Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow It WorksConsiderationsNext in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia GuideChronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Slow-Appearing Symptoms

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Benefits

How It Works

Considerations

Next in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Guide

Your diet helps support your health, especially when you’re living with an illness. There isn’t one specific diet recommended forchronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL). Still, the foods you eat may help to support your treatment and overall well-being.This article will discuss the benefits of a nutritious diet for CLL, including what foods are recommended, which to limit, the importance of food safety, and coping with the effects of treatment.Verywell / Jessica OlahBenefitsMany factors influence the development of illnesses likecancer. While cancer can never be fully prevented, research suggests nutrition may play a role. A 2021 study found an association between regularly eating highly processed foods and the odds of developing CLL.The goal of nutrition during CLL treatment is to help:Support your immune systemMaintain muscle strengthEase the side effects of cancer treatmentReduce inflammationMaintain a healthy weightProtect against other health conditionsHow It WorksFocusing on a healthy diet may help support your health during cancer treatment and recovery. There is no specific diet plan recommended forCLL treatment. Instead, most recommendations focus on supporting your overall health with nutritious foods.Most important during cancer treatment is to focus on eating enough food to prevent unintentional weight loss and malnutrition. Research suggests poor nutrition during cancer recovery increases the risk for negative outcomes.Preventing malnutrition and eating enough food helps to improve survival and better health after treatment.Your healthcare team may provide specific diet recommendations based on your health history and treatment plan. Still, these tips offer information about general guidance for diet and CLL.DurationThe diet plan for CLL focuses on short- and long-term goals. For example, diet recommendations that focus on managing the side effects of chemotherapy will last during medical treatment and while side effects last.Other recommendations provide a guideline for a healthy diet to support your health and well-being throughout your life.What to EatHighly processed andsugary foodshave been linked with an increased risk for cancer and other health conditions.The CLL treatment diet suggests a focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods provide large amounts of vitamins and minerals compared to the number of calories.Processed and sugary foods are often considered calorie-dense because they often provide fewer vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber while providing many calories.Research suggests antioxidants may help lower inflammation, protect cells from damage, and lower cancer risk.Some people promote following aMediterranean dietduring cancer treatment. The Mediterranean diet recommends meals rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins like fish. Research suggests the diet may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.Recommended FoodsWhole grainsFresh fruits and vegetablesFatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)Lean poultryOlive oilBeans, legumes, and lentilsEggs (cooked until yolk is hard)Foods to LimitRefined white flourSugary foods and beveragesProcessed foods and fast foodCookies, pies, cakes, and other baked goodsButterSoda and sweetened drinksCandyFruits and vegetables:Non-starchy vegetables and fruit, like broccoli, spinach, asparagus, bell peppers, apples, berries, and oranges, are nutritious and rich in fiber.Grains:When choosing grain products, look for whole-grain foods. Processed grains have most of the vitamins and minerals stripped away. In addition, these foods usually contain more calories and sugar that are more likely to spike blood sugar. Focus on whole grain wheat products, oats, quinoa, and other unprocessed grains.Protein:Try to choose leaner protein foods like poultry, fatty fish, eggs, and leaner cuts of red meat. Protein supports the growth of muscle and other body functions, helping to keep you healthy during cancer treatment. In addition, try to eat plant-based protein foods like beans, legumes, and nuts.Desserts and processed foods:Sugary foods are associated with many chronic diseases and illnesses like cancer. Try to limit the number of times you eat dessert and processed foods.Beverages:Aim for unsweetened drinks, like water, unsweetened tea, and coffee. Try to limit alcohol consumption, juice, soda, and other sweetened drinks.Recommended TimingConsuming regular meals and snacks may help maintain your weight during cancer treatment and support a healthy diet. When undergoing cancer treatment, side effects like nausea, vomiting, and weight loss are common. Eating multiple small meals throughout the day may help manage these symptoms and promote weight maintenance.Cooking TipsDuring CLL treatment, your immune system is weaker than usual. Storing, washing, and cooking your food properly is essential for preventing food-borne illnesses.Handwashingbefore and after handling food or eating is one of the most important elements of food safety. Other tips include:Wash your produce thoroughly before eating, including “pre-washed” bagged salad greens.Always cook eggs until the yolks are hard.Use a meat thermometer to cook meats to a safe temperature.Keep all cooking surfaces clean.Use separate cooking boards, knives, and utensils for preparing meats and preparing produce.Food Safety When You Are Treated for CancerConsiderationsWhen you’re going through cancer treatment, you may need to modify your diet from the side effects of treatment. Common side effects of CLL treatment include:Nausea and vomitingConstipation and diarrheaMouth sores and drynessLoss of appetiteTrouble chewing or swallowingChanges in sense of smell and tasteIf you’re experiencing these side effects, talk with your healthcare team for tips to help manage these symptoms. Common recommendations to relieve side effects include:Eat soft foods.Use plastic or wood utensils if experiencing a metallic taste.Choose high-calorie and high-protein foods.Try different food temperatures, hot or cold.Try different flavors—herbs, spices, or bland foods.Your healthcare team may alsorecommend avoiding foodsthat are known to be risky for food-borne illness, including raw meat or seafood, raw sprouts, unpasteurized dairy products or juices, and soft or aged cheeses.SummaryWhen you are being treated for CLL, follow a healthy diet that includes nutrient-dense foods and avoid processed or sugary foods. The Mediterranean diet is one eating pattern that may benefit people with cancer.You also need to pay close attention to food safety guidelines as you will be more prone to infection while under treatment. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to address the side effects of chemotherapy or other treatments.A Word From VerywellTreating illnesses like cancer can feel overwhelming. It’s common to want to do everything possible to help yourself feel better and recover as quickly as possible from CLL. While diet alone can’t treat CLL, it can help support your health during treatment.If you have any questions about your diet, be sure to talk with your healthcare team and a dietitian about the best nutrition plan for your needs.Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Your diet helps support your health, especially when you’re living with an illness. There isn’t one specific diet recommended forchronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL). Still, the foods you eat may help to support your treatment and overall well-being.

This article will discuss the benefits of a nutritious diet for CLL, including what foods are recommended, which to limit, the importance of food safety, and coping with the effects of treatment.

Verywell / Jessica Olah

Best Foods for People with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - Illustration by Jessica Olah

Many factors influence the development of illnesses likecancer. While cancer can never be fully prevented, research suggests nutrition may play a role. A 2021 study found an association between regularly eating highly processed foods and the odds of developing CLL.

The goal of nutrition during CLL treatment is to help:

Focusing on a healthy diet may help support your health during cancer treatment and recovery. There is no specific diet plan recommended forCLL treatment. Instead, most recommendations focus on supporting your overall health with nutritious foods.

Most important during cancer treatment is to focus on eating enough food to prevent unintentional weight loss and malnutrition. Research suggests poor nutrition during cancer recovery increases the risk for negative outcomes.Preventing malnutrition and eating enough food helps to improve survival and better health after treatment.

Your healthcare team may provide specific diet recommendations based on your health history and treatment plan. Still, these tips offer information about general guidance for diet and CLL.

Duration

The diet plan for CLL focuses on short- and long-term goals. For example, diet recommendations that focus on managing the side effects of chemotherapy will last during medical treatment and while side effects last.

Other recommendations provide a guideline for a healthy diet to support your health and well-being throughout your life.

What to Eat

Highly processed andsugary foodshave been linked with an increased risk for cancer and other health conditions.The CLL treatment diet suggests a focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods provide large amounts of vitamins and minerals compared to the number of calories.

Processed and sugary foods are often considered calorie-dense because they often provide fewer vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber while providing many calories.

Research suggests antioxidants may help lower inflammation, protect cells from damage, and lower cancer risk.

Some people promote following aMediterranean dietduring cancer treatment. The Mediterranean diet recommends meals rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins like fish. Research suggests the diet may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Recommended FoodsWhole grainsFresh fruits and vegetablesFatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)Lean poultryOlive oilBeans, legumes, and lentilsEggs (cooked until yolk is hard)Foods to LimitRefined white flourSugary foods and beveragesProcessed foods and fast foodCookies, pies, cakes, and other baked goodsButterSoda and sweetened drinksCandy

Recommended FoodsWhole grainsFresh fruits and vegetablesFatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)Lean poultryOlive oilBeans, legumes, and lentilsEggs (cooked until yolk is hard)

Whole grains

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel)

Lean poultry

Olive oil

Beans, legumes, and lentils

Eggs (cooked until yolk is hard)

Foods to LimitRefined white flourSugary foods and beveragesProcessed foods and fast foodCookies, pies, cakes, and other baked goodsButterSoda and sweetened drinksCandy

Refined white flour

Sugary foods and beverages

Processed foods and fast food

Cookies, pies, cakes, and other baked goods

Butter

Soda and sweetened drinks

Candy

Fruits and vegetables:Non-starchy vegetables and fruit, like broccoli, spinach, asparagus, bell peppers, apples, berries, and oranges, are nutritious and rich in fiber.

Grains:When choosing grain products, look for whole-grain foods. Processed grains have most of the vitamins and minerals stripped away. In addition, these foods usually contain more calories and sugar that are more likely to spike blood sugar. Focus on whole grain wheat products, oats, quinoa, and other unprocessed grains.

Protein:Try to choose leaner protein foods like poultry, fatty fish, eggs, and leaner cuts of red meat. Protein supports the growth of muscle and other body functions, helping to keep you healthy during cancer treatment. In addition, try to eat plant-based protein foods like beans, legumes, and nuts.

Desserts and processed foods:Sugary foods are associated with many chronic diseases and illnesses like cancer. Try to limit the number of times you eat dessert and processed foods.

Beverages:Aim for unsweetened drinks, like water, unsweetened tea, and coffee. Try to limit alcohol consumption, juice, soda, and other sweetened drinks.

Consuming regular meals and snacks may help maintain your weight during cancer treatment and support a healthy diet. When undergoing cancer treatment, side effects like nausea, vomiting, and weight loss are common. Eating multiple small meals throughout the day may help manage these symptoms and promote weight maintenance.

Cooking Tips

During CLL treatment, your immune system is weaker than usual. Storing, washing, and cooking your food properly is essential for preventing food-borne illnesses.Handwashingbefore and after handling food or eating is one of the most important elements of food safety. Other tips include:

Food Safety When You Are Treated for Cancer

When you’re going through cancer treatment, you may need to modify your diet from the side effects of treatment. Common side effects of CLL treatment include:

If you’re experiencing these side effects, talk with your healthcare team for tips to help manage these symptoms. Common recommendations to relieve side effects include:

Your healthcare team may alsorecommend avoiding foodsthat are known to be risky for food-borne illness, including raw meat or seafood, raw sprouts, unpasteurized dairy products or juices, and soft or aged cheeses.

Summary

When you are being treated for CLL, follow a healthy diet that includes nutrient-dense foods and avoid processed or sugary foods. The Mediterranean diet is one eating pattern that may benefit people with cancer.

You also need to pay close attention to food safety guidelines as you will be more prone to infection while under treatment. Talk to your healthcare team about ways to address the side effects of chemotherapy or other treatments.

A Word From Verywell

Treating illnesses like cancer can feel overwhelming. It’s common to want to do everything possible to help yourself feel better and recover as quickly as possible from CLL. While diet alone can’t treat CLL, it can help support your health during treatment.

If you have any questions about your diet, be sure to talk with your healthcare team and a dietitian about the best nutrition plan for your needs.

Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Solans M, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, et al.Consumption of ultra-processed food and drinks and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the mcc-spain study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5457. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105457Barr RD, Gomez-Almaguer D, Jaime-Perez JC, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ.Importance of nutrition in the treatment of leukemia in children and adolescents.Arch Med Res. 2016;47(8):585-592. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2016.11.013Debras C, Chazelas E, Srour B, et al.Total and added sugar intakes, sugar types, and cancer risk: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(5):1267-1279. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa246Menon S, Lu C, Menon R, Schwartz J, Guan Y.Effects of antioxidants in human cancers: differential effects on non-coding intronic rna expression.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;5(1):1. doi:10.3390/antiox5010001Mentella MC, Scaldaferri F, Ricci C, Gasbarrini A, Miggiano GAD.Cancer and Mediterranean diet: a review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2059. doi:10.3390/nu11092059Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Solans M, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, et al.Consumption of ultra-processed food and drinks and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the mcc-spain study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5457. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105457Barr RD, Gomez-Almaguer D, Jaime-Perez JC, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ.Importance of nutrition in the treatment of leukemia in children and adolescents.Arch Med Res. 2016;47(8):585-592. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2016.11.013Debras C, Chazelas E, Srour B, et al.Total and added sugar intakes, sugar types, and cancer risk: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(5):1267-1279. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa246Menon S, Lu C, Menon R, Schwartz J, Guan Y.Effects of antioxidants in human cancers: differential effects on non-coding intronic rna expression.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;5(1):1. doi:10.3390/antiox5010001Mentella MC, Scaldaferri F, Ricci C, Gasbarrini A, Miggiano GAD.Cancer and Mediterranean diet: a review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2059. doi:10.3390/nu11092059Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Solans M, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, et al.Consumption of ultra-processed food and drinks and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the mcc-spain study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5457. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105457Barr RD, Gomez-Almaguer D, Jaime-Perez JC, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ.Importance of nutrition in the treatment of leukemia in children and adolescents.Arch Med Res. 2016;47(8):585-592. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2016.11.013Debras C, Chazelas E, Srour B, et al.Total and added sugar intakes, sugar types, and cancer risk: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(5):1267-1279. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa246Menon S, Lu C, Menon R, Schwartz J, Guan Y.Effects of antioxidants in human cancers: differential effects on non-coding intronic rna expression.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;5(1):1. doi:10.3390/antiox5010001Mentella MC, Scaldaferri F, Ricci C, Gasbarrini A, Miggiano GAD.Cancer and Mediterranean diet: a review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2059. doi:10.3390/nu11092059Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.

Solans M, Fernández-Barrés S, Romaguera D, et al.Consumption of ultra-processed food and drinks and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the mcc-spain study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(10):5457. doi:10.3390/ijerph18105457

Barr RD, Gomez-Almaguer D, Jaime-Perez JC, Ruiz-Argüelles GJ.Importance of nutrition in the treatment of leukemia in children and adolescents.Arch Med Res. 2016;47(8):585-592. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2016.11.013

Debras C, Chazelas E, Srour B, et al.Total and added sugar intakes, sugar types, and cancer risk: results from the prospective NutriNet-Santé cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020;112(5):1267-1279. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa246

Menon S, Lu C, Menon R, Schwartz J, Guan Y.Effects of antioxidants in human cancers: differential effects on non-coding intronic rna expression.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;5(1):1. doi:10.3390/antiox5010001

Mentella MC, Scaldaferri F, Ricci C, Gasbarrini A, Miggiano GAD.Cancer and Mediterranean diet: a review.Nutrients. 2019;11(9):2059. doi:10.3390/nu11092059

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients.

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