5 tips and tricks for nausea relief
Written by Erin Peters, a dietetic intern at UK Markey Cancer Center.
For many patients with cancer, nausea can occur as a result of chemotherapy, radiation, or just the cancer itself. Nausea creates an unpleasant feeling in your throat or stomach which may decrease the desire to eat or drink. Since it is important for patients with cancer to maintain adequate fluid and nutrient intake throughout treatment, finding ways to help combat nausea may be incredibly useful!
Although some patients nausea may be triggered by certain tastes or smells, nausea does not always occur when eating, drinking, or being around food. Often, patients experience random waves of nausea that do not appear to be caused by anything in particular. Some patients even say they don’t have to even be thinking about food and they still feel nauseous.
Regardless of what your relationship with nausea may be, try these tips and tricks if you’ve been searching for some relief!
- Try eating small amounts of food more often. Some patients have found that keeping a little food in their stomach helps with nausea
- Avoid eating your favorite foods during treatment, save those for a time when you are feeling good
- Try snacking on bland and dry foods such as crackers
- Sip on clear liquids such as ginger ale, Gatorade, broth, or tea
- Limit greasy, fried, and spicy foods as those may irritate your stomach
Since every cancer patient will have a different reaction to the disease and treatments, these tips and tricks may not work for everyone. Feel free to experiment with these suggestions until you find something that works for you.
For additional information regarding diet and nutrition for cancer patients at UK Markey Cancer Center, please call 859-323-2798 and ask to speak with a registered dietitian.
