The foods you choose to eat or avoid can play an important role in supporting your health during breast cancer treatment and recovery. Some foods can enhance wellness and recovery, while others might reduce energy levels and potentially slow healing.

A balanced diet during breast cancer treatment and recovery can help you feel your best, but it can be challenging to eat a healthy diet. Treatments may change how your body processes nutrients, and side effects might make eating well difficult.

Keep reading to learn about which foods to eat and which to limit if you’re going through breast cancer treatment or maintaining health as a survivor. We’ll also provide some diet-related tips to help you stay safe and manage side effects.

3 Foods To Eat When You Have Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society suggests similar nutrition guidelines for cancer prevention and posttreatment health. These include maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and choosing nutrient-rich foods. Aim to fill your plate with fruits and vegetables of varied colors, whole grains, and lean proteins, especially plant-based ones like legumes.

1. Leafy Greens

Focusing on colorful vegetables like leafy greens ensures you get powerful plant nutrients. Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are rich in fiber, folate, and antioxidants like carotenoids. These nutrients help reduce inflammation and support the immune system, which is vital during cancer treatment and for overall health. The high antioxidant content in leafy greens can also help protect healthy cells from the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation.

Antioxidants in leafy greens may help protect healthy cells from the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation.

Leafy greens are a good choice during treatment and after recovery because they’re usually easy to digest and simple to add to meals. Try tossing a handful into scrambled eggs, soup, or your favorite pasta.

2. Whole Grains

Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy, providing fuel for activity and body functions. Whole grains are especially important for maintaining energy during treatment and managing side effects like fatigue. Fiber and powerful plant components called phytonutrients in whole grains have positive effects related to breast cancer.

When grains are refined, they’re stripped of the healthy bran layer that contains B vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Fiber is important for regulating blood sugar levels, providing sustained energy, and promoting digestive health. Eating plenty of fiber can help reduce the risk of constipation, a common side effect of cancer treatments. So when you eat cereal and other grains, it’s important to go for the whole version.

Whole grains include brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and whole wheat. Try swapping refined grains, such as white rice and white bread, for whole-grain choices, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread.

3. Lean Proteins

Getting enough protein can help you maintain strength and muscle mass during treatment and recovery. Protein is necessary for repairing cells and tissues, especially when you’re undergoing chemotherapy or surgery. Lean protein sources can also help boost your energy levels.

Plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds are excellent food choices during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments because they’re rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you prefer animal proteins, opt for lean choices like chicken or fish, which also may be easier to digest than red meat.

For a bonus, focus on proteins that also contain healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation. Protein sources that contain omega-3 fatty acids include walnuts, chia seeds, and fatty fish such as salmon or sardines.

3 Foods To Avoid When You Have Breast Cancer

A healthy eating pattern also includes limiting certain foods and drinks. To support recovery and reduce risk of recurrence, try to limit red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods.

1. Processed and Red Meats

It’s best to limit or avoid processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, and sausage, along with red meats, which have been linked to increased inflammation and higher cancer risks. These foods contain preservatives, sodium, and unhealthy fats that can interfere with recovery and make treatment side effects worse.

Processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and sausages increase inflammation and cancer risk.

Instead of purchasing processed meat, prepare your own poultry, seafood, or lean meat using a healthy cooking method. Make a double portion for dinner, and use the leftovers in a sandwich or salad the next day. Be sure to handle, cook, and store meats safely, especially if your immune system is compromised during chemotherapy.

2. Sugary Foods and Beverages

Chemotherapy or medications such as steroids can increase hunger. To manage weight and support overall health, limiting added sugars and sugary drinks may be beneficial.

Over time, excess sugar may lead to insulin resistance (when cells have trouble taking in sugar for energy), which may increase both breast cancer risk and survival outcomes. High sugar intake can also lead to reduced energy and greater fatigue, making it harder to manage the side effects of treatment.

Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks such as candy, baked goods, and soda. Try sipping carbonated water with a splash of lemon or lime. Added sugar is also found in surprising sources like sauces, protein bars, and nut butters, so make sure to check nutrition labels.

3. Fried Foods and Fast Food

Fried foods and highly processed fast food contain unhealthy trans fats and excessive salt. These foods are also high in calories, which can contribute to unwanted weight gain and inflammation that may hinder recovery and how well the body functions and heals. Fried foods may be among the risk factors for developing breast cancer, according to the findings of a 2019 study.

Avoid or limit fried foods like french fries, doughnuts, onion rings, and fried chicken. Opt for healthier fats, such as those in nuts or olive oil, which provide essential nutrients that support overall health and wellness.

Managing Side Effects and Staying Safe

Your nutritional needs during cancer treatment or recovery depend on your individual health. Your cancer care team can help you create a personalized nutrition plan that meets your needs and goals.

Raw Foods and Foodborne Illness

Ask your health care team, including your doctor and a registered dietitian, if they recommend avoiding foods that make you more likely to develop foodborne illness. You may need to steer clear of raw foods, such as:

• Types of sushi that contain raw fish
• Dishes with raw eggs
• Unpasteurized dairy products
• Unwashed fruits and vegetables

These foods can carry a higher risk of infection, which is especially important to avoid during cancer treatment when your immune system may be more vulnerable

Ask your cancer care team if it’s risky to eat raw foods during cancer treatment.

Diet Tips To Manage Treatment Side Effects

Certain dietary changes can help manage side effects once treatment begins. Try strategies like the following:

• For appetite loss, eat small meals and nutritious snacks throughout the day instead of trying to eat a large meal.
• To ease constipation, drink more water and eat more fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables and beans.
• If you have diarrhea, choose foods and drinks that replenish lost electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and other minerals important for bodily functions), such as sports drinks, broth, and bananas.
• If you experience a loss of taste, use lemon or lime juice to perk up flavors, and experiment with new foods, spices, or marinades.
• For nausea, try sucking on lemon slices or sipping ginger tea.

Your health care provider can suggest other approaches to help manage treatment side effects.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyBCTeam is the social network for people with breast cancer and their loved ones. On MyBCTeam, more than 73,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with breast cancer.

Have you changed your diet since you were diagnosed with breast cancer? Do certain foods or drinks help you feel better? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.