Health Tip: Boosting Appetite During Chemotherapy

Make eating easier

April 11, 2011 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- A possible side effect of chemotherapy is loss of appetite. But eating well is important to help your body stay strong during this time of physical and emotional stress.

The U.S. National Cancer Institute suggests ways to boost your appetite:

  • Eat at scheduled times each day, even if it means having just a small meal or a few bites of food.
  • Eat five or six small meals throughout the day, instead of forcing yourself to eat three big meals.
  • If your food tastes metallic, use plastic utensils and glass cookware.
  • Get a little exercise every day, even if it's just a quick walk.
  • If solid food becomes difficult to swallow, have some soup or even a milkshake.
  • Drink fluids throughout the day, but avoid them during and just before a meal, so they don't make you too full to eat.

Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Tags:
chemotherapy,
diet and nutrition,
cancer

Reader Comments

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

advertisement

U.S. News Rankings & Research

U.S. News's "Best" delivers recognized, authoritative information and clear, objective rankings that help readers plan for their life and ultimately, make the most of it.

Featured Videos

Depression

Learn how to recognize the symptoms.

Suffering from Migraines?

Know your triggers to prevent a migraine meltdown.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect the young and old alike.

advertisement