Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that cancer will disappear. We fact-checked and found this claim to be False.
The Claim
Several posts on Facebook read, “Oncologist at Osh State Medical University, Moscow, Russia. Gupta Prasad Reddy (BV) says that cancer is not a deadly disease, but people die from it only due to indifference.
According to him, cancer can be eliminated if only two methods are followed. The methods are: –
1_ Quit all kinds of sugar food first. Because, if you don’t get sugar in your body, the cancer cells will die naturally or naturally.
2. Then, mix a lemon chip in a glass of warm water. Drink warm water mixed with this lemon on an empty stomach at 3 o’clock in the morning before eating. The cancer will be gone.
A study by the Maryland College of Medicine found that it is a thousand times better than chemotherapy.
3. Eat three tablespoons of organic coconut oil daily in the morning and at night, it will cure cancer.
Take one of the following two treatments after avoiding diabetes. Cancer can’t hurt you. However, there is no excuse for negligence or indifference.”
The post has been shared by various social media users and can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.
Fact Check
Does sugar cause Cancer?
No. Till now, no studies have shown that reducing sugar intake prevents or treats cancer. Furthermore, no studies have shown that eating too much sugar causes cancer. According to the Cancer Council, Australia, “ Sugar is not a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance. However, over-consumption of sugar, particularly added sugars in processed beverages and foods, can contribute to obesity which is an important risk factor for cancer. There is no evidence that consuming sugar makes cancer cells grow faster or causes cancer.” The American Society of Clinical Oncology further states, “ Eating sugar in moderation as part of a healthy diet does not cause cancer.”
We checked this with Dr. Sarthak Moharir, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at HCG Cancer Centre, Vadodara, regarding the link between cancer and sugar. To this, he adds “Once cancer has been diagnosed, nutrition becomes of utmost importance and avoiding sugars is not recommended.”
Why is sugar speculated to cause Cancer?
The Cancer Council, Australia, clarifies this by stating, “There is a view that sugar ‘feeds’ cancer cells. Most cancer cells grow faster than normal cells, and therefore, require more energy. It has been shown that glucose metabolism is often altered in cancer cells to meet the increased demand for glucose. However, this does not mean that consuming sugar will make cancer cells grow faster or cause cancer. All foods are broken down into glucose as all cells, not just cancer cells, require glucose for energy.”’
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute found no association between dietary sugars and an increased risk of colorectal cancer or any other major cancer. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Yale researchers found no connection between soft drink consumption and an increased risk for esophageal cancer. Furthermore, another study by PLOS One found no link between soft drink consumption and colorectal cancer.
Can Cancer disappear by quitting sugar and consuming lemon and coconut oil?
No. Firstly, cancer cannot naturally disappear by quitting sugar. There is no evidence which proves that either sugar is a causative agent of cancer or that eliminating sugar will make cancer disappear.
Secondly, there is no scientific evidence that either lemon chip in a glass of warm water or consuming three tablespoons of organic coconut oil daily will cure Cancer. Many people use lemon in their food and drink lemon juice; if that is the hypothesis, those who drink lemon juice should not get cancer, and cancer patients who drink lemon juice should be cured. But unfortunately, lemon juice has no effect on cancer patients.
Moreover, even though a study that studied the effects of lauric acid (found in coconut oil) on certain types of cancer cells found that it could inhibit cancer cells’ growth or lead to their destruction, it also said that “further experimental evidence is warranted to define the action of LA better alone or in the context of coconut oil consumption on tumour development as claimed by a current newsworthy debate.”
Follow the treatment recommendations from your cancer treatment team. And if you are cancer-free, eating healthy foods may help reduce your chances of getting certain types of cancer. Avoiding authentic and proven treatment can worsen your health condition.
Dr. Moharir clarifies this by stating, “ Absolutely not. There is no evidence that cancer can disappear by quitting sugar or following various methods such as drinking lime water or consuming coconut oil. Some alternative therapies help alleviate symptoms of disease and treatment, but they have not been proven in any scientific study to cure cancer or make it disappear.
I see a lot of patients come in with very early-stage diseases who refuse modern medicine and opt for alternative therapies, as mentioned above. Sooner or later, they come in with advanced metastatic disease.”
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