Nourishing and caring for ourselves are essential components to physical well-being, especially if you have cancer or another serious illness. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or near the end of treatment, you want to maintain healthful habits to keep yourself strong, energized, and optimistic.
Keeping a balanced diet with nutrient rich foods should top your list every day. If you’re on a chemotherapy regimen, you could be dehydrated from treatment and require fluids to replenish your body and flush out toxins. Admittedly, plain water can be a little boring, yet more flavorful beverages, such as caffeinated drinks and soda, have their disadvantages. So, where does that lead you? Take a tip from spa cuisine and try cucumber water to discover a refreshing and healthy drink that offers the combined benefits of hydration from water and healing power of antioxidants.
Physicians, including Dr. Sant Chawla of the Sarcoma Oncology Center, will agree that natural nutrition from foods is preferable to supplements.
Refresh and Replenish
Cousins to melons, pumpkins, and squash, cucumbers come in an array of colors and sizes which might come as a surprise. Most of us only see the standard green tubular shape common to grocery stores. Now is a great opportunity to take advantage of the various choices, let alone quality, by going to a local farmers market. There, you can indulge a little with fresh and naturally grown cucumbers that will tempt you to explore other uses in addition to delicate slices for sprucing up glasses of water
While you’re slicing up your newly purchased cucumbers, you can think about the healthful benefits you’ll receive, including:
- Antioxidants – prevent and minimize cellular damage from free radicals and relieve stress from chronic health condition
- Essential vitamins – vitamins C and K to help blood to clot and prevent excessive bleeding.
- Reduce blood pressure – potassium in cucumbers regulates sodium level
- Healthy skin – flushes out toxins and hydrates for healthier skin
- Bone health – high level of vitamin K for bone and tissue formation
As beneficial as antioxidant rich foods are for your body, you should always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise routines. Physicians like Dr. Chawla encourage their patients to keep their doctors informed of any modifications, even positive ones, before implementing them.
Our Specialists Can Help You
Dr. Sant Chawla is one of the most esteemed oncologists in the country, and a groundbreaking pioneer in chemotherapy treatment for sarcoma. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer, contact the Sarcoma Oncology Center. We would like to help you. Call us today at (310) 879-1106 to schedule a consultation.
Next, read Breaking Down Barriers – A Story of Surviving “Incurable” Cancer
