Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN
American Institute for Cancer Research

Q: What kind of diet can help decrease problems with diarrhea after radiation therapy to the abdomen?
A: Radiation therapy is targeted to destroy rapidly reproducing cells, unfortunately including the normal healthy cells of our digestive system. Function of the digestive tract can be disturbed, resulting in diarrhea. Normally, a high-fiber diet is recommended for good health, but not right after radiation treatment to this area. Even if you usually digest milk products well, when digestive tract function is impaired, undigested lactose in milk can cause diarrhea, so it usually makes sense to avoid or carefully limit dairy products for a while. Greasy foods may also lead to diarrhea, as can products sweetened with the artificial sweetener called sorbitol (which may be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel as a ?sugar alcohol?). Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants that also stimulate muscles of the digestive system; avoiding them can also help reduce diarrhea. While avoiding these foods that can worsen diarrhea, you also should make sure to get plenty of liquids to replace losses. Soup and sports drinks help replace both fluid and sodium losses. Meanwhile, you need nutrients to help the digestive tract heal. See a registered dietitian for ideas if you have trouble creating nutritional balance. Since nutrient intake and absorption may both be temporarily limited, discuss with your doctor whether a general multi-vitamin might be useful after this kind of radiation treatment. And do be sure to discuss problems like diarrhea with your physician.

Q: What kinds of vegetables are suitable for grilling?
A: Some of the classic vegetable choices for grilling include asparagus, corn on the cob, onions, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini and eggplant. Most of these can be grilled whole, as well as chopped and cooked in a grill basket or cut into chunks and skewered to make vegetable kabobs. Brush or toss them with a small amount of olive oil. Cooked on a grill at medium-high heat, most are ready after about three to five minutes per side. More dense vegetables like onions, sweet potatoes and eggplant may need double that time or more, depending on how large the pieces are. You can even grill vegetables in advance and serve them at room temperature on their own or in salads. Grilling brings out marvelous flavors in many vegetables, and it does not lead to the development of cancer-causing substances formed when meat and poultry are grilled.

Q: How nutritious is watermelon compared to other fruits?
A: Each cup of watermelon (about half a large slice) offers about 13 milligrams of vitamin C (14 to 17 percent of currently recommended daily intake). This is not as high as cantaloupe or honeydew melon, or other high-C fruits such as kiwi, strawberries and oranges, but as one of seven to ten servings of fruits and vegetables daily, it makes an important contribution. Watermelon is also an outstanding source of lycopene, an antioxidant phytochemical linked with lower risk of prostate and other cancers. Lycopene is the carotenoid that gives tomatoes, watermelon, guava, and red and pink grapefruit their characteristic color. Finally, watermelon also offers a weight-control bonus. A one-cup serving can satisfy a sweet tooth with just 49 calories, making it one of the fruits least concentrated in sugar and calories.