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🥗 Nutrition During GBM Treatment

What to eat to support your body and potentially fight the tumor

🎯 Core Principles

1. Reduce Sugar & Refined Carbs

GBM cells are "glucose hungry" — they consume more sugar than normal cells.

Avoid: soda, candy, white bread, pastries
Limit: pasta, rice, potatoes
Especially important on steroids (causes high blood sugar)

2. Increase Healthy Fats

Healthy brain runs on fat. Good fats reduce inflammation.

Olive oil, avocado oil
Avocados
Nuts (walnuts, almonds, macadamia)
Fatty fish (salmon, sardines)
Coconut oil (MCTs)

3. Adequate Protein

Prevents muscle wasting, supports immune function.

Eggs (complete protein)
Fish and seafood
Poultry
Grass-fed meat
Greek yogurt

Target: 1.2-1.5g protein per kg body weight

4. Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Turmeric (with black pepper)
Ginger
Leafy greens (spinach, kale)
Berries (blueberries, strawberries)
Green tea
Fatty fish (omega-3s)

📊 Food Guide

Eat Freely (Green)	Moderate (Yellow)	Avoid (Red)
Leafy greens Broccoli, cauliflower Avocados Olive oil Eggs Fish Nuts & seeds Berries (small amounts) Green tea Herbs & spices	Chicken, turkey Red meat Dairy Legumes Root vegetables Whole grains Fruit (limited)	Sugar & sweets Soda & juice White bread Pasta Processed foods Fried foods Alcohol Excessive red meat

🥑 Ketogenic Option

For those pursuing ketogenic metabolic therapy (see Ketogenic Diet page):

Keto Macros

Fat: 70-80% of calories
Protein: 15-20%
Carbs: 5-10% (20-50g max)

Keto-Friendly Meals:

Salmon with avocado and greens
Eggs cooked in butter with vegetables
Chicken thighs with olive oil dressing
Bone broth with added MCT oil
Keto smoothie (avocado, coconut milk, greens)

🤢 Eating During Nausea

When You Feel Sick

BRAT-ish: Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast (but limit carbs if possible)
Better options: Bone broth, scrambled eggs, avocado
Ginger — tea, candies, capsules
Peppermint tea
Small, frequent meals (every 2-3 hours)
Cold foods (less smell)
Avoid cooking smells

💪 Maintaining Weight

Weight loss is common and can worsen outcomes. If struggling:

Calorie-dense foods: nuts, nut butters, avocado, olive oil
Smoothies: add coconut cream, MCT oil, protein powder
Don't fill up on water before meals
Eat your favorite foods — appetite is precious
Consider oral nutrition supplements (Ensure, but watch sugar)

💡 Keto-friendly shake: 1 cup coconut milk + 1/2 avocado + 1 scoop collagen protein + 1 tbsp MCT oil + handful spinach. ~500 calories, minimal carbs.

🧪 Supplements vs Food

Get nutrients from food when possible, but supplements fill gaps:

Nutrient	Food Sources	Supplement If Needed
Omega-3	Fatty fish, walnuts	Fish oil 2-3g/day
Vitamin D	Sun, fatty fish	2000-5000 IU/day
Curcumin	Turmeric (limited absorption)	Liposomal form 1000-2000mg
Magnesium	Nuts, greens	300-400mg/day

⏰ Meal Timing

Intermittent Fasting Option

Some survivors incorporate fasting. Most common:

16:8 — Eat within 8-hour window
Example: First meal 12pm, last meal 8pm
May enhance ketosis and treatment response
Skip if losing too much weight

🍽️ Sample Day

Low-Carb Day (Non-Keto)

Breakfast: 3 eggs scrambled in butter, 1/2 avocado, sautéed spinach

Lunch: Large salad with olive oil, grilled salmon, nuts

Snack: Handful of almonds, green tea

Dinner: Chicken thighs, roasted broccoli with olive oil, side salad

Evening: Bone broth or herbal tea

🚫 What to Avoid

Sugar — feeds tumor, spikes insulin
Processed foods — inflammatory
Alcohol — interferes with treatment, damages liver
Excessive caffeine — affects sleep, already disrupted
Grapefruit — interacts with many medications
Raw/undercooked food — infection risk when immune-suppressed