Eat a balanced diet

Vary your diet to include lots of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains. The American Cancer Society recommends that cancer survivors:

• Eat at least 2.5 to 3 cups of vegetables and 1.5 to 2 cups of fruits every day.
• Choose healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish and walnuts.
• Select proteins that are low in saturated fat, such as fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes.
• Opt for healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes, and fruits and vegetables.

Eating this way will ensure that you're getting plenty of the vitamins and nutrients you need to help make your body strong.

It's not known if a certain diet or certain nutrients can keep cancer from coming back. Studies examining low-fat diets or diets that contain specific fruits and vegetables have had mixed results. In general, it's a good idea to eat a varied diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables.

While it may be tempting to add vitamin and mineral supplements to your diet, resist that urge. Some cancer survivors think that if a small amount of vitamins is good, a large amount must be even better. But that isn't the case. In fact, large amounts of certain nutrients can hurt you.

If you're concerned about getting all the vitamins you need, ask your provider if taking a daily multivitamin is right for you.