This might be a troubling or challenging time for you if you have recently been diagnosed with cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, people 55 years and older in the United States are diagnosed with about 80% of all cancers. The best way to manage this is to take advantage of integrative care while also visiting a cancer treatment center for chemotherapy.
What is Integrative Care?
Integrative care is the blend of clinical health care and complementary care. For patients with cancer, this means visiting a cancer treatment center for chemotherapy while practicing proper diet intake, mind-body practices, and taking vitamin supplements. This is a wonderful way to support and keep your body healthy while enduring chemotherapy because chemotherapy can be very taxing and stressful on the body. Here are some ways you can practice integrative care.
Proper Diet
Having a proper diet made up of many kinds of nutrients and vitamins is beneficial to your overall health. Speaking to your doctor is the first step in starting a healthy diet to keep yourself in the best shape and mindset. No matter your health status, everything starts with your food consumption. Making sure that you eat food that cleanses your gut can be extremely beneficial to your overall well-being. You should eat foods that are high in nutrients to maintain a healthy gut. A plant-based diet will be great for you. Some people stick to a Mediterranean diet that focuses on foods like vegetables, fruit, and plenty of healthy sources of fat like olive oil. Remember to speak with your doctor first to see what best fits you and your lifestyle.
Exercise
Exercise is beneficial for all of us as it keeps our hearts healthy, gets us into shape, and is great for producing feel-good chemicals in your body. Not all exercise is one size fits all. There are plenty of different forms of exercise that might help you and your lifestyle. While regular cardio exercises are great for keeping in shape and losing weight, think about mindful movement exercises like yoga or Tai Chi. These are great because they can be low-cost, beginner-friendly, and easily accessible practices. Yoga is a wonderful way to center your body and your mind as it also incorporates meditation and healthy breathing to keep your mind at peace and make you more mindful and aware of your surroundings.
Overall, integrative care is a fantastic addition to visiting a cancer treatment center for chemotherapy. This does not have to be a trying or scary time and we at Palo Verde Cancer Specialists are here to help you through it all. Give us a call today to learn more.
