The Gerson Diet is a highly controversial treatment for cancer, although the Gerson Institute claims it also cures heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. It is the creation of Dr. Max Gerson, who first used it to treat his migraine headaches. In the 1930s it was used to treat tuberculosis, and later it focused on curing cancer. Charlotte Gerson, the daughter of Max Gerson, carries on his work at the Gerson Institute in San Diego. The rationale behind the Gerson Diet is that cancer can be cured by eliminating toxins from the body, which is detoxed with coffee enemas and by drinking about a gallon of juice every day.
Foods
The typical daily Gerson Diet consists of: 1) Thirteen glasses of fresh, raw carrot/apple and green-leaf juices prepared hourly from fresh organic fruits and vegetables; 2) Three full vegetarian meals prepared from organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains--a typical meal will consist of salad, cooked vegetables, baked potatoes, vegetable soup and juice; and 3) Snacks of fresh fruit and fresh fruit desserts. This dietary regimen eschews the use of salt, spices, oils, as well as aluminum cookware or utensils.
Supplements
Supplements are an important component of the Gerson Diet. One of the tenets of the Gerson Diet is that people have too much salt in their system and not enough potassium. The list of vitamins and supplements includes potassium; Lugol's solution, which contains potassium iodide and iodine; vitamin B-12; thyroid hormone; injections of crude liver extract; pancreatic enzymes; and coffee and/or chamomile enemas.
Cautions
Dr. Stephen Barrett, founder of the Quackwatch website, lists the Gerson Diet as a "questionable alternative," which is defined as one that is unproven and lacks any plausible scientific rational. The National Cancer Institute reports that the Gerson Diet has never been approved by the FDA as a treatment for cancer or any other condition, and that side effects of coffee enemas and injections of liver extract can lead to serious complications and even death. If you are considering trying the Gerson Diet, please consult with your physician. You may be advised not to waste your time on treatments that are unlikely to help you and that have dangerous side effects.
