logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
7m 32s

How to Counter Chemotherapy Side Effects

DR. ERIC BERG
About this episode

One of the most common treatments for cancer is chemotherapy, which uses powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells. Chemo can cause uncomfortable side effects such as nausea, fatigue, hair loss, and weakened immune function. Fortunately, there are ways to counter these side effects and support your body during chemo treatment.


Compounds found in plants have a range of health benefits, including cancer prevention. Five specific phytonutrients that have shown strong chemo-preventative factors are sulforaphane, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and allicin. They can be found in foods such as broccoli, grapes, green tea, and garlic.


Magnesium deficiency has also been linked to cachexia, a condition where the body loses tissue and becomes weak. This can be especially dangerous for cancer patients who are already struggling with weight loss and fatigue due to their illness.


Selenium plays a crucial role in immune function. If you are undergoing chemo or have cancer, you may want to supplement with 200 to 400 micrograms of selenium daily.


Intermittent fasting, prolonged fasting, and exercise are powerful tools in reducing chemo side effects.


Cold therapy, such as ice baths, has also been found to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Lastly, vitamin D has been shown to play a crucial role in strengthening the immune system. If you have cancer, it’s recommended that you take high doses of vitamin D, with a target level of at least 120 nanograms per milliliter of blood.


Remember to always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise routine while undergoing chemotherapy.


DATA:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M2Qd...

https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.c...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://www.aicr.org/cancer-preventio...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ahef...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-hbL...

https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO....

Up next
Today
The Shocking Truth About Vaccines
Science typically involves normal discord and disagreement, but when it comes to vaccines, opposing medical authority, such as WHO and CDC, is labeled medical misinformation. These organizations create health policy, but are often influenced by drug companies. We’re constantly to ... Show More
6m 38s
Aug 23
The Dr. Berg Show LIVE - August 22, 2025
Talk to Dr. Berg LIVE ➜ ➜ https://forms.gle/3a3n9arSxwDtqboa7To be considered, click on the link below to fill out the application! If you’d like to join next week’s show, make sure you fill out the application by Tuesday night, the week of the live show. Fill this out to be a pa ... Show More
1h 3m
Aug 22
The #1 Most Ignored Anti-Inflammatory Food in the World
When people think of snake oil, they often think of the snake oil salesman. In the 1800s, people would sell “snake oil” for pain, arthritis, and digestive issues, and developed a bad reputation for peddling products that were fraudulent or didn’t actually work. Clark Stanley is o ... Show More
10m 1s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2021
Can keto cure cancer?
Thanks to earlier detection and much better treatment options, cancer today is more survivable than ever. But we are still a long way from curing cancer across the board for all types of cancer with equal outcomes. If you caught my podcast from several episodes back on improving ... Show More
14m 16s
Oct 2023
S1 Episode 6: Systemic Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Join experts Drs Benjamin Schlechter and Diane Saverese as they discuss systemic therapy for advanced colorectal cancer. Relevant disclosures can be found with the episode show notes on Medscape (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/988974). The topics and discussions are planned ... Show More
23m 2s
Jan 2023
Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy for Gastroesophageal Cancer Guideline
Dr. Manish Shah discusses the first ASCO guideline for advanced gastroesophageal cancer. He addresses biomarker testing to help guide therapy - including HER2 testing, mismatch repair testing, and assessment of PD-L1 expression. Dr. Shah then reviews the evidence-based recommenda ... Show More
13m 32s
Dec 2021
Dr Nasha Winters |The Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, the Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies KKP: 346
One out of every three Americans is diagnosed with cancer. So, it is very important to learn how to cope and deal with it. If you or any of your loved have ever been affected by cancer, this is going to be the episode you’re gonna want to listen. In this episode, I am joined by a ... Show More
1h 18m
Apr 2021
Can micronutrient supplements prevent or treat respiratory tract infections?
Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, fatigue. The classic collection of symptoms synonymous with an acute respiratory tract infection. From the common cold right through to the flu, it is something most people are faced with many times over in their life. So what role n ... Show More
14m 23s
Sep 2023
What Everyone Needs To Know About Cancer with Professor Thomas Seyfried #385
When I started medical school in 1995, we were taught that one in four people was likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Today, that statistic has changed to one in two – a rapid rise that can’t be explained by genetics. But if our modern diet and lifestyles are the cause, w ... Show More
2h 1m
Jan 2021
276: What you can do to stop cancer before it starts | Jason Fung, M.D.
Jason Fung, M.D.: “Cancer is something that can hide—it can change, and the immune system is our best chance of trying to take away the hiding places.” Fung, a nephrologist, fasting expert, and author of The Cancer Code, joins mbg co-CEO, Jason Wachob, to discuss how you can get ... Show More
47m 56s
Oct 2023
05. Methylation | The Best Kept Optimal Health Secret
Get weekly tips on how to optimize your health and lifestyle routines - go to https://www.theultimatehuman.com/Get more resources + information from Gary here: https://linktr.ee/thegarybrecka The 1 test that will give you results for life - ⁠order your genetic test here⁠:http://1 ... Show More
37m 4s
Nov 2022
How Effective Is Chemotherapy?
In many cases, the survival benefits are much lower than you might think. This episode features audio from How Effective Is Chemotherapy? and How Much Does Chemotherapy Improve Survival?. Visit the video pages for all sources and doctor’s notes related to this podcast. 
13m 23s