Best Diet for People With Ovarian Cancer: What Are the Healthiest Foods and Supplements?

The foods and supplements you should try to incorporate into your diet will depend on where you are in your treatment journey for ovarian cancer, says Anna Taylor, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition. “For example, people have different nutritional needs while actively undergoing treatment or recovering from surgery or a complication than they would after treatment,” says Taylor.

Keep reading to find experts’ recommendations on foods and supplements for optimal health and healing during and after ovarian cancer treatment.

Treatments for ovarian cancer, including surgery and chemotherapy, can affect your body’s needs for specific nutrients, according to Amanda Nickles Fader, MD, vice chair of gynecologic surgical operations at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. “These treatments may also impact a woman’s eating habits and how the body digests and absorbs food,” she says.

There are four main goals for nutrition during ovarian cancer treatment, according to Dr. Fader.

• Ensure that personal nutrient needs and calorie goals are met.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid losing muscle.

“The body requires more calories and certain nutrients, such as protein, during and after treatment in order to fight and heal,” says Taylor. “Staying hydrated and eating enough calories, protein, and other nutrients during this time helps maintain muscle stores, prevent treatment delays, boost the immune system, and minimize side effects of treatment.”

Sometimes it’s hard to eat enough calories and protein after treatment, because you may feel full due to bloating or constipation, she says. Small, frequent meals can help in this situation. Try to include some protein with each meal, and snack whenever possible to help meet your total protein needs, Taylor suggests.

A balanced diet full of whole, nutrient-rich foods is the best way to get the nutrition you need, says Fader. “Some supplements can be useful if you have a specific deficiency, but most studies have found that the risks of high-dose supplements usually outweigh the benefits,” she says. If you are considering taking any supplements or vitamins, consult your healthcare provider first, she says.

“Avoid taking vitamins at more than 100 percent of the daily allowance (daily value) — unless you have a nutrient or vitamin deficiency and have been directed to take more by your healthcare provider,” says Fader.

Taylor recommends the following foods for each of the six groups:

• Fruits: Mostly fresh and frozen
• Vegetables: Mostly fresh and frozen
• Proteins: Eggs and egg whites; fish, shellfish, and skinless poultry; lean red meat in moderation; legumes (such as beans, lentils, peas, and soy); nuts and seeds (if tolerated); nut butters
• Dairy and dairy alternatives: Cottage cheese; Greek yogurt; milk or milk alternatives and cheese in moderation (many dairy foods are good sources of protein)
• Healthy fats: Avocado, nut butter, nuts and seeds (if tolerated); olive oil
• Starches: Whole grains (if tolerated), such as barley, brown or wild rice, oatmeal, quinoa, whole-grain bread, and whole-wheat pasta; starchy vegetables, including peas, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash

It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids, mostly in the form of water, says Taylor. “I recommend at least 64 ounces a day,” she says.

Keep in mind that if you experience certain side effects, the recommendations may be different, says Taylor. “For example, if someone is having diarrhea or has an increased risk for bowel obstruction, then high-fiber foods would not be typically recommended.”

“Women undergoing ovarian cancer treatment may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating or early satiety, which is feeling full after eating relatively small quantities of food,” says Fader. “All of these digestive issues can affect a woman’s nutritional status and also her desire to eat,” she says.

Unfortunately, these issues are relatively common during and after treatment for ovarian cancer, says Taylor. But there are ways to help minimize these symptoms, which can include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and an increased risk of bowel obstructions, Taylor says.

Bloating and Gas

• Try eating small, frequent meals to avoid large portions.
• If you’re lactose intolerant, avoid high-lactose foods, such as cow’s milk and ice cream.
• Avoid straws, carbonated beverages (such as soda or beer), and chewing with your mouth open, all of which can cause you to swallow air and contribute to bloating.
• Avoid fatty, greasy meals, which are digested slowly and can lead to bloating.
• Certain healthy foods are gas forming, including beans and cruciferous veggies, including bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. “This is because they contain sulfur and raffinose, a carbohydrate that is difficult for the body to break down,” says Taylor. If you’re feeling bloated, you may want to limit these foods or try cooking them thoroughly, which will help break down those compounds.

Constipation

• Drink at least 80 ounces of fluids each day.
• Stay active with low-intensity exercise, such as a daily 20- to 30-minute walk, to improve digestive motility.
• If you aren’t at risk for a small bowel obstruction, eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Aim for at least 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day.
• Ask your healthcare team if fiber supplements, osmotic or stimulant laxatives, or stool softeners would be a good option for you.

Diarrhea

• Drink plenty of caffeine-free, low-sugar fluids throughout the day. Drink at least one cup after each loose bowel movement. Avoid sugary drinks (even juice) and caffeine, as these can make diarrhea worse.
• Limit insoluble fiber, such as the skins and peels of produce, and other roughage, and increase soluble fiber sources, including applesauce, bananas, oatmeal, potatoes without the skin, and rice.
• Avoid fatty, greasy foods and limit sweets.

Examples of foods to avoid if you are at risk for developing a small bowel obstruction include:

• Fruits: Fresh or dried fruit (except bananas) and fruit skins; canned pineapple or fruit cocktail; coconut
• Grains: Any grain with seeds or whole spices; bran; coarse whole grains; popcorn
• Proteins: Chunky peanut butter; meat with casings; nuts
• Vegetables: Raw vegetables; cooked beans, peas, or other legumes; cooked cabbage, corn, mushrooms, and potato skins; stewed tomatoes
  

If you don’t have a history of bowel obstruction and you’re not at risk of one, there is no reason to avoid these foods, says Taylor.

Some foods can help fuel you while you’re actively going through treatment or surgeries for ovarian cancer, says Taylor.

• Bananas contain carbohydrates, soluble fiber, and vitamins to give your body fuel. “They’re a great addition to smoothies or cereal,” says Taylor.
• Cottage cheese is rich in protein, soft, and easy to eat. “It’s also fiber free and a good choice for people at risk for bowel obstruction,” she says.
• Creamy peanut butter is a healthy fat that also contains protein and is easy to mix into oatmeal or smoothies or spread on apples or toast.
• Eggs are a protein-rich, easy-to-digest breakfast food, snack, or stir-fry ingredient.
• Greek yogurt is a form of protein that’s rich, soft, moist, easy to eat, and fiber free. “It’s a nice choice for people at risk for bowel obstruction,” says Taylor.
• Rice is great as a side dish or in soups or stir-fries. It’s easy on the stomach and digestive tract and a good source of calories and carbohydrates during treatment.

It’s important to know which foods you should avoid when undergoing specific chemotherapy regimens, says Fader.

A few foods to avoid:

• Grapefruit and Seville oranges: “In some women, these fruits can interact with certain medications,” says Fader.
• Raw or undercooked meat or seafood: “Chemotherapy can impact a woman’s immune system and ability to fight off infection. So raw or undercooked seafood or meat, which can harbor bacteria, should not be consumed, because foodborne infections can be harder to fight off with a compromised immune system,” says Fader. Developing infections during surgery or chemotherapy may result in delays in cancer treatment, she adds.

There’s evidence that excess body weight can increase the risk for many types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. So maintaining a healthy body weight is important, says Taylor.

“We recommend not just eating a healthful, balanced diet but also choosing portions to support a healthy weight. A good rule of thumb is to aim for half a plate of produce at each meal, with a daily goal of at least five handfuls of fruits and vegetables per day,” says Taylor.

• Whether you’re dealing with the side effects of ovarian cancer treatment or focused on planning a healthy diet posttreatment, good nutrition can be a key factor in managing ovarian cancer.
• Depending on where you are in ovarian cancer treatment, you may benefit from adding, limiting, or avoiding certain foods.
• Eating a healthy diet and adjusting it to meet your needs at various stages of treatment can help you maintain your overall health and well-being and reduce your risk of ovarian cancer recurrence and other cancers.