What to eat when your white blood cell count is down
What you DON’T eat is as important as what you do.
Low white blood cell count (neutropenia) is a common complication following multiple
chemotherapy treatments. That’s because chemotherapy destroys both good
and bad cells. When this happens to cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, it
can bring on nausea and vomiting.
Low white blood cell counts due to chemotherapy typically last four to seven days.
Because having a low white blood cell count makes you vulnerable to infection, it’s
best during this time to avoid raw fruits, raw vegetables, raw meat, and raw seafood,
as they can contain bacteria which, if eaten during this time, can lead to systemic
infection.
For your own protection, it is wise to avoid crowds and anyone who may be ill until
your white blood cell counts are back to normal.
Recipes for a low white blood
cell count