It’s that good ole summer time the season of warm weather, picnics, travel, pool parties, and patio visits. What’s your go-to beverage in the summer? As a cancer survivor, side effects can slow down your beverage intake. It’s important to stay well-hydrated all summer long. Don’t let cancer or treatment shake up your summer sippers!
Cancer changes the amount of fluids and often your ability to drink the amount you need. General fluid intake advice suggests 8-12 eight ounce cups of liquids a day as a place to start. Other issues may change those fluid needs such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, recent surgery, kidney problems, congestive heart disease, liver disease, and chemotherapy agents. Every cancer survivor has an individual fluid goal. Ask your healthcare team or talk to a registered dietitian about what your fluid goal should be.
Additionally, many cancer survivors also have oral side effects including mouth sores, oral infections, taste changes, temperature sensitivity, tooth decay, difficulty swallowing, and gum and tongue tenderness. Almost all cancer patients who receive radiation for head and neck cancer experience oral side effects. 75 % of blood and marrow transplant recipients and nearly 40% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy experience oral side effects as well. Drinking cool beverages can help sooth sore mouths as well as provide much-needed nutrition that cancer patients with oral side effects may not be able to get from solid food.
Check out these fun and refreshing summer drink ideas so you can stay healthy and hydrated even on the hottest summer days!
FIZZ: Add frizz to drinks! Fizz adds pizazz which adds taste and fun to your beverage. Fizz can be added with tonic, seltzer or soda waters, ginger ale, clear sodas, fizz-tablets, or a home carbonation machine. One quick recipe mix club soda and ice tea with a handful of fresh berries! For a sweet summer treat, try club soda and pur ed watermelon.
More “Fizz” recipes:
FREEZE: Freeze your favs! When you sip a frozen drink, it adds instant cooling to your body. Frozen beverages also help soothe a tender mouth. Use the less tangy fruits like grapes, plums, cranberry, cherry, and apple if you are sensitive to acidic fruits. No blender? Freeze 100% fruit juice in ice trays and use the frozen cubes in tea or lemonade. Or simply pour your summer drink over crushed ice easy, peasy. Garnish with a wedge of fruit or cucumber.
More “Frozen” recipes:
INFUSE: Infuse your drinks! Reach for fruit or veggie slices or herbs like springs of mint, rosemary, rose petals, ginger root, lavender, lemongrass, vanilla bean, cilantro, and basil. Water infusions are bursting with favor but short on calories. Use cold or room temp water to make your drink infusion. Thinly slice added fruit or vegetable pieces.
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SHAKE IT UP: If you have a blender, the sky is the limit for flavors you can shake up. Use fresh fruits along with ice cream or yogurt with ice cubes to create your shake or smoothie. Frozen fruit chunks work great to add the icy texture. Add extracts like vanilla or almond for a flavor boost!
More “Shake It Up” recipes:
- Avocado-Berry Smoothie
- Coffee Cooler
- Mango Shake
- How To Make A Super Smoothie
- Strawberry Chia Smoothie
FROST IT: To save time, put your cup or glass in the freezer to make it frosty. Pour in your tasty beverage or fruit juices. Make the rim of your beverage glass colorful by dipping the rim in fruit juice, honey or simple syrup and then dip the rim into shredded coconut, sprinkles, citrus zest, ground nuts, chili flakes, crushed cookies, or colored sugars. Another fun decoration? Dip the rim in melted chocolate and place glass in the freezer to frost.
