Eating well and living a healthy lifestyle is important for anyone with lymphoma, whether you’re in remission or facing a relapse. The good news is that nutrition guidelines for people with lymphoma are similar to general healthy eating practices. Here are some key points to remember as you take care of your body during lymphoma treatment.

1. Eat Plenty of Plants

Plant-based diets can be helpful for people with lymphoma. This eating style focuses on plant foods but doesn’t require you to be fully vegetarian or vegan (a diet that includes no products derived from animals, including meat, dairy, and eggs). You can still include meat and dairy products in small amounts while centering your diet around plants.

The Mediterranean diet is one example of a plant-based diet. It focuses on the following:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Low-fat dairy
• Lean meat and/or other proteins such as legumes and nuts
• Healthy fats

Try to limit unhealthy, saturated fats — like those found in butter, fatty meats, and fried foods — to less than 10 percent of your total daily calories.

A diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables can help you get plenty of antioxidants and fiber.

Many MyLymphomaTeam members have shared how they’ve changed their diets to include more plants and whole foods. One member said, “I tried to go vegan for three months, but it didn’t last for me. I have adopted some of the vegan ideas.”

Another member wrote, “I’ve been changing my diet to include more fish and fresh vegetables.” “I wiped out processed foods from my diet, eating heart healthy, and cooking for my husband,” said another member whose spouse is living with follicular lymphoma.

Antioxidants

One benefit of eating a plant-based diet is getting more antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free radicals and may help prevent cancer. Examples of antioxidants include:

• Beta-carotene and lycopene — Found in apricots, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers
• Vitamin A — Found in spinach, chard, carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes
• Vitamin C — Found in broccoli, leafy greens such as turnip and mustard, cantaloupe, oranges, lemons, strawberries, tomatoes, and bell peppers
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) — Found in avocado, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and boiled spinach

Research shows that antioxidants found in whole foods are beneficial, but antioxidant supplements don’t provide the same benefits. Researchers believe that antioxidants work best when combined with other nutrients and plant chemicals, like polyphenols, to be active in our bodies.

Preliminary research suggests an antioxidant called ursolic acid may help reduce tumor growth by regulating certain cell functions. Foods that contain ursolic acid include apples, holy basil, rosemary, and cranberries. Eating these foods is safe, but taking supplements with these ingredients is not currently recommended.

Fiber

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, but many people don’t get enough. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2020-2025, less than 10 percent of women and 3 percent of men in the United States get the recommended amount of fiber. Fiber helps digestion, controls blood sugar, manages healthy fats, and promotes a healthy gut. The guidelines recommend that women get at least 25 grams of fiber per day, and men get at least 35 grams.

Fiber comes from starchy foods like:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Nuts
• Seeds

It’s important to note that for some people living with Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a high-fiber diet can irritate the stomach and worsen nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. In these cases, your doctor may recommend a low-fiber diet instead.

2. Try the Plate Method

The plate method can help you build a balanced diet with the right portions. To use the plate method:

• Half of your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables — the more colors, the better.
• One-fourth of your plate should have protein, such as chicken, fish, or legumes.
• One-fourth of your plate should contain a healthy starch, such as brown rice, quinoa, or sweet potatoes.

Your meal should also contain a healthy fat like olive oil, avocado, nuts, or seeds. You can also enjoy fruit with your meal or as a snack. Pair it with something that has protein or fiber to help control blood glucose (blood sugar) and keep you feeling full. For instance, try combining:

• Apple slices and almond butter
• Grapes and string cheese
• Bell pepper strips and hummus

Healthy eating should include foods you crave and enjoy. Eating treats in moderation can help you avoid feeling deprived or overdoing it later.

3. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Keeping a healthy weight is important for your overall wealth. Make sure to eat enough calories to stay at a healthy weight for your height.

Unintended Weight Loss

It can be hard to maintain a healthy weight and prevent malnutrition if you’re dealing with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste, or a lack of appetite. During these times, it’s important to focus on nutrient-dense, high-calorie foods. It’s also essential to maintain your weight with calories and keep your protein intake up to help preserve muscle mass.

Losing enjoyment in food can make eating enough even harder. “I’m still waiting to get my taste buds back after 15 radiation treatments,” one MyLymphomaTeam member shared. “I haven’t been able to eat solid foods, and tomorrow will be 30 days with absolutely no taste of any kind.”

If you’re losing too much weight, focus on eating plenty of nutrient-dense, high-calorie foods like nuts, avocados, beans, and yogurt.

Another member said, “I have noticed I can’t eat all the foods I used to eat. The cancer has really changed what I can tolerate.”

Doctors recommend that people with different types of lymphoma, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), focus on getting enough protein and calories during treatment. During cancer treatment, food may not seem appealing, so you may need to work with a dietitian to help find ways to get the nutrition your body needs.

If you or your doctor are worried about weight loss during or after lymphoma treatment, choose foods that are high in both nutrients and calories. Some good options include:

• Nuts or nut butters
• Avocados
• Beans
• Chicken
• Fish
• Yogurt

If you don’t feel like eating solid food, smoothies and soups are great ways to pack in healthy foods. Soups and smoothies are easy to make and can incorporate nutritious foods like flaxseed meal, chia seeds, nut butters, beans, and vegetables.

Another tip is to eat smaller meals or snacks throughout the day instead of large meals. This strategy can help you get enough calories. Regular physical activity can also help improve your appetite.

One MyLymphomaTeam member shared, “Recently, I started drinking smoothies with kale, and I have more energy and feel better. I make them myself with fruits and vegetables.”

Members often share recipes for their favorite soups, which include:

• Chicken soup with matzo balls
• Hamburger soup with cabbage
• Vegetable soup with lentils

Unintended Weight Gain

Some MyLymphomaTeam members struggle with weight gain rather than weight loss, especially when they are prescribed corticosteroids. “I really think my biggest enemy most days is the steroids,” said one member. “Has anyone gained a lot of weight and lost it after remission? At this point, I’m more worried about my weight than my cancer.”

Members share what has worked for them to lose excess weight from lymphoma treatment. “I found the best way to lose weight was to eat small meals,” said one member. “Breakfast, lunch, a snack (usually half a banana for the potassium), and dinner.”

Another member shared that they lost weight by cutting back on soft drinks and sweets.

4. Eat To Fight Anemia

People with leukemia often experience anemia, a condition caused by a lack of red blood cells or iron. Anemia causes fatigue but can often be managed with good nutrition. If you have anemia, it’s important to focus on getting enough iron.

There are two types of iron — heme iron and nonheme iron. Heme iron comes from animal sources — red meat, poultry, and fish. It is about 25 percent to 30 percent absorbable by the body. Nonheme iron comes from plant-based sources — legumes, grains, and vegetables — and is only 1 percent to 10 percent absorbable. Several factors can help increase or decrease how much iron your body absorbs.

A helpful guideline is to include a dietary source of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, at every meal, especially when you eat iron-rich foods. Vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron. It is important to note that coffee and tea can significantly reduce how much iron your body absorbs. It’s best not to drink these beverages with iron-rich meals.

A deficiency in vitamin B12 and folic acid may cause a form of anemia called megaloblastic anemia.

Top sources of vitamin B12 include:

• Clams
• Fortified cereal
• Tuna
• Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• Salmon
• Beef
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Nutritional yeast

Good sources of folic acid include:

• Spinach
• Fortified cereal
• Black-eyed peas
• Asparagus
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Avocado

5. Drink Enough Fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids is essential while receiving chemotherapy for lymphoma. Staying hydrated is also important for nutrient transportation, joint health, blood pressure regularity, and more. Water is the best choice for hydration. Avoid sugary drinks like fruit juice, soda, and sweetened teas — or keep them to a minimum.

If you have trouble drinking plain water to stay hydrated, try adding fresh fruit or drinking low-sugar sports drinks instead.

If you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can try adding fresh fruit or fruit extract, or try low-sugar sports drinks like Gatorade G2, Propel flavored electrolyte water, or Vitaminwater Zero Sugar.

Alcohol should be limited to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Be mindful of when you drink coffee and tea, as they can reduce your iron absorption, as mentioned earlier.

MyLymphomaTeam members often share their preferred drinks.

• “Zipfizz is my friend. It is a vitamin-packed energy drink. It helps me get home from work.”
• “I drink water called Simple Truth, which I can only find at Kroger. It has all the electrolytes you need. I carry a bottle around all the time.”
• “Want to mention a V8 juice product that I like — Pomegranate Blueberry. Very good and healthy.”
• “I add raspberry-flavored electrolyte powder to my water, and I can get that down without a problem. Ginger tea and buttermilk have also helped.”

6. Avoid Foodborne Illness

Food safety is incredibly important for people living with lymphoma, who often deal with a weakened immune system due to leukopenia (low white blood cell count). If you’re having a bone marrow transplant, you’ll have a higher risk of foodborne illness than those who receive chemotherapy and radiation alone.

To avoid foodborne illnesses, follow these safe food-handling do’s and don’ts.

Food Safety Do’s:

• Cook all meat and fish thoroughly.
• Cook eggs thoroughly — no runny or sunny-side up eggs.
• Wash produce well with running water before you peel it. For extra safety, soak fruits and vegetables in a solution of apple cider vinegar and water to kill even more bacteria.
• Always refrigerate deli meats, including dry-cured sausages.

Food Safety Don’ts:

• Do not eat products with raw eggs, such as cookie dough or homemade mayonnaise.
• Do not consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, or juice.
• Do not eat soft cheese such as brie, blue cheese, or Gorgonzola.
• Do not eat from salad bars and buffets, where food sits out longer and is more likely to become contaminated.
• Do not eat alfalfa sprouts or other raw sprouts.
• Do not drink well water, unless it has been boiled for one minute or filtered.

7. Be Cautious of Nutritional Supplements

Many websites and products claim that certain nutritional supplements can help treat cancer. It can be difficult to know what’s based on solid evidence and what is just a far-fetched marketing claim. There is very little scientific proof that any specific nutrient or supplement is effective in treating cancer.

Always check in with your doctor before taking any supplement or herb. Some may have a negative impact on your cancer treatment.

For instance, the popular herbal supplement St. John’s wort is known to reduce the effectiveness of imatinib (Gleevec), a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Similarly, green tea supplements can interfere with the effectiveness of bortezomib (Velcade), which is used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

As you read about health claims, keep in mind these facts about nutritional supplements from the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health:

• Dietary supplements don’t have to be proven effective before they are marketed.
• Just because a product is natural doesn’t mean it is safe.
• Some nutrients are already added to the foods you eat, so taking extra could lead you to accidentally take an unsafe amount.
• Taking high doses of supplements, using them instead of prescribed medications, or combining multiple types of supplements can increase the risk of side effects.

8. Eat To Feel Your Best

The best diet for you depends on many factors, including how you respond to lymphoma treatment. The most common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation that may impact how you eat include:

• Loss of appetite
• Early satiety (feeling full too soon)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Mouth sores
• Changes in taste or loss of taste
• Difficulty swallowing
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Your doctor or a registered dietitian can give you tips to manage these side effects and ensure you maintain a nutritious diet that helps you feel your best.

The Challenge of Changing Eating Habits

Changing eating habits can be difficult, especially when you are living with lymphoma. There may be times when you feel like giving up. “I eat the same way I ate before I had cancer,” said one member. “I’ll feel miserable enough later.”

But remember, making the effort to improve your nutrition is an investment in your well-being. As another member put it, “I have been focusing on eating well and getting lots of rest so my body will be ready to fight this!”

Find Your Team

On MyLymphomaTeam, the social network for people with lymphoma and their loved ones, more than 21,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with blood cancer.

What’s in your healthy diet? Do you eat certain foods to keep your energy levels up or to reduce the side effects of treatment? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.