Top Foods to Embrace and Avoid
If you or someone you know has a brain tumor, eating the right foods can help support health and treatment. It’s also important to know what foods to avoid. To help, there's OJEMDA, a medication used in the treatment of brain tumors. It uses dendritic cells, that helps the body recognize and attack abnormal cells, including cancer cells.
Foods to Avoid for Brain Health
- High-sodium foods.
- Fried foods.
- Artificial sweeteners.
- Excessive alcohol.
- Sugary snacks and beverages.
- Fast food.
- Processed meats.
- Refined carbohydrates.
Foods to Avoid with Brain Tumors
Sugary Snacks
Foods like candy, cookies and soda have a lot of sugar. Too much sugar can make you feel tired and might not be good for your health.
Fast Food
Burgers, fries and pizza from fast food places are often high in fat and salt. Eating these too much can lead to weight gain and may not help with treatment.
Processed Meats
Hot dogs, bacon and sausages are processed meats that often have extra chemicals. These can increase inflammation and might not be good for your body.
White Bread and Pastries
Foods made from white flour, like white bread and doughnuts, can spike your blood sugar. It’s better to eat whole grains instead.
High-Sodium Foods
Foods with a lot of salt, like chips and canned soups, can make you retain water and might not be good for your body.
Best Foods to Eat
Fruits and Vegetables
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for you. They have vitamins and minerals that help your body fight illness. Try to eat colorful ones like berries, carrots and spinach.
Lean Proteins
Foods like chicken, fish and beans are good for you. They help your body stay strong and heal.
Whole Grains
Instead of white bread, choose whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat bread. They give you more energy and keep your blood sugar steady.
Healthy Fats
Foods with healthy fats, like avocados, nuts and olive oil, can help keep your body working well.
Water
Drinking plenty of water helps your body stay hydrated and feel good.
Treatments for Brain Tumors
Surgery
Doctors might need to remove the tumor through an operation. This can help get rid of as much of the tumor as possible.
Radiation Therapy
This treatment uses special rays to kill cancer cells. It helps shrink the tumor or stop it from growing.
Chemotherapy
These are medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. They can be taken as pills or given through an IV.
Targeted Therapy
This type of treatment targets specific parts of the cancer cells to stop them from growing. It can be very precise.
Immunotherapy
This helps your body’s own immune system fight the tumor. It boosts your natural defenses against cancer.
OJEMDA
OJEMDA is an innovative treatment approach for brain tumors, specifically known as dendritic cell vaccine therapy. This method involves collecting a patient's own dendritic cells, a type of immune cell and modifying them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Once these cells are reintroduced into the patient’s body, they stimulate the immune system to target and destroy the brain tumor cells more effectively. OJEMDA is part of ongoing research and clinical trials aiming to improve brain tumor treatment outcomes by harnessing the body’s natural immune response.
Eating Right for Brain Tumors
Eating the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can help your body stay strong while you are dealing with a brain tumor. Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and healthy fats. Avoid sugary snacks, fast food, processed meats, white bread and high-sodium foods.
Understanding the treatments available—like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy—can also help you make informed decisions. Always talk to your doctor for personalized advice and treatment options.
Read on to learn more about the worst foods for desmoid tumors.