Malignant melanoma is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the country. Like any other cancer, treatments for melanoma vary in every stage. These treatments include surgical removal of the cancerous tumor from the skin, a heavy dose of medicines and vaccines to control and prevent the spread of cancer, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Therapies and treatments are essential to treat cancer but one thing that helps to keep them effective is a balanced diet.

Diet plays an essential role in increasing the efficacy of the treatments. Certain immune therapies are proved to be effective in shrinking the tumors when the patients consume a high-fiber diet. This diet promotes diversity of gut microbes that increase the efficiency of the therapies. However, probiotic supplements can result in the reduction of diversity of microbes in the gut.

Melanoma patients can make a note of every single food item they consume in a day and analyze the kind of diet they are consuming. Replacing the current diet with high-fiber foods can be highly beneficial in treating the disease.

• High-fiber foods include fruits and vegetables. Therefore adding fruits to the breakfast will give the body a good dose of high-fiber first thing in the morning. Adding berries like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries to your breakfast is good for the gut. At the same time, make sure your breakfast does not include processed and packaged food is essential.
• Always keep fruits and vegetables with you. If you have a craving for a yummy snack, fresh fruits or vegetables will not only satiate your hunger but will also enhance overall health. Fruit salads make for a great alternative for unhealthy snacks.
• Replacing dessert with sweet potatoes, bananas, strawberries or raspberries will add to the advantage. A conscious effort to switch to a high-fiber diet will help the gut fight cancer better.
• Though most people drink fruit juices to consume them, a healthier way to consume fiber through fruits is by eating whole fruits as they contain more fiber than filtered juices.
• Along with the fruits, eating their peel will add to the fiber content. Therefore, eating the peel of fruits like apple and pear upon washing it thoroughly is advised.
• Instead of fruit juices, vegetable juices and soups. Vegetable juices are always a healthier option and provide the body with required fiber. Broccoli soups or bottle-gourd juice are some of the healthiest options to consume.
• Legumes like kidney beans, peas, or lentils are also essential to include in the diet. Making these foods a regular part of the diet can help provide desired results from the treatments.
• Additionally, nuts are a great source of nutrients. Make sure you add them in your diet. Nuts like almonds, pistachios, walnuts, groundnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds are great for cancer treatments and overall good health. However, it is also important to consume them in limited quantity.
• Whole-grain bread, brown rice, and barley are some healthier options that are rich in fiber and must be included in the diet. Therefore, you can replace white rice and bread with these food items for better health.

While treatments are required to cure melanoma, keeping your gut healthy with a high-fiber diet can be impactful. Patients who consume a high-fiber diet response better to the treatments as compared to the patients who don’t. Hence, make sure you follow a healthy diet that meets all the requirements. Your diet should be prioritized during the treatment as well as post-treatment. You can also consult a dietician for an effective diet plan.