Table of contents:
- Benefits of fasting for cancer patients
- Safe fasting guide for cancer patients
- 1. Consult a doctor first, you can fast or not
- 2. Ensure that nutritional needs are met
- 2. Just drink water
- 4. Get enough sleep
- 3. Avoid forcing yourself to fast
When the month of Ramadan arrives, it is not uncommon for patients with cancer to feel a dilemma to fulfill their obligation to fast. The reason is, many are worried that fasting can affect the illness. So, actually can cancer sufferers fast, what are the benefits? Then, are there guidelines for safe fasting for cancer patients? Come on, see the following reviews.
Benefits of fasting for cancer patients
There have been many studies showing that fasting provides health benefits. However, not everyone can fast safely, one of which is cancer.
However, several studies have shown the existence of good benefits of fasting for cancer patients. Fasting makes the body's cells more efficiently metabolize insulin to remove glucose from the blood. That means, insulin sensitivity gets better, making it harder for cancer cells to develop.
In addition, fasting also has the potential to increase the autophagy process, which is the process by which the broken down cell parts are reused later. This process is essential for maintaining proper functioning of cells.
Then a 2014 study in the journal Cell stem cellshows that fasting activates the stem cells of the immune system to renew and repair themselves. That means, fasting prevents cell damage and at the same time replaces damaged immune cells.
Fasting performed by cancer patients also has the potential to increase the response to cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy so that the side effects that appear are lighter.
Safe fasting guide for cancer patients
The benefits of fasting described earlier can be obtained if done properly. Therefore, cancer patients need to follow the following guidelines for safe fasting.
1. Consult a doctor first, you can fast or not
This problem still creates a dilemma for cancer sufferers and the medical team that handles it. Although in some cases, cancer sufferers get the benefits of fasting, but this actually depends on their health conditions and nutritional status.
Cancer patients who are experiencing side effects of treatment or even have a type of cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, are advised not to fast. This is related to the nutrients that must be fulfilled as long as they go through all the treatment processes.
However, if cancer sufferers are declared stable and are not experiencing any complications, it is still possible for them to participate in fasting. Of course, this must be under the handling and on the advice of the medical team in charge of it.
Do this medical consultation before fasting arrives. This will make it easier for your doctor to make judgments and make your fast plan much more mature.
2. Ensure that nutritional needs are met
Cancer causes are DNA mutations in cells that cause them to function abnormally; keep splitting uncontrollably. In order for other body cells to stay healthy and immune cells to remain strong against cancer cells, cancer patients must meet their nutritional needs every day.
Nutritional needs for cancer patients can be met during fasting by adopting a cancer diet. Actually, the dietary rules for this diet are the same as on normal days, where patients are advised to consume lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts that are rich in antioxidants.
The difference is, cancer patients have to outsmart how to meet these nutritional needs only when breaking the fast until the end of the meal. In planning this diet during fasting, you need direction from an oncologist or a special nutritionist who deals with your condition.
Do not forget, during fasting, cancer patients are prohibited from eating foods that can increase the risk of cancer, such as foods high in sugar, high in fat, or those served on fire.
2. Just drink water
When fasting, you are not allowed to eat and drink. That means, the water content in the body will decrease. Even though you really need water so that the cells in the body can work properly. If your body lacks fluids, you can become dehydrated.
People who fast are prone to mild dehydration which can cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating and headaches. In healthy people, dehydration must be prevented during fasting, especially for cancer patients.
According to the American Cancer Society, most adult men need 13 glasses of water per day, while adult women need 9 glasses of water per day. So that cancer patients can meet their fluid intake, it is highly recommended to drink water while breaking the fast until the end of the meal.
You can outsmart drinking water when breaking the fast, before and after tarawih prayers, before sleeping, and during suhoor.
4. Get enough sleep
Cancer patients usually have trouble sleeping, either because of the side effects of cancer treatment or the stress of undergoing treatment. In fact, optimal sleep hours can strengthen the immune system in cancer patients so that they keep themselves away from various disease transmissions.
When fasting, sleep time may change and may decrease. In order to stay well-fed, cancer patients should go to bed early or take time to nap during the day.
3. Avoid forcing yourself to fast
The Ramadan fast is carried out for approximately 30 days. This is certainly a big challenge for cancer patients. However, during those 30 days, cancer patients should not force themselves to complete their fast until the end.
If in the middle of fasting the patient feels unwell or feels symptoms of cancer, such as weakness and fever, it is better for him to break the fast. Forcing yourself to fast, of course, will not provide benefits for cancer patients, instead it will have a bad effect. Therefore, cancer patients must understand very well how their body condition is.
