Dr. Johanna Budwig of the Budwig Cancer Treatment Center has created a holistic, natural treatment that is complementary to traditional cancer management, and includes the Budwig Diet. The diet is not only intended to help people with cancer, but also help people suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure and even acne. The basic component of the diet involves flaxseed oil mixed with cottage cheese, but she suggests an eating plan to accompany this mixture that restricts all meats and animal fats including fish. Consult your doctor before beginning a new diet.
Protocol
To begin the Budwig protocol, you will need three pieces of kitchen equipment: a coffee grinder, a hand-held immersion blender and a juicer. Use the immersion blender to mix 3 tbsp. of flaxseed oil with 6 tbsp. of cottage cheese until you reach a whip cream-like consistency. Next, grind 2 tbsp. of whole flaxseed in your coffee grinder and add it to your cottage cheese mixture. Add in 1 tbsp. of honey by hand. According to the Cancer Cure Foundation, you can eat some of this mixture every day in addition to your regular diet if you prefer not to follow the complete Budwig plan.
Basic Rule
According to the Budwig Center's website, the diet's basic rule is, "If God made it, then it's fine and try to eat it in the same form that God made it." With that in mind, the diet recommends excluding all meat, all animal fat and all seafood.
Call for Revision
Holistic consultant Duncan Crow has called for revisions regarding both ingredients of the Budwig protocol. First, he asks you to consider whey protein in place of the cottage cheese. Second, Crow explains that flaxseed oil was once thought to be an "essential" omega-3, but is now known to be nonessential. For a rich source of EPA and DHA, turn to fish oils. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon have been shown to shrink tumors and enhance the effectiveness of chemo drugs, according to research from Mansoura University, Egypt.
Fish Oil & Fish
Budwig preferred not to use fish oils, despite their cancer-fighting reputation, because of her strong feelings about processed foods and their effect on your body. The processing of cod liver oil usually involves molecular distillation by high heat. However, if you are able to locate an unprocessed fish oil, Healing Cancer Naturally recommends using it in addition to Budwig's prescribed flax seed oil. As for fish, itself, Budwig calls seafood "cleaners of the sea" and claims they are toxic, directing you to avoid eating fish, seafood and all meat.
Warnings
If you are considering following the Budwig protocol or dietary advice, sit down and discuss it in detail first with your physician. Many of Budwig's claims have little scientific support; only some patients praise its healing powers. Your dietary needs are best decided between you and your doctor, prior to your making any changes.
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