For those with cancer or impaired immune systems, there is a diet called the neutropenic diet (pronounce it nu-tro-PEE-nik). Due to weakened immune systems, certain foods and drinks can contain germs and other toxins that can cause serious physical harm. This diet helps protect individuals from these contaminants. Cooking and thoroughly washing food are fundamental tenets of this cuisine. Examples of cooked foods include meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. One can be certain that all the bacteria are eliminated in this manner. We have discussed this diet, its pros, drawbacks, and restrictions in this post, along with other helpful advice. Hold on to us.
What is a neutropenic diet?
The “low microbial load” diet is another term for the neutropenic diet. An eating regimen for those with a weakened immune system is called the neutropenic diet. In this diet, meals are chosen and prepared in a way that lowers the chance of contracting food-borne illnesses.
For patients with weaker immune systems who want to reduce their exposure to hazardous bacteria and germs, doctors may advise a neutropenic diet. In order to lower the number of microorganisms in food, many people adhere to a neutropenic diet.
A doctor may suggest the nootropic diet depending on a patient’s unique health needs and goals, even though more study is still required to support it and few researchers support it. Because they are more susceptible to bacterial infections, patients with cancer are actually advised to follow this diet.
It is also advised for patients with weakened immune systems, particularly those with neutropenia, a condition in which the body produces insufficient neutrophils. Blood cells called neutrophils aid in the body’s defense against infection.
The immune system will be compromised, the body will be less able to protect itself against germs, viruses, and infections, and the likelihood of the following disorders will rise when the amount of these cells in the blood is below the limit:
- Fever
- Pneumonia
- Sinus infections
- Sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
Who benefits from the nootropic diet?
A neutropenic diet entails dietary adjustments to prevent dangerous bacteria present in foods and beverages from entering the bodies of sick patients. This treatment plan is specifically prescribed for neutropenic patients, who are also urged to abide by FDA food safety regulations.
Additionally, a neutropenic diet can benefit those with cancer and weakened immune systems. Although several institutions have already incorporated this regimen into their medical treatment regimens, more studies are required to demonstrate its efficacy.
It is advised that people never start this diet on their own initiative without first talking to a doctor. Before and after specific chemotherapy treatments and other cancer therapies, doctors frequently suggest this diet.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC), a blood test, can be used to assess a patient’s need for a neutropenic diet and the body’s capacity to fight infection. Several cancer patients often undergo this blood test.
Often, the patient is told to adopt a neutropenic diet when the ANC is fewer than 500 cells/mm3. The patient should stick to this diet until the doctor instructs him to start eating normally again.
This regimen is frequently followed by patients receiving autologous stem cell transplants during chemotherapy before the transplant and for three months or more after the transplant.
Additionally, this regimen is generally followed by patients undergoing pre-transplant chemotherapy for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. This regimen should be followed by these individuals until they are no longer taking immunosuppressive medications.
The patient will be advised by the transplant team for how long to adhere to this diet. This diet may also be required for those who have had organ transplantation or are receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS.
What benefits does the neutropenic diet offer cancer patients?
A neutropenic diet can assist someone with a compromised immune system in avoiding infections brought on by potential food contamination. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation can also weaken the immune system, necessitating corrective measures, of which the natural kind will undoubtedly be more beneficial.
As previously indicated, following food safety regulations and avoiding meals like prepared cold sandwiches or packaged foods that are highly contaminated are among the core principles of this diet. Following a stem cell transplant, most doctors advise a 100-day fast from eating anything made in a kitchen or restaurant.
Neutropenic diet and dietary restrictions
The neutropenic diet has restrictions that include maintaining personal hygiene, avoiding crowds, and avoiding items that might be contaminated. Any indication of infection in cancer patients needs to be addressed seriously.
Which foods are suitable for this diet?
The following foods are acceptable for those following the nootropic diet:
- Dairy products that have been pasteurized, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cream, buttermilk, and sour cream
- All breads, completely cooked pasta, chips, French toast, pancakes, cereals, sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peas, whole grains, and French fries are examples of starchy foods.
- veggies, such as any kind of vegetable that is frozen or completely cooked.
- Fruits, such as bananas, oranges, and grapefruit, that have been sterilized and peeled, as well as every fruit that has been cooked in compote or pasteurized juice,
- Hard-boiled eggs and completely cooked or canned meats (steaks, roasts, and roasts are not acceptable) are examples of protein.
- Beverages include carbonated soft drinks, tea, cold boiling tap water, pasteurized mineral water, as well as tea and instant or made coffee.
What foods are prohibited from this diet?
The following foods should be avoided when following a nootropic diet:
- dairy products without pasteurization
- probiotic yogurt made with living or active cultures
- Soft cheeses, such as feta and cheddar
- Blue and Gorgonzola cheese that has been molded
- stale cheese
- veggie raw
- Carbohydrates that are raw or uncooked include raw pasta, raw oats, raw grains, and bread with raw nuts.
- Salads, uncooked herbs and spices, raw veggies
- newly made sauerkraut
- unwashed, raw fruits
- fresh juices
- dried goods
- Raw proteins include hard-boiled eggs with yolks, cold meats, sushi, deli sandwiches, and raw or undercooked beef.
- Old-fashioned tea
- Lemonade made at home
- fresh nuts
Important details
- Hands must be washed before eating.
- Washing all surfaces, chopping boards, and kitchenware repeatedly and thoroughly is recommended.
- You must keep cold goods in the fridge.
New Research on the Neutropenic Diet
According to current research, there is not enough proof that a nootropic diet, even one with all its restrictions, may prevent illness. Additionally, the American Oncology Nursing Association, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the most recent chemotherapy recommendations all advise against a neutropenic diet.
Infection rates were compared across two preventative diets in a 2006 study. 19 chemotherapy patients were split into two groups: one group was put on a neutropenic diet, and the other group kept eating according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorized food safety recommendations.(1)
There was no statistically significant difference between the two experimental groups, making the study’s findings unclear. A similar finding was found by a systematic study in 2019.(2)
A neutropenic diet for cancer patients was not supported by any evidence, according to the authors of this meta-analysis. Additionally, no guidelines on how to apply this regimen were supplied.
Therefore, it would appear that additional research on its efficacy is required before this diet is suggested as a beneficial treatment option.
advantages of the neutropenic diet
A neutropenic diet can help people with compromised immune systems, especially those with various cancers, avoid food-borne infections. However, today’s majority of researchers think it is unnecessary to debate and share viewpoints on the use of a neutropenic diet for cancer patients because its efficacy has never been demonstrated through research.
Neutropenic diets are still utilized in many hospitals despite being questionable in terms of their value. The adoption of a near-intensive neutropenic regimen or other dietary restrictions in neutropenic patients undergoing chemotherapy was originally believed to be crucial in preventing patients from contracting a neutropenic infection during treatment; however, there is presently no evidence to support these claims.
Cancer does not exist. The World Food and Drug Organization’s safe food and nutrition recommendations should be followed by patients and doctors.
Negative effects of a neutropenic diet
Despite the possibility of dangerous microorganisms in food, current studies have been unable to detect any appreciable differences between the placebo and intervention groups.
Patients with neutropenia experience poor cellular immunity due to vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, gastrointestinal side effects, food aversions, and reduced quality of life.
The following are some of the neutropenic diet’s unanswered questions:
- A) What foods should the patient’s diet plan include?
- B) Which methods of food preparation increase patient compliance?
- C) Which patient group will gain the most from this treatment plan?
- D) When exactly should this diet be started?
For cancer patients, a neutropenic diet is centered on stringent food contamination protection and prevention. This procedure is thought to stop microorganisms from entering the patient’s body and weakening it further.
There are several general recommendations that, when combined with a nootropic diet, will improve food and body control, including thorough hand- and kitchenware-washing.