Leukemia is cancer of the blood wherein the bone marrow and other blood corpuscles producers fail at forming mature cells. It can be categorized as acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, among others. Irrespective of the type present, patients can follow a doctor-prescribed nutrition regime, which tells them which foods they should eat or avoid. This article discusses what food items may form a part of the regime.

7 foods to have and to avoid for leukemia patients

Raw foods
Food that hasn’t been properly cleaned, washed, or cooked carries a lot of contaminants, including dirt, pesticides, and various harmful microbiota. Their intake can be a contributing factor to developing infections that become difficult for the immune system to fight. The compromised immunity can result from leukopenia, neutropenia, or other blood cell deficiencies that arise because of chronic leukemia. It is, therefore, advised to avoid the consumption of raw or improperly cooked veggies, eggs, meat, or fruit. It also means avoiding foods like raw cookie dough.

Deli meat
Deli meat, such as ham, bacon, beef jerky, corned beef, and sausages, also belongs on the list of foods to be avoided in people with acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, among other types. The meat includes preservatives that can play a part in the development of malignant cells.

Processed foods
Processed and packaged foods carry high amounts of salt, sugars, preservatives, as well as trans fats. Additional harm can be caused by the taste enhancers added to these foods that help keep the taste locked in for longer. These are particularly bad for patients that are battling a blood disorder like leukemia.

Gluten
Gluten is a type of protein that acts as a binding component in various grains. Wheat and barley are some of the common sources of gluten in regular foods. Ingestion of these gluten-rich grains can also lead to an increased risk of developing celiac disease. This is something that should be better avoided for patients who are currently suffering from or have a history of leukemia.

Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich in all essential nutrients, antioxidants, and make up for the daily fiber content. All of these are important factors of a healthy and balanced meal. For patients with health concerns, it is necessary to have fruits and vegetables to meet the body’s nutritional requirements for optimum functioning of the immune system.

Healthy fats
Contrary to popular belief, not all types of fats have to be eliminated in order to be healthy. Healthy fats are essential to keep all systems of the body functioning properly. These are abundant in sources such as nuts, olives, avocados, seeds, fatty fish, and lean meat.

Other remedial measures for leukemia
Food occupies a front-row seat when it comes to prevention, management, and cure of various health conditions. However, diseases like leukemia also need immediate medical attention and the right action in order to prevent their progress. Various remedies and therapies are available for people battling conditions like cancer. One such example are the AML clinical trials or Car T-cell therapies, such as Abecma ® for multiple myeloma and Kymriah ® for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These involve the use of the patient’s own T-lymphocytes that are engineered in a lab before being reintroduced into the patient’s body.