive Mind:

Focus on a Balanced Diet: When navigating the complexities of cancer treatment, it's natural to worry about every detail, especially diet. To ease your mind, concentrate on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. This holistic approach supports overall health and helps mitigate anxiety about eating the "right" foods. Here’s a more detailed plan to help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed:

1. Embrace Variety:

• Fruits and Vegetables: Aim to include a colorful array of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Different colors often represent different nutrients, so a diverse palette can help ensure you're getting a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

• Whole Grains: Incorporate whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole-wheat products. These provide essential fiber, which supports digestive health and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

• Lean Proteins: Opt for lean protein sources such as chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, beans, and legumes. These are crucial for repairing body tissues and supporting the immune system.

2. Listen to Your Body:

• Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues. Eat when you're hungry, and try not to force yourself to eat when you're not.

• Recognize how different foods make you feel. Some foods might give you more energy or help you feel better overall, while others might not sit well with you during treatment. Adjust accordingly.

3. Balanced Meals:

• Portion Control: Aim for balanced portions of protein, carbs, and healthy fats in every meal. This helps maintain energy levels and supports overall bodily functions.

• Healthy Fats: Include sources of healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. These can help reduce inflammation and support brain health.

4. Stay Hydrated:

• Ensure you are drinking enough fluids, preferably water, to stay hydrated. Dehydration can often exacerbate feelings of fatigue and can affect overall well-being.

5. Mindful Eating:

• Practice mindful eating by savoring each bite and being present during meals. This can enhance your enjoyment of food and help reduce anxiety about eating.

6. Nutritional Support:

• If eating a balanced diet feels challenging, consider consulting with a registered dietitian specializing in oncology. They can provide personalized advice and meal plans tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

7. Stress Reduction Techniques:

• Incorporate stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, or even simple activities like walking in nature. Managing stress can have a positive impact on your overall health and improve your relationship with food.

8. Avoid Over-Reliance on Supplements:

• While supplements can be beneficial, it's best to get most of your nutrients from whole foods. Whole foods provide a complex matrix of nutrients that work together in ways that supplements often cannot replicate.

9. Educate Yourself:

• Empower yourself with knowledge about nutrition and cancer. Reliable sources of information can demystify food choices and help you feel more confident in your decisions.

10. Community and Support:

• Engage with support groups or communities of other cancer patients and survivors. Sharing experiences and tips can alleviate anxiety and provide practical advice.

Remember:

• There is no single food or specific diet that will guarantee cancer prevention or recurrence. A varied and balanced diet supports your body's needs and can improve your quality of life.

• Enjoy your meals and find joy in the variety of foods available to you. Pleasure in eating is an important aspect of health that shouldn't be overlooked, even during cancer treatment.

By focusing on these broader dietary principles, you can reduce the stress of wondering if you’re eating the "right" foods and instead nurture your body in a holistic, enjoyable way.

3. What foods can you eat daily to help build a strong immunity?

Daily Immunity-Boosting Foods:

Fruits and Vegetables: Especially those high in vitamins C and E, like citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and leafy greens.

Probiotic-Rich Foods: Such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods to support gut health.

Protein-Rich Foods: Lean meats, beans, nuts, and seeds to support immune cell production.

Garlic and Ginger: Known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

4. Chemo brain and brain fog or not a joke. What are some foods that can help feed our brain and strengthen our mind?

Brain-Boosting Foods:

Fatty Fish: Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are crucial for brain health.

Berries: High in antioxidants, which may protect the brain from oxidative stress.

Leafy Greens: Such as spinach and kale, which are high in vitamins and minerals that support brain function.

Whole Grains: Providing steady energy to the brain through complex carbohydrates.

5. Speaking of chemo, hair loss can be a distressing side-effect of many cancer treatments. Are there nutrient rich foods that can help with regrowing your hair post treatment?

Nutrient-Rich Foods for Hair Regrowth:

Protein: Eggs, fish, chicken, and legumes to support hair structure.

Biotin-Rich Foods: Nuts, seeds, and sweet potatoes for hair growth.

Iron-Rich Foods: Lean red meat, spinach, and lentils to prevent hair loss.

Vitamins A and C: Carrots, sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits to support sebum production and collagen formation.

6. Whether you are impacted by a health issue or not, what’s the top thing you tell your clients to do daily - eat a certain amount of a particular vitamin, drink a certain amount of water, eat a certain percentage of a particular food group?

Daily Health Tips:

Hydration: Aim to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily.

Balanced Diet: Include a variety of food groups with emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Physical Activity: Incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.

7. I remember a list of do’s and don’ts during cancer treatment. Can you share a few of the top important do’s and don’ts?

Do’s:

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids.

• Eat Small, Frequent Meals: To maintain energy levels and manage side effects.

• Maintain Good Hygiene: To avoid infections.

Don'ts:

• Remain sedentary - you want to move

• Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco: These can interfere with treatment and recovery.

• Take excessive supplements - they may interfere with your treatments and can be hard on organs to process.

8. My oncology office was always telling me to stay hydrated, however when I drank water it tasted like melted butter. What are some tips you have for hydration and how do you know if you are drinking enough?

Hydration Tips:

Flavor Your Water: Add lemon, lime, or cucumber slices to improve the taste.

Drink Other Fluids: Such as herbal teas, broths, and electrolyte drinks.

Monitor Hydration: Check your urine color; it should be pale yellow. Darker urine indicates dehydration.

9. Reflecting on your book, “Sugar does not feed cancer,” which is fantastic by the way, where did this myth come from and why is it a myth?

Origins and Debunking the Myth: The myth that "sugar feeds cancer" stems from the fact that cancer cells consume glucose at a higher rate than normal cells. However, all cells use glucose for energy, and there is no evidence that cutting out sugar from your diet will stop cancer growth. Instead, focus on a balanced diet that limits refined sugars and includes nutrient-rich foods to support overall health.

10. Are you able to offer any Liv & Let discount to readers who are interested in participating in a course in the next few months?

Yes! They can join my super popular courses!! 50% off BOTH courses! One that helps you build a cancer prevention lifestyle and one that helps guide you throughout treatment, please share these for a limited time the coupons will be active!