Recover Using Detox

For those with cancer, a compromised immune system has already come into play, according to nutritionists I spent time working with while operating my own retail health food store. For this reason it's important for cancer patients to implement a diet geared toward detoxification. 

The immune system assists in the detox process by fighting off lots of less than desirable biotoxins. However, if chemotherapy has been underway, it will destroy the bad cells along with the good, further compromising the cancer patients immune function, which many times results in those patients becoming quite weak. That being said, an already compromised immune system, makes it paramount to focus intently on helping the liver do the enormous task of constant detox for optimum chemo and recovery.

Raw Food

A detox diet of easily digested foods, such as raw blended fruit and veggie drinks as well as fresh vegetable and fruit juices straight from the juicer will make nutrients readily available to the body, giving the chemotherapy patient involved a good advantage. This is because jucing and blending whole food makes for an easier breakdown of the food they eat, therefore better nutrient absorption. Juicing and blending super foods is also quick and potent. The nutrients in these food preparations becomes available to the body almost immediately after ingestion.

Those on a chemotherapy regimen need the help of foods that are known for specifically aiding the liver in detoxifying the body. There are certain foods that are known for their detoxification capability. A site called The Liver Doctor founded by Dr. Sandra Cabot, known for her work helping those with severe liver problems, has in depth thorough lists and information regarding which foods to eat and juice for substantial liver cleansing. Among them include foods such as:

• Beets
  
• Carrots
  
• Cabbage
  
• Broccoli
  
• Celery
  
• Dark green leafies
  
• Apples (the green variety are most potent for liver cleansing)
  

All of these and raw foods in general will render the best results when the goal is helping the liver detox. Dr. Cabot is a big advocate of raw food juicing to assist with liver cleansing and optimum liver function. As someone with a nutrition background, my own personal suggestion is to combine the raw juicing with raw blended drinks that include the foods listed above, along with a variety of other raw fruits and veggies found appealing by the cancer patient. The fiber benefits of blending raw food will further strengthen the detoxification process by contributing to good elimination and bowel function.

Many times raw blended drinks are harder for people to get down because of the texture, and someone on chemotherapy is nauseated to start with. If you need help making the raw blended drinks more palatable, try making them into more of a smoothie type of drink by adding bananas, apples, and carrots to sweeten them up. You can then add flax seed meal to thicken the raw smoothie. Try chilling the raw drink and then drinking them with a straw if you're nauseated and need help getting the drink down. The straw will help you to bypass some of the texture of the food.

A raw food detox diet may not be a tastefully pleasant experience for those undergoing chemotherapy, however eating these foods prepared this way will be a potent, effective way to assist the liver in it's constant detoxification tasks.

Eat well, live well, heal. For professional help, check out detox and rehab for alcohol and drugs.