For years, people have followed the neutropenic diet to help reduce their consumption of bacteria from foods. Although
This diet has been suggested for people living with cancer, as they’re more prone to developing bacterial infections. It has also been recommended to people with weakened immune systems — specifically those withneutropenia, whose bodies produce an inadequate amount of white blood cells (neutrophils).
Neutrophils are blood cells that help protect your body from infection. When lower levels of these cells are present, your immune system weakens and your body is less able to defend itself against bacteria, viruses, and infections, including:
Prior to starting the neutropenic diet, discuss your dietary changes and health needs with your doctor to prevent interfering with any treatment plans. In addition, there are some general tips you can pair with the neutropenic diet to safely handle food and helpprevent illness.
Some of these guidelines include:
- washing your hands before and after handling food, as well as washing all surfaces and utensils
- avoiding raw foods, specificallymeatandundercooked eggs, along with cooking all meats thoroughly
- avoiding salad bars
- thoroughly washingfresh fruits and vegetablesbefore eating or peeling (cooked fruits and vegetables are OK to eat)
- avoiding unpasteurized dairy products
- avoidingwell waterif it hasn’t been filtered or boiled for at least 1 minute (Bottled water is fine if it has beendistilledor filtered or undergone reverse osmosis.)
Foods you’re allowed to eat on the neutropenic diet include:
- Dairy:all pasteurized milk and dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and sour cream
- Starches:all breads, cooked pastas, chips, French toast, pancakes, cereal, cooked sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peas, whole grains, and fries
- Vegetables:all cooked or frozen vegetables
- Fruits:all canned and frozen fruit and fruit juices, along with thoroughly washed and peeled thick-skinned fruits like bananas, oranges, and grapefruit
- Protein:thoroughly cooked (well-done) meats and canned meats, as well as hard-cooked or boiled eggs and pasteurized egg substitutes
- Beverages:所有水龙头、瓶装或蒸馏水,以及canned or bottled drinks, individually canned sodas, and instant or brewed tea and coffee
Foods you should eliminate while following the neutropenic diet include:
- Dairy:unpasteurized milk and yogurt, yogurt made with live or active cultures, soft cheeses (Brie, feta, sharp Cheddar), cheeses with mold (Gorgonzola, blue cheese), aged cheeses, cheeses with uncooked vegetables, and Mexican-style cheeses like queso
- Raw starches:bread with raw nuts, uncooked pasta, raw oats, and raw grains
- Vegetables:raw vegetables, salads, uncooked herbs and spices, and fresh sauerkraut
- Fruits:unwashed raw fruits, unpasteurized fruit juices, and dried fruits
- Protein:raw or undercooked meat, deli meats, sushi, cold meat, and undercooked eggs with runny yolk
- Beverages:太阳茶、煮茶,冷蛋用生鸡蛋s, fresh apple cider, and homemade lemonade
Based on the current
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Also, there are no published guidelines on how to use this diet. Before recommending this diet as a treatment method, more research on its effectiveness is needed.
The neutropenic diet incorporates dietary changes to help prevent you from consumingharmful bacteriain foods and beverages. This diet is specifically meant for people with neutropenia, who are always advised to follow the FDA’s food safety guidelines. It’s also implemented among those with cancer and weakened immune systems.
Though some institutions incorporate this diet into medical treatment plans, more research is needed to demonstrate its effectiveness. Traditional treatment methods shouldn’t be ignored. Prior to participating in a new diet, discuss your options and risks with your doctor.
