Every bite of food you take fuels your body as it fights endometrial cancer. A key part of staying healthy is eating nutritious snacks and meals and avoiding foods that may do more harm than good. Researchers and doctors recommend sticking with plant-based foods, which are high in vitamins and minerals. You’ll also want to limit inflammatory, processed foods and alcohol when possible.

Keep reading to learn more about how to eat well with advanced endometrial cancer. We’ll cover four foods and drinks to keep in your kitchen and four to leave at the store. For more guidance on healthy eating with cancer, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.

How Does Diet Play a Role in Fighting Endometrial Cancer?

When living with advanced endometrial cancer, it’s vital to take care of your body as it recovers. Healthy eating is a critical step in managing cancer treatment side effects as you heal. You’ll also have more energy from eating nutrient-dense meals. Each person’s specific dietary needs will vary with their particular medical status and overall health.

Your doctor may recommend meeting with a registered dietitian or a nutritionist to draft a healthy eating plan. These members of your care team can also offer suggestions if you’re dealing with the side effects of treatment, like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It’s important to keep a healthy body weight and avoid weight loss.

A healthy diet includes foods that are packed with:

• Macronutrients like minimally processed carbohydrates
• Plant proteins like lentils, beans, and nuts
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals

These nutrients reduce inflammation and support a healthy immune system, both of which are important for fighting advanced endometrial cancer.

Foods To Eat With Endometrial Cancer

While there’s no specific “endometrial cancer diet,” doctors recommend eating healthy and nutritious foods. Some research suggests that following the Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of endometrial cancer. This involves eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats. The Mediterranean diet also limits dairy products and meat.

1. Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are more than just tasty side dishes on your plate. They’re chock-full of phytochemicals (plant-based chemicals) our bodies need. One example is antioxidants — compounds that fight inflammation and free radicals, which damage the DNA in cells, raising the risk of cancer.

Some studies have shown that eating fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of endometrial cancer by 50 percent to 60 percent. By eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods, you can protect your cells. Red, orange, yellow, and dark green fruits and veggies typically have the most nutrients.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends filling at least half of your plate with fruits and veggies at every meal. You’d be surprised by how easy it is to add them. Other suggestions from the ACS include:

• Adding extra veggies like lettuce, tomato, and onions to wraps and sandwiches
• Keeping fresh or dried fruit on hand for a quick and easy snack
• Bulking up your casseroles or stir-fry dishes with extra veggies
• Making a protein smoothie with berries, bananas, and oranges for breakfast
• Sprinkling diced apple or kiwi or a handful of craisins over your favorite salad
• Warming up a can of green beans or carrots for a simple dinner side dish

For an extra nutrient boost, you can also take vitamins. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting new vitamins or supplements. These products can sometimes make your medications less effective.

2. Plant-Based Proteins

Your body needs proteins, especially during advanced endometrial cancer treatment. Proteins fight infections, help you heal, and give you energy. By adding more protein to your diet, you can support your recovery.

When you think of high-protein foods, you likely picture beef or chicken, but researchers recommend plant-based proteins for people living with cancer. In addition to offering essential amino acids, plant-based proteins provide key vitamins and minerals.

Plant-based proteins are easy to add to any meal. Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and beans are popular options. Nuts and seeds can add a protein-packed crunch. Here are a few tips:

• Add a scoop of plant-based protein powder to your favorite breakfast smoothie. If you have kidney problems, be sure to ask your doctor or registered dietitian before using protein powders.
• Mix beans or lentils into a vegetable soup or stew.
• Eat your morning toast with a spread of peanut butter.
• Sprinkle seeds or nuts onto salads, smoothie bowls, custard, or fruit.

3. Whole Grains

When choosing breads and cereals, reach for those with whole grains, which provide more soluble fiber than other processed options. Soluble fiber is great for supporting healthy gut bacteria. It also helps your body make short-chain fatty acids. These compounds aid in cellular repair and regulate your metabolism.

Whole grains also contain insoluble fiber, as do seeds and nuts. Insoluble fiber isn’t digested in your stomach. Instead, it travels to your intestines and helps prevent constipation.

Your body and brain need carbohydrates to function properly. Choosing from these options can help keep you healthy with advanced endometrial cancer:

• Whole grain breads and cereals
• Oats
• Granola
• Cornmeal or cornbread
• Brown rice
• Wheat germ
• Buckwheat

4. Low-Fat Dairy Products

Dairy products such as milk and cheese are an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, but be sure to choose low-fat products. Studies show that eating three or more servings of high-fat dairy per day can raise the risk of endometrial cancer by 40 percent. Researchers think this may be due to the extra fat in butter, milk, yogurt, and cheese.

You should also be careful if you have high levels of calcium in your blood, as this is most commonly due to cancer spreading to the bones. If you are told you have high levels of calcium, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian before making changes to your diet.

Foods To Limit or Avoid With Endometrial Cancer

When living with advanced endometrial cancer, it’s also important to limit certain foods that may be harmful. These include processed foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar. Although you don’t need to completely eliminate these foods, researchers and doctors recommend cutting them significantly.

1. Red Meat

Red meats like beef, pork, and liver are usually high in saturated fats. Some studies have found a connection between the fat and heme iron in red meat and endometrial cancer risk. Another study also noted that diets high in saturated fat raise the risk of endometrial cancer by 60 percent to 80 percent.

When choosing proteins, opt for plant-based options or lean cuts of meat. The National Cancer Institute recommends eating low-fat options such as chicken or fish.

2. Unpasteurized Dairy Products

Pasteurization is the process of killing bacteria in dairy products. People undergoing treatment for advanced endometrial cancer should avoid eating unpasteurized dairy and cheeses. This is because their immune systems may not be strong enough to fight off a foodborne illness from bacteria. It’s also a good idea to limit raw fish and raw or soft-cooked eggs.

3. Sugary or Highly Processed Foods

These days, more and more foods sold in stores are refined and processed. People with advanced endometrial cancer should try to limit processed and sugary foods as much as possible. A study found that people who drink large amounts of sugary beverages are at a 78 percent greater risk of endometrial cancer.

Fried and processed foods can also contain hydrogenated oils. These oils promote inflammation, making it harder to treat and control cancer. Fried, fatty, and sugary foods can also worsen some of the symptoms of cancer treatment. For example, these foods can lead to diarrhea or an upset stomach.

4. Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks are known to raise the risk of many cancers. It’s generally recommended that people with endometrial cancer limit their alcohol consumption. Research shows that drinking 2.5 or more alcoholic drinks per day raises the risk of uterine cancer.

Find Your Team

On MyEndometrialCancerTeam, the social network for people with endometrial cancer and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with those who understand life with endometrial cancer.

Have you been diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer? How have you changed your diet since your diagnosis? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.