It is extremely important to avoid caffeine during chemotherapy because the severity of some chemotherapy side effects can be worsened by dehydrations and caffeine is one of the many things that can cause dehydration as it has a mild diuretic effect. A diuretic effect is one that increase the excretion of water from bodies and elevates the rate of urination. Diuretics can lead to the body excreting more liquids than it actually took in, therefore potentially leading to dehydration. Many people worry about caffeine leading to dehydration but there are not any medical studies that conclude that this actually happens. The average person, who drinks other fluids as well as caffeine-based drinks, should not have a problem. During chemotherapy, dehydration can be life threatening as it increases the toxicity of these therapies. Dehydration can contribute to fatigue, headaches and nausea as well. For all of these reasons, staying well hydrated is vital to good health, both during and after cancer care. Caffeine can have serious downsides in people who are more susceptible to its negative effects, such as the elderly; children and teens; those with high blood pressure, heart disease, and anxiety disorders and should be avoided altogether. It is recommended that chemotherapy patients also avoid caffeinated drinks because they should be drinking beverages with a higher calorie content. It is common for patients to lose massive amounts of weight during chemotherapy and to keep their weight up, particularly if they do not feel like eating, it is best to consume drinks such as juice, milk, smoothies and shakes rather than waste time with low-calorie caffeinated drinks. Other things that should be avoided for chemotherapy patients include spicy food, sweet, fatty or sugary foods. Large meals or eating too quickly is not recommended. Drinking plenty of fluids and lots of fruit and vegetables are vital and eating small meals, even if you do not feel like eating, is extremely important.
