Quoted from Verywell, as
many as 50 percent of cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy complain of
metal taste in the mouth, bitter, or even too sweet when eating. As a result,
they tend to lose their appetite. In fact, eating will actually help the body recover
faster after chemotherapy.
Calm down first.
Here are some ways to restore decreased appetite due to chemotherapy.
Calm down first.
Here are some ways to restore decreased appetite due to chemotherapy.
How to cope with decreased appetite after chemotherapy
Although effective at
killing cancer cells, the effects of chemotherapy can also damage the cells of
the tongue that detect sweet, salty, sour, and bitter taste. As a result, food
that enters the mouth will feel tasteless and make patients lazy to eat.
That's why decreased
appetite problems are often complained of by chemotherapy patients.
1. Keep your teeth and mouth clean
The effect of
chemotherapy can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the mouth and irritate the
taste cells on the tongue. To overcome this, keep your teeth and mouth clean by
diligently brushing your teeth twice a day, namely morning and before bed.
Not only does it prevent
tooth and mouth infections, it can also help restore sensitivity to the tongue.
The taste of food is no longer tasteless and you can start enjoying the food
served.
2. Chew sugar-free gum
If the tongue feels metal
or bitter after chemotherapy, try to overcome it by chewing sugar-free gum. You
can also sip a cup of tea, ginger water or a sports drink to help eliminate the
bitter sensation in the mouth.
3. Eat a little but often
If you can't afford to
spend one portion of whole food directly, why don't you try to eat little by
little but often?
Give pause every 2 to 3
hours to eat small portions, so that your nutritional needs are maintained.
Also balance eating healthy snacks such as fruit or yogurt as a complement.
And most importantly,
always meet your body fluid needs by drinking at least eight glasses of water
per day. Dehydration can make your tongue feel dry and increasingly bitter.
4. Add spices to the food
Don't hesitate to add
spices to foods such as garlic, ginger, cinnamon, lemon, mint, and so on. In
addition to enhancing the taste of food, these foods can also stimulate the
sensitivity of the tongue of cancer patients when eating.
You can also use various
types of sauces such as mayonnaise sauce, teriyaki sauce, or barbecue sauce
(BBQ) into your favorite foods. This can help improve the taste of food while
restoring appetite.
5. Consult a doctor
Your body still needs nutrition,
especially if you are undergoing a number of cancer treatments. If you still
experience a decrease in appetite that does not improve, immediately consult a
doctor.
Your doctor may provide vitamin or mineral supplements to help meet your daily nutritional needs.
Your doctor may provide vitamin or mineral supplements to help meet your daily nutritional needs.
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