Food for the Mind, Body, and Soul

Currently writing a research paper on cancer therapy treatments and the importance of nutritional support for cancer patients during those treatments. I always had the assumption that people die from cancer because of the devastating effects of the disease itself and never realized what a giant role nutrition plays not only in the prevention of cancer but also therapy and rehabilitation. People diagnosed with cancer and undergoing therapy treatments start to experience changes in their taste buds causing them to lose their appetite resulting in poorer intake of required nutrients to maintain a healthy immune system. This leads to chronic protein-energy malnutrition resulting in cancer cachexia and anorexia. Hence, we often see cancer patients slowly withering away and literally dying because their lean muscle mass is deteriorating and their muscles and organs are no longer able to function properly. Given the adequate nutritional support, cancer patients may have a higher chance of survival. However, sometimes it's not that they don't want to eat, it's because they can't! The effects of the therapy not only causes them to lose their appetite but also fatigue, nausea, and vomitting. Eating is no longer a pleasure and becomes a chore while some patients find themselves eating just to please their family members.

As healthy individuals, we are given so many choices regarding our nutrition. We have a variety of food choices available and because of that, we often take that blessing for granted by feeding our bodies with foods that can do more harm than good. We have to realize that our body is not garbage can that can handle unlimited amounts of junk and start treating it like a fine engine that requires specific fuels to function properly. Adequate nutrition is the only way that will allow the engine to maintain a healthy immune system that will get us through any battle we are fighting whether it be physical, mental, or emotional.

I understand there are a lot of people out there that are fighting their battle with food - myself included. Almost every moment of my life, I find myself in some kind of battle with food. What we need to realize is that food is not our enemy but instead our friend that serves to nourish and protect us. Food provides us with the necessary nutrients to maintain physical, mental , and emotional wellbeings so that we can enjoy and live life. Similar to friends, without foods, our day at the amusement park wouldn't be as fun or exciting. However, we must learn to choose our foods wisely in the same way we choose our friends. Only in good company can we find more joy and excitement in life!