FIT WebQoof: Could This Homemade Remedy Cure Cancer?
The Claim
A YouTube video with a ‘miracle’ cure to cancer is going viral on social media. It claims that consuming a homemade remedy every day can cure last stage cancer in three days.
The mixture, which is to be stored in the fridge and eaten multiple times a day, comprises of popular ingredients such as walnuts, lemons, honey, grains and garlic. The video claims that this can provide complete protection against cancer, and can even cure those who are diagnosed with it.
The Truth About Cancer & Food
Debunking this claim begs for a bigger question: Has diet got anything to do with cancer prevention and treatment?
According to the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR),
Certain foods like apples, carrots, blueberry, and broccoli are believed to have a role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
But can they ensure complete protection from cancer? NO. At its best, a combination of healthy food items could perhaps ‘lower’ cancer risk, but it can definitely not erase the possibility. There is also no way it they could cure cancer.
In order to understand this better, FIT spoke with Dr Niranjan Naik, Director, Surgical Oncology at Fortis, Gurugram, whose first reaction to the claim made in the video was that it is “completely false”.
He does add that there are some fruits and vegetables that may have some preventive properties. For instance, turmeric, tomato, fish oil, dry fruits, carrots, spinach, garlic, brussel sprouts, beans etc. The antioxidants present in these could work well in keeping you healthy and maintaining a healthy body weight.
But again, the disclaimer stays: Nothing can provide you absolute immunity (and certainly not treatment). It’s just about potentially lowering the risk of cancer.
Then there are also foods that could be carcinogenic, such as red meat, or chemicals released from stale or decayed food. Here as well, the link is not causative or definite.
To conclude, Dr Niranjan recommends a balanced diet that is full of colours. This could help boost immunity, which could further help fight cancer cells. But to think that eating certain foods can ensure complete prevention or treatment is absolutely wrong. Diet can never replace conventional treatment for cancer. And of course, there is no way to cure last stage cancer in three days, he clarifies.
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