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| - Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A video on social media discusses the Budwig diet, claiming that its beneficial for cancer treatment. We fact checked and found the claim to be False.
The claim
A Facebook post by the name The Stern Method posted a video where she is talking about the Budwig diet, its process and its benefits. The video explains its steps in making the recipe and the potential benefits it offers in cancer treatment.
Fact Check
What is a Budwig diet?
The Budwig diet is a nutritional approach developed by German biochemist Dr. Johanna Budwig in the 1950s. It is made by the combination of cottage cheese (or quark) and flaxseed oil as its central component. The diet suggests consuming this mixture daily, often accompanied by fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Advocates claim it can improve overall health and help in managing certain diseases. Though scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited.
How does the Budwig diet work?
The Budwig diet operates on the principle that combining cottage cheese with flaxseed oil provides essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and sulfur-rich proteins. Dr. Johanna Budwig, the diet’s founder, believed this mixture could enhance cellular health, improve oxygenation, and aid detoxification. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited. The diet typically includes additional components such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to promote overall health.
What is the connection between the Budwig diet and cancer?
Budwig assumed that cancer patients needed highly unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid and linolenic acid, to support cell membrane formation and cellular respiration. Inadequate intake of these fatty acids led to an oxygen-deficient environment, hindering cellular metabolism. Flaxseed oil, containing significant amounts of LA and LNA, was a cornerstone of Budwig’s diet. She believed that when these fatty acids interacted with sulfhydryl groups from cottage cheese, they released stored energy. While Budwig’s theories were based on older understandings of carcinogenesis, recent research highlights the role of oxygen free radicals in cancer development.
Are there any research papers about Budwig diet and cancer treatment?
No. The only major problem with the Budwig Diet is that there haven’t been any clinical trials to test. The evidence we have mainly comes from people’s personal stories, not from scientific studies. So, it’s hard to say for sure if this diet can actually help treat cancer.
While some parts of the diet might be good for your health and could lower your chances of getting cancer, you should never rely on it or any other diet as your only treatment for cancer. It’s important to talk to your doctor and follow their advice for the best treatment options.
Voomika Mukherjee, a Health and Nutrition Life Coach, highlights, “While certain foods or food groups cannot guarantee cancer prevention, avoiding specific items may not necessarily lower the risk. For cancer treatment, maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing visceral fat, and increasing muscle strength are vital alongside a balanced diet.” She advises a well-rounded diet and limiting sugar, caffeine, salt, and alcohol intake. She stresses that consuming nutritious meals in adequate amounts can help reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. However, it’s important to understand that no single food can cure cancer.
Shivashankar T., Chief Clinical Nutritionist and Dietician at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai, explains that maintaining a balanced diet is essential for achieving a healthy weight and supplying the body with essential nutrients to bolster the immune system. He recommends the Mediterranean diet as the optimal ‘anti-cancer diet’, which encourages reduced consumption of red meat and increased intake of white meat.
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