Diet and Nutrition for Brain Tumor Patients and Caregivers

The diagnosis of a brain tumor can change your relationship with nutrition, food and eating, because of the way your body can tolerate your meals. With summer underway, the abundance of fruits and vegetables can help kickstart optimal nutrition for brain tumor patients and their families.

Here are a few healthy eating tips, from the ABTA’s Educational Webinar, Diet and Nutrition for Brain Tumor Patients, presented by Hannah Dalpiaz, RD, LDN, CNSC of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

• Eat The Rainbow: Eating a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, grains and other healthy foods can help achieve optimal nutrition and deliver the greatest amount of nutrients and antioxidants.
• Foods Can Help With Brain Tumor Symptoms: Certain eating habits and foods can help address symptoms related to a brain tumor diagnosis and treatment, including fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, and more. There are specific approaches to address each brain tumor symptom – view the webinar to learn more.
• Focus on Eating Food, Not Nutrients: Rather than isolate nutrients by taking vitamin supplements or a particular food group, try eating balanced and colorful foods in your meals to get the nutrients you need. By eating whole foods, you can gain a range of antioxidants and fiber that can be beneficial to your body.

Most importantly, talk to your physician or request an oncology dietitian who can help you with your nutritional needs before and after treatment.

Additional Resources:

• Diet and Nutrition for Brain Tumor Patients, ABTA Educational Webinar
• Integrative Treatment and Nutrition for Brain Tumor Patients, ABTA Educational Webinar
• Living with a Brain Tumor, Diet & Nutrition

About Meet Hope Head On 

Because of the generous support from people like you, the ABTA has given over $35 million for brain tumor research. The ABTA’s campaign, “Meet Hope Head On,” created for our 50^th anniversary, is focused on raising $50 million, in part to fund critical brain tumor research. This campaign is vital for continuing the kind of work that led to the recent FDA approval of vorasidenib, a breakthrough treatment for low-grade glioma.