Are there tricks to deal with taste changes that occur during chemotherapy or radiation treatment of cancer?
Taste changes affect some people more than others, but are completely normal consequences of these treatments. These changes usually disappear gradually a few months after the end of treatments. If food seems too bland, make it more flavorful with extra herbs or (as long as you don’t have mouth or throat sores) added lemon or lime juice, salt or spices. If food seems too salty, counter by adding sweet flavorings, such as fruit, honey, molasses, or sweet spices like cinnamon. If food seems too sweet, try adding salty or acidic foods or flavorings, such as lemon juice or buttermilk. If food seems too bitter, producing an aversion to meat, choose other protein sources such as poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, or beans. Overall, you can make food more flavorful by using marinades and sauces, highlighting the flavors that most need to be added. You can reduce metallic tastes in foods by eating from plastic utensils. If food tastes and smells become offensive you may tolerate cold foods better than
