Good evening, Husband had chemo #1 last Friday, so far so good. We've been working on very high calorie smoothy recipes, to have something ready for when swallowing gets tough. My husband is a diet controlled, type II diabetic, so I need to find ingredients with little to no sugar or carbs, but very high protein. I came up with a recipe that totals 1086 calories, 74 grams of protein and virtually no sugar or carbs. I used Atkins as a base, then added some omega oils, peanut butter, hemp seeds, chia seeds & protein powder. I showed the recipe to one of the doctors during my husband's chemo. He's concerned about the use of hemp seed hearts. I'm looking for anyone else who has used hemp additives to their smoothies and has some nutritional information to back it up. That single ingredient adds 500 calories to the drink, I'd hate to have to take it out.

Ana, does the treatment center offer a nutritionist for your husband? Most cancer centers will have one available but in some places you will need to ask. A nutritionist will be able to help you with all kinds of ideas. We do have a couple members who are very good with the nutrition info. I would still advise you to seek out a professional to double check anything like this with.

Good luck!!!!

I would skip the hemp for the time being - maybe break down the protein in his feeds. Vegan protein powders offer 26 gms of protein per scoop, and if made with stevia have no glycemic impact. Calorie wise they run around 120-150 cal but if you add a scoop to 3 smoothies a day you'll get the protein you need.

Hugs!

Did you ask the doctor what was the basis for his concern? My guess is that like most doctors, he drinks the DEA Kool Aide so he is basically clueless about the differences between hulled hemp seeds (the technical name for hemp seed hearts which sounds better for sales)and marijuana. There is no -- or barely measurable levels of -- THC in hemp seed hearts.
Even sites for pregnant vegetarians promote hemp seed hearts.
Even main stream media sites like CNN promote hemp seeds
CNN: eat hemp seeds
As far as nutrional info goes, lots of web sites tout them but Wikipedia has the best nutrition chart.

All that said, if your husband's chemo doctor has a different reason than mistaking hemp seeds as some kind of pot, I would probably not use them since there are interactions with some nutrients that reduce the efficacy of the chemotherapy. I have not seen any medical studies nor any scientific evidence for hemps seeds doing this or even any blogs or posts. In fact, the Internet is full of the opposite: crazy claims that they will cure cancer (they will NOT). It is reasonable to ask the doctor for his reason. If he cannot articulate one or worse, gives the goofy DEA versions, that's different.

Also, unless your husband is highly motivated to avoid a PEG, he is going to have a tough time without a feeding tube. Even though I have been the major warrior in the old PEG wars advocating the benefits of total oral nutrition during TX like I did, I acknowledge that it is not the best way for many patients for many reasons. Yet for me it was the best way for psychological reasons and being able to say NO to the PEG and feel like there was at least one thing the cancer was not stealing from me kept my spirits high during TX and my attitude extremely positive.
Charm

Thanks folks for the quick responses. Basically the doc gave me the "you want to put pot in your husband's smoothies" look. He also jokingly commented, "aren't we a bit old for that". The main reason I want to use the hemp is for the sheer volume of calories, that plus it does seem to have some really interesting nutritional benefits. We are going to meet with the nutritionist on Thursday, however I expect this may be "off mainstream" enough that she may not know about it. That's why I came to ya'll...figured someone here may have already done some research on it.

Cheryl, we have found some great protein powders at Whole foods that were no sugar, no carb, fairly natural, loaded with protein, thank goodness!

My husband is very highly motivated to avoid a PEG. His biggest concern through all of this is losing function, he wants to use it so he doesn't lose it.

Ana

Okay IMO your doctor's statement is an admission that there is no valid medical or scientific reason for you not to use the hemp seeds. I guess he does not know how to use google. Just for giggles, click on this link link to send your doctor

If your doctor has email, then send him that link. I like the Let me google that for you site because it is so sarcastic, with typing out the search and then the comment: [quote]Was that so hard?[/quote].

Also, I never had to go get IV hydration or had any health issues at all because of skipping the PEG so your husband can do this. Plus I was back eating normally again way before the majority of pegsters (except the ones who got it just in case and rarely used it - since they kept eating also), they

Last but not least, you are never too old for medical marijuana. Actually, it would be more beneficial and helpful if you could get THC into his smoothie like they offer in Amsterdam and California. Amazing what they don't teach in medical school.
Charm

Hemp is actually an awesome source of protein. It's one of the ingredients in many vegan proteins.. Love whole foods btw... Despite the prices.
Good luck!,

Do avocados and bananas have too much sugar? I put a whole one of each in my smoothies to add healthy fat, calories and potassium.

Advocados, very good. He's now eating bananas, and some other stuff he usually doesn't, and his sugars are riding high, 140's - 200, fasting. I've finally convinced him that with the tough road ahead, he needs to increase the food options by going on a little diabetes medication. Apt with primary doc this week to get that started.

Bananas are very high in sugar... Try supplimanying with berries? Good luck!

Thanks Cheryl...I know bananas are not great, but he has a taste for them and I'm desperating trying to help him put back on the 11 pounds he lost in week 1. I cannot wait for him to get on some diabetes meds, so we can at least somewhat reduce one of the fronts we're fighting on. That said, I do have some lovely Michigan blueberries in the freezer, picked by us last summer, will have to see if I can tempt him with those...:) A

Try adding flax oil and cottage cheese, neither are sugar based and follow the budwig protocol, and most importantly have calories and fats. Try chia as well. They make the shake a little thicker as well makes it easier to slide down. For a bit of sweetness add agave, or stevia they are natural and have minimal to no glycemic impact. (unless you dump in a bucket of agave)

Plus if you buy the sugar is poison theory - these are natural and good for you and sweeten.