Close Menu
Global News HQ
    What's Hot

    Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares

    June 29, 2025

    eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate

    June 29, 2025

    Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 29 – CNET

    June 29, 2025
    Recent Posts
    • Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares
    • eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate
    • Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 29 – CNET
    • SCOTUS’s CASA Decision Ends Nationwide Injunctions, Creating Uncertainty Around Enforcement of Executive and Agency Actions
    • This Under-the-radar Bermuda Resort Has 4 Pools and a Private Beach on the Island’s South Shore
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok
    Trending
    • Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares
    • eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate
    • Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 29 – CNET
    • SCOTUS’s CASA Decision Ends Nationwide Injunctions, Creating Uncertainty Around Enforcement of Executive and Agency Actions
    • This Under-the-radar Bermuda Resort Has 4 Pools and a Private Beach on the Island’s South Shore
    • How to Submit to Better Homes & Garden’s 2026 Food Awards
    • Exploring the No Tipping Trend: What It Means for Diners and Workers
    • Can China’s MiniMax-M1 AI Topple US Rivals? We Put It to the Test – Decrypt
    Global News HQ
    • Technology & Gadgets
    • Travel & Tourism (Luxury)
    • Health & Wellness (Specialized)
    • Home Improvement & Remodeling
    • Luxury Goods & Services
    • Home
    • Finance & Investment
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Real Estate
    • More
      • Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
      • E-commerce & Retail
      • Business & Entrepreneurship
      • Automotive (Car Deals & Maintenance)
    Global News HQ
    Home - Health & Wellness (Specialized) - Key Diet Tips for Managing Polycythemia Vera
    Health & Wellness (Specialized)

    Key Diet Tips for Managing Polycythemia Vera

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Key Diet Tips for Managing Polycythemia Vera
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    The ongoing treatments for polycythemia vera (PV) can sometimes interfere with appetite. But if you’re getting regular blood withdrawals or undergoing chemotherapy, there’s no understating the importance of eating a healthy diet.

    In particular, “Eating a well-balanced, Mediterranean-based diet” can help minimize some of the complications from PV, says Stacy Morig, RD, an oncology dietitian with Dartmouth Cancer Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Plus, “Making small changes to their diet can also help people feel better overall.”

    Here are four things you can do today to shore up your diet.

    1. Follow a Mediterranean Style of Eating

    Eating a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, vegetable oils and whole grains — can help prevent heart disease.

     That makes it a particularly good choice for people with PV, because the cancer causes an overproduction of red blood cells. And that increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs).

    Even if you don’t follow a Mediterranean diet plan exactly, try eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains, while limiting added sugar, highly processed foods, and saturated fat, says Morig.

    2. Try to Eat a Little Bit, As Often As You Can

    Some people with PV will lose weight from the disease, because the spleen has to work overtime to clear out the extra red blood cells, which can cause the organ to grow larger. That can then lead to abdominal pain, bloating, and feelings of fullness, even after you’ve only eaten a little bit.

    If you’re struggling with weight loss, try to eat nutritious, high-calorie foods, such as a nutritional supplement or protein-rich snack (think: peanut butter and a banana, full-fat yogurt with fruit and nuts, or cheese and crackers), whenever you’re able. You can also work with a registered dietitian experienced in both nutrition and oncology. Together, you can create a balanced eating plan that gives you the nutrition you need.

    3. Pay Attention to Iron Intake

    As many as 60 percent of people with PV have an iron deficiency, which can cause fatigue.

    But while many people with an iron deficiency can take an iron supplement or a multivitamin containing iron, people with PV can’t.

    “We generally try to avoid supplementing with iron, because that will cause you to make more red blood cells and add fuel to the fire,” says Jacqueline S. Garcia, MD, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

    You can get extra iron from food, such as beans, meat, and spinach. Just be sure not to eat too much of it. For example, Dr. Garcia suggests steering clear of any fad diet that features excessive amounts of red meat. “I don’t restrict the amount someone eats, but I recommend eating a regular amount within the daily requirements,” she says. (Also, be sure to eat plant-based, iron-rich foods along with a food or drink containing vitamin C, such as a glass of orange juice, to help with iron absorption.)

    For adults, the Recommended Dietary Allowance for iron is usually 8 milligrams per day, but women ages 19 to 50 need 18 milligrams.

    4. Focus on Certain Types of Fiber if You Have Gastrointestinal Side Effects

    Treatments such as chemotherapy may cause gastrointestinal side effects, including diarrhea and constipation, says Morig.

    To address diarrhea, she recommends prioritizing foods that contain soluble fiber. “Soluble fibers act like a gel and can help absorb water in the intestines, [which adds bulk to the stool]” she says. Foods that contain soluble fiber include applesauce, citrus, pears, cooked carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes.

    If you are dealing with constipation, Morig recommends dried fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, which provide both insoluble and soluble fibers to encourage bowel movements.

    If diet alone isn’t helping, talk to your clinician about stool softeners or laxatives to improve regularity, she adds.

    The Takeaway

    • A Mediterranean-style diet may help ward off heart complications from polycythemia vera and improve your overall well-being.
    • Include more fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and whole grains in your diet.
    • Iron-rich foods, such as spinach and meat, can boost your iron intake and help prevent iron deficiency.
    • Work with an oncology dietitian to develop an eating plan for your nutritional needs.



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleSales of Ultra-Premium Spirits Declined in the U.S. Last Year: Report
    Next Article 4 Ways Polycythemia Vera Can Affect Your Quality of Life — and What You Can Do About It

    Related Posts

    Strawberries Support Cognition & Heart Health, Research Shows

    June 28, 2025

    Trying For A Baby? Study Says Stop Drinking Sooner Than You Think

    June 28, 2025

    Weekly Horoscope For June 30-July 6, 2025, From The AstroTwins

    June 28, 2025

    Lung Cancer Doctors, Nurses, Therapists, and More: Your Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Team

    June 28, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    ads
    Don't Miss
    Finance & Investment
    3 Mins Read

    Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories…

    eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate

    June 29, 2025

    Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 29 – CNET

    June 29, 2025

    SCOTUS’s CASA Decision Ends Nationwide Injunctions, Creating Uncertainty Around Enforcement of Executive and Agency Actions

    June 29, 2025
    Top
    Finance & Investment
    3 Mins Read

    Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories…

    eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate

    June 29, 2025

    Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 29 – CNET

    June 29, 2025
    Our Picks
    Finance & Investment
    3 Mins Read

    Nvidia executives cash out $1bn worth of shares

    Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories…

    E-commerce & Retail
    3 Mins Read

    eBay Smells Opportunity in EU’s Digital Product Passport Mandate

    Over the next few years, products sold in EU countries will be required to have…

    Pages
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Disclaimer
    • Homepage
    • Privacy Policy
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube TikTok
    • Home
    © 2025 Global News HQ .

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version