Multiple myeloma is a condition wherein the plasma cells, which are part of the immune system, are affected by cancer. When undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, especially chemotherapy, the most common side effect is a loss of appetite, resulting in you skipping your meals. The reactions of the medication, as well as your mental health, can cause you to experience this side effect. It is at these points that you need to have a solid diet plan in place so that your body has the energy as well as to prevent any other form of side effects from impacting your kidneys or causing anemia.

This article mentions a few diet tips that can help you treat multiple myeloma naturally:

1. Consume sufficient iron-rich foods
During multiple myeloma, you would easily be susceptible to anemia, and therefore you need to ensure that your red blood cell count is not compromised too much. If the red blood cells are affected, it can result in fatigue, weakness, and a feeling of coldness. This is a direct result of your iron content in the blood getting depleted.

The immediate course of action is to add in natural forms of iron through foods such as lean red meat, raisins, bell peppers, kale, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and any form of tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, guava, and papaya.

2. Make sure your diet is kidney-friendly
When you are trying to get a diet in place to manage multiple myeloma symptoms, you need to ensure that your food has extra protein and calcium elements that will drive your body’s functions naturally. The kidney is one of the most commonly affected organs during multiple myeloma since the bone deterioration results in calcium mixing in the blood, which is why your kidneys have to struggle with the filtering process.

3. Foods to limit

While adding rich foods, you also need to consciously cut down excess salt and alcohol, and make sure even protein and potassium are consumed in moderation. There will be a natural restriction on the amount of water or fluids you can consume as the kidneys can be severely damaged otherwise. Based on the body’s natural calcium levels, you also need to ensure that you add only the required amount of calcium to avoid concentration of calcium amounts in the blood.

4. Eat for overall health and wellness

Apart from these two solid diet strategies as part of your multiple myeloma treatment, you also need to ensure that you avoid foods that increase your chances of infection, make sure you have sufficient amounts of fiber, and add natural spices that are great ingredients for your body’s overall health. You cannot just add random ingredients as part of your diet strategy and need the help of your doctor. Make sure to note how different foods work for you because making excessive changes to your diet can end up aggravating your symptoms or side effects.