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1. Maintain a healthy weight: Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for colorectal cancer can often contribute to unintentional weight loss. It is important to avoid excess weight loss during treatment as poor nutrition status can cause decrease the body’s ability to fight infection.

2. Include whole grains: Whole grain food provides a good amount of carbohydrates and fiber which helps in keeping energy levels up. Do not include too much fiber as it will increase stool output. Whole grains are that grains which have all three parts like endosperm, kernel and bran intact, however refined grains are one that retain only endosperm and other two parts are removed which makes them less nutritious and low in fiber. Choose whole grains like rice, brown rice, wheat, barley, oats, millets, red rice, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth over refined grains like all-purpose flour, corn grits, white bread. Choose at least one year old grains over newest variety and polished ones. Choose lentils, red beans, green peas. chickpeas and black beans. These foods are high in fiber and specific micronutrients along with macronutrients.

 3. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday: Variety of foods and vegetables provides lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which can help fight cancer. Aim to minimum 3-4 servings of whole fruits and vegetables per day.

 4. Choose protein rich foods: Protein helps body to repair muscle and tissues. Lentils and beans are good plant based protein sources. Include a source of lean protein in every meal. Good sources of lean protein are- chicken, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy products, beans, soy foods and nuts.

 5.Choose healthy fats: Avoid deep fried, greasy and fatty foods. Choose baked, boiled, shallow fried, grilled, sauted foods instead. Healthy fats include a combination of MUFA and PUFA oils like olive oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil, coconut oil, mustard oil, soyabean oil, groundnut oil, nuts, ghee etc.

Limit use of saturated fats like ghee, coconut oil, condensed milk, butter, whipped cream, ice-cream, poultry skin, chicken. Choose mainly unsaturated fats.

Avoid palm oil, vanaspati ghee, dalda, margarine, mayonnaise, butters, lard, creams, full-fat dairy products, red meat, pork, beef, lamb meat.

Avoid foods high in trans fats like Hydrogenated vegetable oils, fast food, deep fried street food, bakery items like cakes, pastries, chocolates.

6. Include food rich in folic acid and Vitamin B:

Sources of Folic acid:

a. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and mustard green.

b.Brussels sprouts.

c. Broccoli

d. Citrus fruits like oranges.

e. Beans and peas like chickpeas. Kidney beans and black eyed beans.

f. Nuts and seeds

g. Beef liver chicken liver sea food

h. Wheat bran and whole grain foods.

1. Animal products: Fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and other dairy products like milk, cheese, paneer, yoghurt.
2. Bananas, blueberries, guavas, kiwis, oranges, mulberries, blackberries, pomegranates.
3. Fortified foods like cereals.
4. Almonds

• Stop smoking: Talk to your health care team about ways to quit.
• Exercise most days a week: Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you have been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 mins. Learn different forms of exercises from an experienced coach.
• Plant based food: Polyphenols, a type of compound found in many plant foods have been linked to reduce the risk of colon cancer.