Fact-check: Eating a no-sugar diet does not cause cancer cells to ‘die naturally’

#Factcheck #Eating #nosugar #diet #cancer #cells #die #naturally

A Thai-language Facebook post claims that eating a sugar-free diet will “naturally kill” cancer cells. The misleading post, which also claims that warm lemon water and coconut oil cures cancer, has been shared thousands of times. Similar misleading claims are circulating in social media posts from Africa to America. But all claims are false. Many doctors, cancer charities and scientific studies all say that eating a sugar-free diet, drinking warm lemon water, and a spoonful of coconut oil is not a cure for cancer.

The post has been published. Here on July 8, 2019 on a Thailand-based Facebook page, where it has been shared more than 39,000 times.

The long Thai-language caption translates into English as follows: “#howdocancerpatientsdie? Russian research finds cancer patients die of negligence.”

The post claims: “Cancer cells will die naturally if patients stop eating sugar.”

It also claims: “Drinking lemon mixed with warm water for three months is actually better than chemotherapy.

It adds one final claim: “Take a spoonful of organic coconut oil morning and night, and cancer cells will slowly disappear.”

Below is a screenshot of the misleading Thai language post.

Similar claims about cancer cures have been shared in Thai-language posts. Here, Here, Here, Here, Hereand Here.

Similar claims about the cancer-killing abilities of a sugar-free diet and the benefits of hot water and lemon and coconut oil are in English on Facebook pages. America To Kenya.

Any Chinese?

Several doctors told AFP that the claim that a sugar-free diet “kills cancer cells (naturally)” is false. Scientific studies also show that normal, healthy cells need sugar for energy.

Oncologist Dr. Penlert Taniakol, an oncologist at Bangkok’s Phithai Hospital, told AFP by phone on Nov. 11, 2019, that a no-sugar diet was warned against.

“It’s definitely not a good idea to cut sugar out of your diet because sugar is essential for every human body. If you don’t have sugar in your body, your cells can’t survive and function.” will be unable to.”

But he added that “consuming too much sugar can increase cancer risks.”

According to Glucose, the main source of energy for most cells. This This report was published by the US-based National Library of Medicine.

The report states in part: “Glucose is a primary source of energy for most cells and an important substrate for many biochemical reactions. As glucose is needed by every cell in the body, so There are also glucose transporters.”

This The report, ‘Treating Cancer Effectively for Better Lives of Patients’, written by Dr Asara Anongchania for Bangkok’s Vijthani Hospital, does not list a sugar-free diet as a cancer treatment.

“Effective methods” of cancer treatment listed in the report include: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation.

The article, published by UK-based cancer charity Cancer Research UK, says there is no evidence that a sugar-free diet can reduce the risk of cancer or prevent it after diagnosis. Can increase the chances.

Cancer Research also posted a video on YouTube. Here Headline: “Does Sugar Feed Cancer”.

“Fact: Cutting out processed sugar won’t kill cancer cells,” the video report says.

Cancer Research’s written report reads in part: “Cancer cells normally grow rapidly, growing at a rapid rate, which takes up a lot of energy. This means they need a lot of glucose. Cancer Cells also need many other nutrients, such as amino acids and fats; it’s not just sugar they crave.

“Here’s the myth that sugar fuels cancer: If cancer cells need a lot of glucose, eliminating sugar from our diet can help stop cancer growth, and even It can also inhibit growth. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. All of our healthy cells need glucose, and our bodies have no way of telling healthy cells that glucose is available. Let them do what they need, but don’t give it to the cancer cells.

“There is no evidence that following a ‘sugar-free’ diet reduces your risk of developing cancer, or increases your chances of survival if you are diagnosed.”

Lemon water

AFP has previously fact-checked claims that drinking hot lemon water can cure cancer. This Report published in French on 18 June 2019.

Professor Nicolas Boisel, a blood cancer specialist at Saint Louis Hospital in Paris, told AFP: “Neither hot water, lemons, nor a sugar-free diet have proven anti-cancer action. has shown anti-cancer activity This probably explains the confusion.

Coconut oil

The misleading post also claims: “Take a spoonful of organic coconut oil morning and night, and cancer cells will slowly disappear.”

Several other Thai-language posts on Facebook make similar claims about coconut oil’s purported role as a cancer treatment, e.g. Here, Hereand Here.

Below is a screenshot of one of the misleading Facebook posts.

The misleading post’s caption reads: “Coconut oil up to 93% more effective at killing colon cancer cells” and shares a link. Post On a real estate blog with the same headline.

The claim is false.

There is some evidence that the lauric acid found in coconut oil can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This A study published by the US-based National Library of Medicine in 2017.

But the study cautioned that: “Additional studies are needed to further confirm the efficacy of (lauric acid) in more comprehensive treatment regimens.”

Oncologist Dr Pinlert told AFP that the claim that taking “a spoonful of organic coconut oil” will eliminate cancer is false.

“The claim is false. We have not seen any evidence or information about coconut oil treating cancer in the human body.

This claim was previously fact-checked by Africa Check in a report published in June 2019. Here.