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Cancer and its treatments can cause changes in your senses of
taste and smell. These changes can affect your appetite. If you are
having these problems, try foods, marinades, spices, beverages, and
ways of preparing your foods that are different from ones you usually
use. Also, keep your mouth clean by rinsing and brushing, which in turn
may improve the taste of foods.
What to do
If you have a bitter or metallic taste while eating:
- Try using plastic flatware and glass cups and plates.
- Try sugar-free lemon drops, gum, or mints.
- Try fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables instead of canned.
- Season foods with tart flavors such as lemon wedges,
lemonade, citrus fruits, vinegar, and pickled foods. (If you have a
sore mouth or throat, do not use this tip.)
- Try flavoring foods with new tastes or spices - with onion,
garlic, chili powder, basil, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, barbecue
sauce, mustard, catsup, or mint.
- Counter a salty taste with added sweeteners; sweet taste
with added lemon juice and salt; and bitter taste with added sweeteners.
- Rinse your mouth with baking soda mouthwash before eating
to help improve the tastes of foods. (Mix 1 teaspoon salt and 1
teaspoon baking soda in 1 quart water. Shake well before swishing and
spitting.)
- Keep your mouth clean and brush your teeth with a
non-mint-flavored toothpaste to help ease bad tastes.
- Serve foods cold or at room temperature. This can decrease
the foods’ tastes and smells, making them easier to tolerate.
- Freeze fruits such as cantaloupe, grapes, oranges, and
watermelon, and eat them as frozen treats.
- Eat fresh vegetables. They may be more appealing than
canned or frozen ones.
- Try marinating meats to make them more tender.
- If red meats taste strange, try other protein-rich foods
such as chicken, fish, eggs, or cheese.
- Blend fresh fruits into shakes, ice cream, or yogurt.
To improve smells:
- Cover beverages and drink through a straw.
- Choose foods that do not need to be cooked.
- Avoid eating in rooms that are stuffy or too warm.
Revised: 02/04/2008
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