The ketogenic diet has been studied as an additional cancer treatment that, combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may help reduce tumor progression. It was disseminated in Brazil by doctor and nutritionist Lair Ribeiro, but there are still few data and studies that confirm the effectiveness of this diet against cancer.
The ketogenic diet is based on a severely restricted diet of carbohydrates, which are present in foods like rice, beans, fruits and veggies. In addition, it is rich in fats such as olive oil, nuts and butter, with average protein content such as meats and eggs.
Why Diet Can Help Fight Cancer
When you eat a ketogenic diet, your blood sugar level is very low, and this is the only fuel that cancer cells can process to grow and multiply. Thus, it is as if the diet made the cells run out of food and thereby help control the disease's progress.
In addition, low carbohydrate levels can also lead to lower circulating levels of the hormones insulin and IGF-1, which can cause cancer cells to have fewer signals to grow and divide.
On the other hand, healthy body cells can use fatty acids and ketone bodies as sources of energy, nutrients that come from dietary fat and body fat stores.
Cauliflower Soup Recipe with Chicken
This soup can be used both at lunch and dinner, being easy to digest and can be used in times when the side effects of treatment, such as nausea and vomiting, are stronger.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked boiled chicken breast roughly chopped
- 1 cup cream (optional)
- 4 Tablespoons diced onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Garlic clove, minced or crushed
- 3 cups of cauliflower tea
- 2 tablespoons leeks
- Salt and pink pepper to taste
Method of preparation:
Sauté the onion, the olive oil and the garlic and then add the cauliflower and the leek. Add water to cover all the contents and let cook for about 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the contents and process in the blender. Add 200 ml of water or sour cream and the chicken. Season to taste, adding grated cheese and oregano.
Cheese Biscuits
Cheese biscuits can be used in snacks, for example.
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup sesame beaten in blender
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1 pinch of salt
Method of preparation:
Beat all the ingredients in the blender until it is homogeneous. Spread the mixture into a very thin layer on a medium buttered baking sheet and bake at 200ºC for about half an hour or until golden brown. Let it cool and cut into pieces.
Stuffed omelette
The omelet is easy to eat and can be used for breakfast and snacks, which can be filled with cheese, meat, chicken and vegetables.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 60 g of curd cheese or grated mines
- 1/2 tomato chopped
- salt and oregano to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Method of preparation:
Beat the egg with the fork, season with salt and oregano. Grease the frying pan with olive oil, pour the beaten eggs and add the cheese and tomato. Cover the skillet and leave for a few minutes before turning to bake the dough on both sides.
Care and contraindications
The ketogenic diet should only be done in cancer patients after the physician's consent and with the nutritionist's follow-up, and it is necessary to observe the appearance of side effects such as dizziness and weakness, especially in the first days.
It is also important to remember that studies related to the ketogenic diet and cancer are still inconclusive and that this diet is not adequate in all cases of cancer. In addition, it does not replace conventional treatments with medications, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy.
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