People often ask what I eat. Not out of curiosity, exactly — more out of disbelief. There is an assumption that living with cancer requires either extreme restriction or complete surrender. What I’ve learned instead is that structure matters. Predictability matters. Nutrition is not about perfection, but about reducing variables when the body is already under pressure.
I practice intermittent fasting — some call it time-restricted eating — with eating windows ranging from four to eight hours depending on the day and my physical load. Outside of Saturday lunch and social meals on Sunday, my nutrition is deliberate, measured, and consistent. Not rigid for the sake of control, but ordered to support energy, recovery, metabolic stability, and treatment tolerance.
This is not a weight-loss plan. It is a resilience plan.
Macro Balance: Protein First, Always
The backbone of my nutrition is protein. Every day begins with a protein-dense first meal, anchored by a shake that combines whey protein and collagen. Whey provides a complete amino acid profile rich in leucine, which supports muscle protein synthesis and tissue repair — critical during cancer treatment. Collagen contributes glycine and proline, amino acids involved in connective tissue health and gut integrity.
That foundation is reinforced with whole-food protein: eggs at breakfast, a hard-boiled or pickled egg at lunch, and salmon or chicken at dinner. This steady distribution of protein across meals supports lean mass preservation, immune function, and satiety — all without relying on large portions or processed foods.
From a macro perspective, protein intake remains high, fats are intentional, and carbohydrates are functional rather than dominant.
Fat Intake: Strategic, Not Accidental
Fat often gets misunderstood. In this plan, fat is not hidden — it is chosen. Eggs, salmon, almonds, seeds, kefir, and butter all serve specific purposes.
Omega-3 fats from salmon support anti-inflammatory pathways and cardiovascular health. Almonds provide monounsaturated fats along with magnesium and vitamin E. Chia and flax seeds deliver both fat and fiber, contributing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which plays a role in metabolic health. Even butter has a place — providing fat-soluble vitamins and helping vegetables become more bioavailable.
Fat slows digestion, stabilizes blood glucose, and supports hormonal signaling. In the context of intermittent fasting, this matters.
Carbohydrates: Controlled, Fiber-Forward, Purposeful
Carbohydrates in this plan are not refined or incidental. They are selected for fiber content, micronutrients, and glycemic behavior.
Berries, apples, bananas, beans, vegetables, and oat milk provide carbohydrates that replenish glycogen without spiking blood sugar aggressively. Fiber from fruit skins, seeds, legumes, and vegetables supports gut motility and microbiome diversity — both of which matter profoundly during chemotherapy.
Pomegranate juice, while a simple carbohydrate, is included deliberately for its polyphenol content, which has been associated with antioxidant activity and vascular health. Carbs here are not excess energy; they are metabolic tools.
Micronutrient Density: Quietly Doing the Work
The most overlooked aspect of nutrition is micronutrients — vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that do their work quietly.
Spinach contributes folate, iron, and magnesium. Mushrooms provide B vitamins and immune-supportive compounds. Sprouts offer sulforaphane precursors, associated with cellular defense pathways. Kefir delivers probiotics and calcium, supporting gut and bone health. Cinnamon supports insulin sensitivity. Cocoa provides flavonoids that support vascular function.
Nothing here is exotic. Nothing is trendy. The strength of the plan is repetition and density, not novelty.
Digestive and Metabolic Stability
One of the goals of this structure is to reduce digestive stress. Meals are predictable. Ingredients are familiar. The gut is not asked to interpret chaos while the rest of the body is dealing with systemic treatment.
Intermittent fasting creates long periods of metabolic quiet. Meals are then nutrient-dense enough that the body does not need to scramble for compensation. Blood sugar remains stable. Energy fluctuates, but does not crash. When fatigue arrives, it is addressed with rest — not more food, not stimulants.
Why This Matters During Treatment
Cancer treatment introduces uncertainty. Nutrition is one area where uncertainty can be reduced.
This plan supports:
- Lean mass preservation
- Stable blood glucose
- Anti-inflammatory signaling
- Gut integrity
- Cardiovascular support
- Predictable energy availability
It is not about fighting cancer with food. It is about ensuring the body is not fighting itself.
Final Thoughts
This is not a plan designed for social media. It is not optimized for aesthetics or trends. It is optimized for days that include treatment, long walks, naps, and measured forward motion.
Food, in this context, is infrastructure.
And when the body is under strain, infrastructure matters.