Why a Plant-Based Diet May Help Childhood Cancer Survivors

When your mom told you to eat your vegetables, she knew what she was talking about. 

Eating a plant-based diet can lower risks of age-related problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Adult survivors of childhood cancer often have these conditions earlier than people without a cancer history. 

When age-related health problems start earlier than usual, it is called premature or accelerated aging. Other age-related conditions include lung problems, weak bones, memory problems, and second cancers.

Research from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (St. Jude LIFE) shows that a plant-based diet may decrease the risk of having conditions linked to premature aging, says Yikyung Park, ScD, of Washington University School of Medicine. Park is one of the study’s leaders. St. Jude LIFE is a study that involves more than 6,000 childhood cancer survivors who were treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

Keeping your body strong and healthy as you grow older is important. One of the best ways to achieve this goal is by eating a healthy diet that includes lots of plant foods.

What is a plant-based diet?

A plant-based diet mainly includes foods that come from plants:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grains
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Beans and other legumes (edible seeds grown in pods such as lentils, peas, and peanuts)

“A plant-based diet is a balanced diet,” Park says. “It is a balance between plant and animal sources of food. Americans tend to have a lot of meat in their diet. Adding vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is better than eating so much meat.”

In particular, dark green vegetables and nuts or seeds were linked to a lower risk of premature aging, according to the study.

The study also found that eating refined grains can increase the risk of developing age-related conditions early. Refined-grain foods include white flour, corn grits, white bread, and white rice.  Whole-grain choices include brown rice, oats, and quinoa.

Park stresses the importance of getting nutrients through foods, not supplements. The body absorbs vitamins and minerals more easily from foods than from supplements.

 “Foods provide more complete nutrition,” she says.

Other health benefits of a plant-based diet

Other health benefits of a plant-based diet include:

• Nutrients for overall health: Plant foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support strong bones, healthy organs, and better function of the body’s immune system.
• Antioxidant protection: Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants that help protect cells from damage linked to cancer and aging. Antioxidants come from the natural compounds that give fruits and vegetables their colors, so eating a variety is important.

Tips for starting a plant-based diet

The key to beginning a plant-based diet is to start by making small changes. If possible, talk with a registered dietitian. 

Start with 1 change and add more over time.

Nutrition tips

Here are a few ideas:

• Eat a handful of nuts or whole-grain pretzels instead of potato chips.
• Eat an oatmeal cookie instead of a chocolate chip cookie.
• Replace white bread with whole wheat bread.
• Try going meatless 1 day a week, such as on “Meatless Monday.”
• Eat fresh fruit for breakfast.
• Add a vegetable or whole grain to evening meals.

“It takes time,” Park says. “Be patient and change your diet at your own pace. You do not have to change everything all at once.”

Practical tips from a childhood cancer survivor

To support her healthy lifestyle, Grace Lightbody cooks a lot of her food instead of eating convenience food or eating out. She finds healthy recipes on the internet and mobile apps. 

“I find pleasure and reward in making food that is better for me instead of throwing something in the microwave,” Lightbody says. She is a 12-year survivor of craniopharyngioma, a type of brain tumor.

Lightbody makes healthy substitutions to replace not-so-healthy foods with more nutritious options.

Consider these choices:

• Replace spaghetti pasta with zucchini noodles.
• Use sweet potatoes in place of white potatoes.
• Instead of French fries, thinly slice kale, green beans, or another vegetable, season with your favorite spices, and roast in the oven.
• Use brown rice instead of white rice.

Cookbook for childhood cancer patients and survivors

If you need recipes for healthy foods, check out @TheTable. 

Researchers Joya Chandra, PhD; Margaret Raber, DrPH; and dietitian Rhea Li at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Children’s Hospital created this online cookbook for families of childhood cancer patients. The resource can also help childhood cancer survivors. 

The team gathered recipes from M.D. Anderson employees, patients, donors, and local restaurants. The Junior League of Houston helped test recipes. 

The resource addresses the following topics: 

• Symptoms
• Specific nutrition needs
• Color
• Texture
• Taste
• Quick meals

To make the most of the cookbook, Chandra suggests talking to your care provider or dietitian about your nutritional needs. Then, search for recipes and information. For example, you can find recipes that use fruits and vegetables in “Meatless Main Dishes” in the “Meal Planning” section.

You can also find healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods, like macaroni and cheese.

“If you are craving something, there are ways to make it healthier,” Chandra says. 

Another source of information is the New American Plate by the American Institute for Cancer Research. 

Ways to save money

Fresh produce and other healthy foods can be expensive or hard to find in some neighborhoods.

Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables are good. But make sure canned fruits are packed in fruit juice and do not contain added sugar. Also, check for low- or no-sodium canned vegetables, as regular canned vegetables can be high in salt. Dried fruits are another choice.

Some organizations can help provide access to healthy foods. These include: