With a good diet, you can give yourself the best chance of adjusting between illness and treatment. Many physicians, caregivers and researchers have found that patients who have a balanced diet are less likely to experience side effects. A good diet is one that includes a variety of foods that include vitamins, minerals, proteins and other electrolytes to maintain normal body function. A good diet should also be high in calories to maintain body weight and high in protein to repair and build skin, hair, muscles and organs. In particular, protein can repair damaged tissues during treatment. Some nutritionists believe that during chemotherapy the need for protein increases by 50% compared to normal, while the calorie requirement increases by 20%. What if I have a poor appetite during chemotherapy? Some people with small appetites usually find that their appetite increases after treatment; conversely, some people with good appetites experience a loss of appetite, which can cause many problems. You may also try to take a walk before meals to increase your appetite. In general, it is best not to lose weight during treatment. Many people have a poor appetite for lean meats during chemotherapy because of the change in taste buds, which makes lean meats taste bitter. There are also problems that can affect appetite such as nausea, feeling of fullness and difficulty chewing or swallowing. How can I improve my eating habits? To get and maintain a balanced diet you should include the following four food groups in your daily diet plan: i. Fruits and vegetables: These foods should include salads, cooked vegetables, raw or cooked fruits, and juices, which contain important vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Poultry, fish and meat: These foods contain fish, poultry, eggs and meat (if the patient is a vegetarian, the meat can be replaced with peas and nuts), which will provide good protein and many vitamins and minerals. Cereals and breads: these foods such as corn, oats, wheat, whole wheat bread, cookies, macaroni and noodles, these foods will provide some protein, multivitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Fourth, dairy: including milk and dairy products just like ice cream, cheese, these foods will provide protein, calcium and a lot of vitamins. Why do you need more water? Some cancer medications can have some effect on the bladder or kidneys. Ask your physician, nurse or pharmacist if the medications used will affect the bladder or kidneys, and ask them to tell each person how much water to drink. You may need more water to keep your kidneys functioning properly. Water, fruit juices, cool drinks, clear soups, ice cream, and gravies are all acceptable. However, care should be taken to ensure that alcohol is not present in beverages, as alcohol can interact with certain medications and cause them to not work or have more side effects. Therefore, before drinking any alcoholic beverages such as beer or wine, you should check with your physician, nurse or pharmacist to see if you need to limit your intake.