Treatments for cancer can wreak havoc on a body’s immune system. The blood cells that would normally protect a person from germs are often affected during cancer treatment, the American Cancer Society said. Cancer patients can help boost their immunity with careful lifestyle choices.

Here are five immune boosters that people fighting cancer can consider.

1. Be careful with food: Washing hands before and after food prep and making sure the food you eat is kept at the proper temperatures can help reduce exposure to dangerous germs. The American Cancer Society suggested using defrosted foods immediately and not re-freezing them, washing fruits and vegetables, particularly salads thoroughly, and throwing away eggs with cracked shells as precautions. Also, toss anything that smells bad.

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2. Eat a lot of fruits and veggies: Among the healthy living strategies suggested by Harvard Health is consuming a healthy diet. This would include a lot of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains.

3. Use garlic: Harvard Health pointed to garlic among the natural herbs and supplements that get a lot of attention as immune system boosters. Experts there say garlic has been shown in studies to fight fungi, bacteria, and viruses. At least one study has found a correlation between the use of garlic and onions and lower risk for certain cancers.

4. Eliminate stress: The National Cancer Institute said that while there is no hard evidence that stress can cause cancer, going through cancer treatments is inherently stressful on a patient. There are many other physical health problems that can be caused by long-term psychological stress. Developing good relaxation techniques and other stress management tools can potentially help the body’s immune system fight disease. Some research has shown that psychological stress also can affect tumor growth.

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5. Take vitamin D: Among the potential vitamin supplements that could help boost immune system fighting capabilities in cancer patients is vitamin D. It tops the WebMD list of suggestions because clinical trials have found that people with cancer tend to have lower levels of vitamin D.

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