Trust Your Gut - Why Digestive Health Matters In Cancer

When you're navigating cancer your focus is often on the big things: scans, treatments, side effects, survival. Understandably so. But what if one of the powerful allies in your healing journey was something as simple, and as overlooked, as your gut?

We chose this topic because gut health is still widely underestimated, yet it plays a critical role in how our bodies cope with illness, treatment, and stress. The gut is not only where digestion happens - it’s home to trillions of microbes that influence our immune system, mental well-being, and even how we respond to therapies. Many people affected by cancer experience digestive issues, fatigue, anxiety, or lowered immunity. What few know is that a balanced gut can help ease some of these burdens. 

In this month’s series, we’ll explore the connection between gut health and cancer, introduce practical tips, and explain how even small steps - like adding the right foods - can gently support your well-being from the inside out.

Because sometimes healing starts in places we don’t expect. And your gut might be one of them.

A healthy gut can influence everything from energy levels and mood to treatment tolerance and long-term physical and mental wellbeing. In this article, we’ll look at how the gut works with the brain, the immune system and our emotions - and why this matters for long term health.

The Gut-Brain Axis: More Than a Feeling

Our gut and brain are in constant communication through a complex network of nerves, hormones, and chemical messengers. The "butterflies in the stomach" feeling we have when we're nervous is the gut-brain axis in action.

Stress, anxiety, and emotional strain can directly affect gut function, slowing digestion, increasing bloating, or triggering discomfort. At the same time, when the gut is out of balance, it can worsen fatigue, low mood, or brain fog. And it works the other way too - the gut supports our emotional wellbeing. The mood stabilising neurotransmitter, Serotonin, is largely produced in the gut. So a healthy gut may support better emotional regulation, sleep, and resilience.

The Microbiome: Your Inner Ecosystem

Inside your gut live many millions of microorganisms, mostly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses, collectively known as the gut microbiome. Far from being harmful, many of these microbes play essential roles in digestion, nutrient absorption, immune system training, and inflammation control.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and antibiotics can disrupt the balance of the microbiome. This can lead to digestive symptoms (like diarrhoea, bloating, or constipation), weakened immunity, and slower recovery. Rebuilding the gut microbiome during and after treatment is important. Here are some steps you can take to help:

• Eat a wide variety of fibre-rich plant foods

• Include fermented foods

• Avoid excessive sugar and ultra-processed foods

• Consider prebiotics and probiotics (check with your doctor or dietician first)

Conclusion: Listen to your Gut

Your gut is more than a digestive organ. It’s a communicator, an immune defender, and a partner in your healing process. For those living with and beyond cancer, caring for the gut can be a powerful act of self-care - supporting not just physical health, but emotional and mental wellbeing too.

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Even small steps - eating a wider range of plant foods, getting enough rest, managing stress, and reaching out for support - can make a real difference.

Prebiotic and probiotic foods are specific foods that help maintain gut health. Prebiotic foods feed the good bacteria in your gut. Probiotic foods contain live, beneficial bacteria to balance your microbiome. Examples: yogurt with live cultures, kefir, kombucha, miso, sauerkraut and other fermented food.

Prebiotic Foods for Gut Health

Including a variety of prebiotic foods in your diet is an easy, practical way to support gut health. Choose what you enjoy and can tolerate.

Vegetables:
Mushrooms, Jerusalem artichokes, Chicory, Garlic, Leek, Onions, Asparagus, Beetroot, Green peas, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Spinach

Legumes:
Chickpeas, Lentils, Red kidney beans, Cannellini beans

Fruits:
Bananas, Apples, Nectarines, Watermelon, Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Dried fruit (dates, figs)

Whole Grains & Other Products:
Barley, Rye, Whole Wheat, Oats, Wheat bran, Couscous, Cocoa, Flaxseed

✅ Tip: Include a variety each week, add legumes to salads or soups, choose whole grains, and enjoy fruits as snacks.

A cool, gut-friendly option for summer.

Ingredients:

• Watermelon, papaya, green mango

• Fresh mint, lime juice, lemongrass, green chilli, olive oil

• Optional: Spinach leaves, cannellini beans

Quick Instructions:

1. Make a marinade with lime juice, lemongrass, green chilli, and olive oil.

2. Toss with fruits (plus spinach and beans if using) and mint.

3. Chill before serving.

✅ Tip: Adding spinach and cannellini beans boosts fiber and nutrients.

🥤 Pair it with:
A glass of chilled kombucha for a probiotic boost.

Huda Al Ali

A symbolic expressive work that reflects the relationship between a person's inner health and his mental and spiritual health blooms. It expresses healing from inside and makes the body pulsate with life. It is an invitation to take care of the body and the health of the digestive system with sincerity and kindness.
عمل تعبيري رمزي يعكس العلاقة بين صحة الأنسان الداخلية وتفتحه النفسي والروحي وتعبر عن الشفاء من الداخل ويجعل الجسد ينبض بالحياة فهي دعوة للإعتناء بالجسم وصحة الجهاز الهضمي بصدق ولطف

The digestive system is not only responsible for digesting food, but it also affects the mental health , anxiety, and even the feeling of hope.
فالجهاز الهضمي ليس فقط مسؤول عن هضم الطعام لكن يؤثر على الحالة النفسيه والقلق وحتى الشعور بالأمل

This art piece has a symbolic meaning, as the body is a comprehensive message for everyone. The flowers and leaves on the inside are among the most powerful symbols in the painting, symbolizing growth, healing, and inner prosperity. The green leaves and flowers on the outside represent nature and its natural bounty, as if to say that it is capable of blossoming again, even in the most difficult situation. The color green is a symbol of healing.Your body from the inside, deserves care and attention because it contains the seeds of healing and light. The journey begins from inside body.

اللوحة تحمل طابع رمزي فرسمة الجسم هو رسالة شامله للجميع، الزهور والأوراق من الداخل من أقوى الرموز في اللوحة فهي رمز الى النمو الشفاء والازدهار الداخلي الأوراق الخضراء والزهور في الخارج تمثل الطبيعة وما فيها من خيرات طبيعيه وعطايا كانها تقول إنك قادر أن تزهر من جديد حتى في أصعب الظروف، اللون الأخضر اللون الاخضر رمز الى الشفاء ،جسمك من الداخل يستحق الرعايه والإهتمام لأن فيه بذور الشفاء والنور فالرحله تبدأ من الداخل.Stencils were used to depict the difficulties cancer patients face during and after treatment, giving a balanced touch to the idea in this piece of art.

استخدمت اوراق استنسل لتجسيد الصعوبات التي يواجهها مرضى السرطان اثناء العلاج بعدها واعطت طابعا جماليا متوازنا مع باقي الفكره في اللوحه

Healing during cancer care has many dimensions, and supporting gut health through nutrition is one important piece. A balanced diet can help with immunity, digestion, and overall well-being. Always discuss any dietary changes with your doctor or care team.

👉 Like what you read?
📝 Sign up to receive our latest blog posts and resources—straight to your inbox.