Epa consumption for cancer patients for additional nutrition & bull; hello healthy

In fighting and undergoing treatment, cancer patients need adequate nutritional intake. The average cancer patient loses appetite. Apart from facing psychological conditions, cancer patients also have to physically struggle to get optimal nutrition. In this condition, the patient is difficult to eat, but cancer patients need to get the benefits of EPA from fish oil.

The condition of cancer patients that needs to be understood

Why do patients need optimal nutrition? In general, cancer is a tissue that grows in the body and helps steal nutrients in the human body. Cancer cells also eat nutrients that are needed by the body of cancer patients. The nutrients that are eaten by cancer cells make the body become deficient in nutrients. Therefore, cancer patients need optimal nutrition. This is what cancer patients should pay attention to.

Cancer cells can release toxins, which in medical language are called cytokines. Excessive release of these cytokines can cause a patient's appetite to decrease. Normally, cytokines are proteins that play an important role in the body's immune response to fight infection.

However, the cytokines that are released in excess can have a bad effect, so that they become toxic to the body. This condition is known as a cytokine storm. Usually, this is indicated by the patient experiencing high fever, inflammation (swelling and redness of skin), fatigue, and nausea.

In addition to cancer cells in the patient's body that cause them to need optimal nutrition, on the other hand, surgical procedures and chemotherapy and oncoradiation treatments also have an impact on the patient's nutritional problems. This is related to the healing of surgical wounds which also require extra nutrition.

At least, protein needs to be consumed by 1.5 to 2 grams / kg of the patient's body weight per day. Patients with chemotherapy and oncoradiation often experience nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, mucositis and decreased appetite.

Therefore, patients need optimal nutrition even if they experience food intake constraints and cancer patients need additional calories. Of course, adding this food is not an easy thing for cancer patients.

The importance of the benefits of EPA and other nutrients for cancer patients

Cancer patients who are malnourished may develop cachexia or cachexia. Cachexia is a condition in which cancer patients suffer from nutritional deficiencies, characterized by loss of muscle mass and weight loss. Patients who experience cachexia often feel very weak in carrying out activities.

Despite the drastic weight loss, cachexia cannot be seen immediately from a low Body Mass Index score. Body Mass Index is an indicator of health as measured by a person's weight and height.

However, there are other parameters that affect cachexia, such as the level of albumin (a protein in the blood that maintains pressure on the blood vessels) and hemoglobin (a blood protein that delivers oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body). The levels of both blood proteins can be determined from laboratory results and doctor's analysis.

The condition of cachexia due to lack of nutrition can be prevented by consuming optimal nutrition since the cancer diagnosis is made. Cancer patients don't actually have any dietary restrictions. They need to eat nutritious foods, such as carbohydrates, fats, high in protein, vitamins and minerals.

One of the essential nutrients for cancer patients to fulfill is eicosapentanoic acid (EPA). EPA is included in omega-3 fatty acids that can be obtained from marine fish. It has previously been suggested that high levels of cytokines in cancer patients can cause a cytokine storm in their bodies. This has an impact on reducing his appetite.

Here, EPA plays a role in reducing cytokine storms, so that it can help increase the appetite of cancer patients and prevent cachexia. Health journals say 2 grams of EPA per day can increase weight gain in cancer patients.

EPA also helps increase immunity in cancer patients, so that their immune system is stronger. Although not all patients experience cachexia, it is still advisable to supplement nutrition by consuming EPA and other key nutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

Daily consumption of EPA for cancer patients

EPA can be obtained from a variety of sources, including salmon as a high source of omega-3s. According to the National Institute of Health, a 3-ounce serving, or about 100 grams of salmon, contains 0.35-0.59 grams of EPA. Apart from being obtained from seafood sources, EPA can be obtained from supplements that are available in the market, for example in the form of gel capsules and liquid food. EPA content in the form of gel capsules ranging from 180 mg to 600 mg can be found on the market. Meanwhile, a liquid ready-to-drink food product in circulation contains 1000 mg of EPA per bottle.

To achieve 2 grams of daily EPA intake, cancer patients can consume 200 grams of salmon plus one bottle of liquid food containing 1000 mg of EPA. Salmon can also be replaced with other fatty fish, such as mackerel, but it should be understood that the EPA content in salmon is the highest at this time. Don't forget to also meet other nutritional needs by consuming a variety of vegetables, fruits, and meats so that your nutritional needs are maintained optimally.

Thus, the consumption of a variety of nutrients, including consumption of EPA, can help cancer patients who are fighting their cancer.