Though the more well-known symptoms associated with cancer – nausea, pain, hair loss – can make life difficult for those suffering from the disease, any cancer survivor will likely tell you that the smaller day-to-day challenges can be just as taxing. One concern many patients face is meeting their nutritional requirements at a time when both illness and treatment seem determined to reject any form of food.

For those in this type of situation, meal replacement shakes can be a boon to the digestive system. Because they provide a blend of ingredients designed to meet many of the body’s requirements, they can be a great source of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients for anyone dealing with persistent digestive issues, including cancer patients. Keep reading to learn more about ENU’s meal replacement shakes for cancer patients and how they can help you or your loved one maintain a healthy diet in the face of a struggle against cancer.

Nutrients Cancer Patients Should Have in Their Diet

With all the effort that goes into battling cancer, it can be easy to lose sight of those tedious but necessary tasks that keep you in the fight: eating a balanced diet, for example. This is especially true for patients with cancer of the mouth or throat, as they can often experience sores that make ingesting anything an unpleasant experience. Still, regardless of your circumstances, maintaining the body’s key nutrients is crucial for keeping up your strength.

One of the most important macronutrients – the term for the three most fundamental nutrients the body requires – is protein. Though it is commonly associated with muscles, the reality is that protein is an extremely important element in any diet. Not only is it necessary for the creation of new cells, but it also plays a critical role in the body’s healing process. And because cancer patients frequently report weight loss that includes a reduction in muscle mass, protein’s muscle-preserving effects make it helpful for those looking for a weight management system to slow or prevent that process.

Although they get a bad rap from most diet-minded consumers, carbohydrates and fats – the two other macronutrients, along with protein – are actually much-needed parts of any balanced diet. The quality of these nutrients is what makes the difference; eating lots of foods high in sugars or saturated fats is much less healthy than eating whole grains and unsaturated fats. Still, these components provide fuel for your body’s functions and help to ward off the weight loss that remains prevalent among cancer patients.

Ingredients Important for Cancer Patients to Have in Nutrition Shakes

As mentioned above, not all sources of nutrients are created equal. While your body needs a balanced mix of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients as a part of a medical nutrition program, some foods are better than others at providing those things. Natural ingredients are preferable, and because foods that provide a range of nutrients can reduce the frequency at which a patient has to feed themselves, they can help those experiencing discomfort avoid unnecessary pain.

Whey and soy proteins are two of the most easily absorbed by the system – a useful benefit for those whose digestive tract has been compromised by cancer or chemotherapy – and their ease of absorption also means that more of the protein can actually be put to use by the body, rather than being passed. Both also come from natural sources and make it relatively easy to get adequate protein in a single shake.

The best forms of carbohydrates tend to be from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Sugars are technically a type of carb, but they should be avoided in large amounts because of their unhealthy side effects. Better options are carbs from grains – rice, quinoa, etc. – that provide a mix of simple and complex carbohydrates.

Like carbs, some fats offer fewer nutrients than others and can even be downright harmful. Saturated and trans fats are the worst culprits of this, often contributing to high cholesterol and heart disease. Unsaturated fats come in two varieties – monounsaturated and polyunsaturated – and are the kind to look for in foods. They come from a diverse array of sources, including olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, and peanut oil, and provide sustained energy. Many vitamins must also be absorbed through fat, so the consumption of healthy oils can actually aid your vitamin intake.

Choose ENU Meal Replacement Shakes to Meet Your Cancer Nutrition Therapy Needs

With so many brands of meal replacement shake on the market, it can be difficult to know which to pick. ENU nutrition shakes are made with all-natural ingredients, including whey and soy protein; brown rice, tapioca, and quinoa to offer carbs; and coconut and sunflower oils to provide healthy fats. And that’s not even mentioning the more than 20 vitamins and minerals carefully formulated to meet your body’s needs. If you or a loved one are suffering from cancer and would like to try a meal replacement shake that provides maximum nutrition with minimal effort, check out ENU shakes today. To learn more, call us at (855) 266-6733.