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Good health habits can make a difference in your cancer recovery.

Research has shown that eating a plant-based diet and staying physically active can make a significant difference in not just your weight but in your overall well-being.

Eat right

Eat right to recover faster.

Eating right can help you achieve a healthy body weight, maintain strength, and recover faster by supporting your immune system. To get the proper amount of nutrition, the American Cancer Society suggests that you do the following:

Learn more about healthy eating as a cancer survivor:

  • Stay lean, keeping a low amount of fat on your body.
  • Eat at least 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables per day.
  • Limit how much processed meat and red meat you eat.
  • Limit alcoholic drinks to no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
  • Eat more whole grains and legumes.

Exercise

Exercise to move beyond cancer.

Exercise can strengthen muscles and bones, improve your heart health, fight infections, improve your balance, reduce stress, help you sleep better, and help prevent or lessen the effects of other diseases. Follow these physical activity guidelines for adults, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

  • Perform at least 150 to 300 minutes (2.5 to 5 hours) a week of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
  • Exercise for at least 10 minutes at a time, spread throughout the week if possible.
  • Perform muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups two or more days a week.

Screenings

Keep up with recommended cancer screenings.

After treatment ends, it’s important to stay up to date on any screenings your cancer treatment team recommends. By scheduling routine checkups and getting cancer screenings, you can stay in charge of your health. If a new condition or cancer recurrence is found, it can be addressed early, when it is most treatable.