Frequently asked questions
What if I am diabetic or on a cholesterol lowering diet?
A diabetic diet generally recommends a large intake of vegetables and fruit and is low in fat. If your appetite is poor this may not be an appropriate diet for you to follow at this time. Ask your dietitian or doctor for advice.
Should I be having a vitamin or mineral supplement?
If you are able to eat a diet with a variety of foods you probably don’t need to take a vitamin or mineral supplement. If your appetite is poor then you may need a supplement to meet your daily requirements. Take care not to buy different vitamin and mineral preparations that provide the same nutrients as this may lead to you taking excess quantities of some vitamins and minerals.
It is important to remember that some of the vitamins and minerals can be harmful when taken in high doses and can react with some medications. Ask your dietitian, doctor or pharmacist for advice before starting to take these supplements.
Should I be eating organic fruit and vegetables?
Organic is the term often given to food grown without the use of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and commercial fertilizers. Some people choose to eat organic foods because they are worried about residues of these in food.
Organic farmers do use pesticides and herbicides but there are strict guidelines on which ones can be used. Research on the levels of pesticides and herbicides in organic foods shows that some samples have contained equal or higher levels of these compounds than conventionally grown fruit and vegetables.
Organic fruit and vegetables contain the same nutrients, vitamins and minerals as those grown in the conventional way; the most important factor in fruit and vegetables’ nutritional value is the freshness. However, there is some evidence that organic milk may be higher in some nutrients than non-organic milk. Organic foods tend to be more expensive and this may be a consideration when deciding what to buy.
It is important if you are not eating well that you take care not to fill up on fruit and vegetables at the expense of other foods which will provide more energy (calories).
Should I be following a ‘special’ diet?
If you are not eating well, try to follow some of the tips in this section of the website or in the Eating well booklet.
In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in diet and cancer, especially complementary and alternative diets. Some people have claimed to cure or control cancer using a diet, and people are often confused as to whether or not they should follow one of these.
There have been few clinical trials or research studies to see if these diets do what they claim. To date there is no scientific evidence to support claims made by complementary or alternative diets. It is unlikely once you have cancer that any change in diet will have a similar benefit to medical treatment.
If you are considering following one of these diets, talk to your doctor or dietitian. The dietitian may help you make a choice by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of different diets. They will ensure that your diet is well balanced and meets your needs, particularly if you are having treatment that may affect your digestion or ability to eat.
Often complementary and alternative diets are difficult to follow and low in energy. They may encourage weight loss, particularly if you have a poor appetite.
I have been following a low-fat healthy-eating diet; should I continue with this?
If you are eating well and do not have a loss of appetite or weight loss then continue to eat your usual foods. However, it is more common to lose weight during treatment. During this period it is important to try and increase your energy intake. Increasing your fat intake is an easy way of making meals palatable and higher in energy. Do not worry about eating more fat – it is important to address the issue of weight loss.
If I am overweight does it matter if I lose weight?
Yes. It is not good to lose weight during treatment as it may make you more susceptible to infections and poor wound-healing. Follow the advice in this section of the website or in the Eating well booklet if you are losing weight, whatever your usual weight.
What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
All dietitians who work in the NHS are registered. That means that they all belong to a regulatory body that aims to protect the public. It ensures that dietitians are competent to practice and that they follow a code of conduct to protect the public from unprofessional or unethical behaviour. Dietitians give advice about diet that is based on sound scientific evidence.
Nutritionists, nutritional therapists or nutrition consultants are not eligible to be registered. They may have very varied training and do not belong to an outside professional regulatory body. In some circumstances the advice they give may be linked to selling nutritional supplements such as vitamins and minerals.