As comforting as they may be, sweet treats and too much added sugar can get in the way of meeting your nutrition needs during ovarian cancer treatment. If you’re already dealing with poor appetite, these foods can make you feel full without providing much protein and other nutrients, says Erin Holley, RD, an outpatient clinical dietitian at Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus. They can also worsen diarrhea.
“Instead, try reaching for water, sparkling water, or low-calorie sodas and juices, or flavor water naturally with fresh fruit,” Holley says. Make sure to follow safe food handling practices if you’re preparing your own flavored water.
Still, if you’re losing weight or struggling to eat, a sweetened smoothie, milkshake, or oral nutrition supplement can provide needed calories when you’re unable to tolerate much else, says Tierney. In that situation, maintaining your weight and strength is a higher priority than limiting added sugar. And when possible, choose an option that also provides protein.
Once you’ve completed ovarian cancer treatment, it’s still important to limit sugar-sweetened beverages and heavily sweetened foods to help with weight management, blood sugar control, and long-term heart health, Tierney says.
When checking food labels, look for “added sugars” rather than “total sugars” on the nutrition facts panel. Total sugars include naturally occurring sugar from fruit and dairy, while added sugars reflect what’s been mixed in separately. As a general guide, 5 percent of the daily value or less per serving is considered a low source of added sugars, while 20 percent or more is considered high.
