Former Indian cricketer and now-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu recently claimed that his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, is now “clinically cancer-free” after having adhered to a diet and implementing lifestyle changes during and after her treatment, defeating stage-4 breast cancer within just 40 days.
Sidhu said in a press conference (archived here) on November 21 that his wife “defeated cancer not because we had money but because she was disciplined and followed a strict diet routine”. He claimed (archived here) that she “came back from a three percent chance” of survival owing to the diet, adding that “cancer can be defeated if one changes their lifestyle”.
Other social media accounts picked up this statement and started sharing short clips from his press conference, claiming, “Navjot S Sidhu’s was diagnosed with Stage-IV cancer. Doctors claimed just a 3% chance of survival! ~ She took lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, Neem leaves, & Tulsi in the diet. This diet made her Cancer FREE in just 40 days (sic).” This post had garnered 1.3 million views at the time of writing this story.
Other accounts also shared the details from the diet without context claiming it made Sidhu’s wife “cancer-free”.
Oncologist Rahul S. Kanaka told Logically Facts, “A diet plan cannot cure cancer on its own. Cancer treatment involves a comprehensive medical approach, which typically includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy, depending on the type and stage of the disease.”
Controversy over Sidhu’s claims
A day after Sidhu’s press conference, Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as ‘TheLiverDoc’ on X, reacted to the claim in a post (archived here), saying there is no evidence that any specific diet or herb can prevent or cure cancer. He also shared links to studies saying cancer patients who opt for alternative treatment are at greater risk of death.
On November 23, C.S. Pramesh, director of Tata Memorial Hospital, joined over 260 oncologists in refuting the politician’s claims that cancer could be defeated by following a strict diet. Sharing an open letter on X, the oncologists urged the public not to delay treatment by opting for “unproven remedies”, adding that there is no clinical data to support the use of some of the products named by Sidhu as anti-cancer agents.
After criticism over his claims, Sidhu clarified (archived here) that the diet plan was implemented in consultation with doctors and should be considered “facilitation in the treatment”.
He also shared the detailed diet chart his wife had followed in both English and Hindi, which mentioned fasting, what food items were consumed, and which ones were avoided or replaced. The chart named several at-home remedies and hacks but highlighted that his wife’s journey did also involve surgeries and chemotherapy.
Logically Facts asked oncologists whether diet plans play any role during cancer treatment. Experts said that while diets do help strengthen the body and reduce the risk of recurrences, consequently improving overall health, they should never replace medical interventions.
Does pH Level Of Water And Intermittent Fasting Help?
This diet plan starts by stating that the pH level of water should be 7 (alkaline) to enhance recovery. Oncologist Sachin Sekhar Biswal said, “Alkaline food or Alkaline water is the latest food fad and trend by celebrities or influencers. However, no studies have really demonstrated the protective effect of alkaline food or water against cancer.”
On the claim that intermittent fasting led to “the death of cancer cells”, Biswal noted that it is an established way to reduce weight. “Calorie restriction without malnutrition in some studies has some beneficial impact in non-human models of research. But as far as cancer prevention is concerned, the data is lacking,” he pointed out.
Physician Paramjeet Maras — who actively debunks medical misinformation on Instagram — said, “The pH of the human body very tightly regulates the pH of blood, and drinking water of pH 7 has no effect on cancer cells (pH 7 is also neutral and not alkaline).” He added that while it’s true that cancer cells thrive in acidic environments, the claim that an alkaline diet or pH level of water can kill cancer is not supported by any scientific evidence.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), the theory that an alkaline diet can prevent cancer is based on some studies that show that acidic environments help cancer cells grow. However, it notes that the studies that found that cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment were done in a laboratory setting.
“Your body is very good at maintaining its pH levels without dietary influence. It would be nearly impossible to alter the cell environment to create a less acidic environment in our bodies,” advice on AICR’s website adds.
Regarding intermittent fasting, the institute also highlights that more research is needed before such strategies become part of cancer treatment protocols.
Old Tales About Homemade Remedies
Sidhu, in his initial press conference, talked about the benefits of concoctions of several herbs and spices, including cardamom, neem leaves, turmeric, among others. The diet plan he shared mentioned holy basil, ginger, mint, cinnamon, and soursop leaves as well.
While Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s page mentions that in vitro studies suggest that neem can inhibit cancer cell growth, it notes that neem has not been studied as a treatment for cancer.
Cinnamon, cardamom, basil, ginger, garlic, and poppy seeds have some phytochemicals of interest due to their anti-cancerous properties, and the consumption of spices rich in these compounds has important health benefits. “But as of now, they are not recommended for either prevention or treatment of cancer,” Biswal added.
According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in vitro studies suggest that cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antitumour, and antiestrogenic properties. Similarly, in laboratory studies, graviola [soursop] extracts can kill some types of cancer cells, including liver, breast, and prostate cancer cells. However, there have not been any studies in humans according to Cancer Research UK. So these ingredients may have some potential, but large-scale human trials are needed to study the exact effect on cancer.
The diet chart shared by Sidhu also mentioned consuming apple cider vinegar. According to UChicago Medicine, a few studies do show that apple cider vinegar may have anti-cancer properties, but these involved culturing cancer cells and exposing them to vinegar or acetic acid. The site notes, “the limitation of these studies is obvious; we can’t directly pour ACV on cancers inside of people. Further, you definitely can’t give someone an ACV IV infusion without causing serious harm or death”.
Biswal made a similar point. “Apple cider vinegar has some modest effect weight loss aided with diet and exercise. Some studies have shown it to hinder the proliferation of cancer cells, but the utility of those studies is limited. Killing cancer cells in a laboratory in a petri dish can’t be directly applied to humans. So, it needs further research of years to prove or disprove the anti-cancer effects,” he said.
We asked Maras about the anti-cancer properties of food items listed in the diet chart, to which he said, “Spices, fruits, and vegetables may have antioxidant or anticancer properties, and they are generally good for health, but no single food is an answer.” He said that a good diet or a certain food item might have potential anti-cancer properties, but “these are not proven treatments”.
Sidhu had claimed that “coconut works miracles”. However, an AFP fact-check noted that the coconut oil myth is highly misleading and that there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that coconut oil kills cancer cells.
McGill University’s blog explains how facts about cancer treatment and causes are often mangled. It explains how “suggestions that cancer risk can be significantly reduced by adding turmeric to the diet or replacing a commercial cleaning agent with vinegar, or switching from store-bought shampoo to a homemade concoction of aloe vera gel, coconut milk, and castile soap, are naïve”.
Are Refined Foods The Real Culprit?
Sidhu, in his first press conference, claimed that “cancer feeds on sugar” and advocated for the “removal of cancer lifeline foods” — refined carbs, sugar, oils, milk products, and any kind of packed food containing preservatives. The diet plan also mentioned the same items.
Maras said that although these items contribute to overall ill health and other diseases, reducing these items will not cure cancer.
Cancer Research UK noted that it is a common myth that sugar is responsible for developing cancer or that it even “fuels cancer to grow bigger”. It also explained how this myth banks on the theory that cancer cells need lots of glucose, and that cutting sugar will help stop cancer from growing. However, it is not that simple. “There’s no evidence that following a ‘sugar-free’ diet lowers the risk of getting cancer or that it boosts the chances of surviving if you are diagnosed,” the charity noted.
According to MD Anderson Cancer Centre, “Carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet. Getting the right amount of the right kind of carbs can help you maintain a healthy weight – an important part of lowering your cancer risk.”
The bottom line
There is no strong evidence that a single food or a diet may help prevent, treat, or cure cancer, but daily intake of a nutrient-filled diet is essential during and after the treatment of diseases.
According to Biswal, “At this point of time, no diet is recommended only as a cure for any form of cancer.” Moreover, there is no good evidence that any one food prevents cancer. Cancer research organisations have noted that people can reduce their risk by maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
“Diet can be preventive but not curative. The most important thing to do is to listen to a good oncologist, and evidence-based medical treatment is most important,” said Maras.
(Edited by Shreyashi Roy and Ilma Hasan.)
This report first appeared on logicallyfacts.com, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.