Nutritional interventions for common gastrointestinal symptoms in oncology patients

Altered sense of taste Choose more foods with sour taste such as kimchi and fruit juices, and add more seasonings to food such as vinegar and green chili peppers. Dry mouth Rinse mouth frequently, choose soupy foods at meals, drink more fruit juices such as orange and sorbet in general, avoid caffeine, alcohol and commercial mouthwashes. Stomatitis or mucositis Avoid acidic and spicy foods, rough and salty foods, choose soft and easy-to-swallow foods such as noodle soup, meat and vegetable porridge; food preparation, especially vegetables, should be chopped and boiled, or made into puree or puree with a blender. Diarrhea Avoid high-fat foods, bananas, applesauce, barbecued foods, etc.; early diarrhea is recommended to use low residue foods and slowly increase the number of foods containing fiber; attention should be paid to increase fluid intake (including orange juice and light broth, etc.), while temporarily avoiding milk products (with the exception of yogurt). Dumping syndrome It is advisable to eat small, frequent meals (every 2 hours); high protein meals; drink water in between meals; and avoid pure sugars such as white sugar and honey. Constipation Gradually increase the intake of multi-fiber foods (e.g., whole grains, soybeans, vegetables, white potatoes, bananas, etc.) or supplemental fiber preparations; drink 8-10 cups of water per day; increase physical activity; if this does not work, then add stool softeners; if this does not work, then laxatives should be used. Nausea Avoid heavy, greasy, seasoned foods; drink water between meals; cold foods may be easier to tolerate. Vomiting Early fasting; slowly transition to clear liquids, fluids (e.g., ginger porridge, new lotus root with water chestnut grated juice), soft foods; maintain fluid intake (e.g., orange juice, light broth). Early satiety Avoid excessive intake of fat and fiber; eat small, frequent meals; choose more foods rich in protein and carbohydrates such as hard-boiled eggs, tofu, rice porridge and other foods; drink water between meals. Loss of appetite Choose light and easy to digest and appetizing, appetite-enhancing, digestion-aiding foods, such as yam and millet porridge, lentil and sand-nut round-grained polished-grained rice porridge and hawthorn, white radish juice, applesauce, etc. In addition, taking yeast tablets and multi-enzyme tablets also have the effect of aiding digestion.