Curing cancer via your diet sounds too good to be true, but in the 1920's Dr. Max Gerson developed a diet based on organic fruits and vegetables that he claimed could prevent and cure cancer. The Gerson Diet, also referred to as Gerson Cancer Therapy, integrates a regimen of dietary changes, detoxification, enhanced nutrition and dietary supplementation. Dr. Max Gerson felt the large number of pollutants and toxins absorbed by the body were responsible for cancer and could be cured by following a strict diet. However, a report published in February 2010 in the medical journal "Oncology" found no strong evidence supporting Dr. Gerson's claims, noting that patients undergoing traditional cancer treatments lived longer and had a better quality of life. The Gerson Diet is not an FDA-approved cancer treatment program and you should only follow it under supervision of a physician.
Allowed Foods and Juices
The Gerson Diet is composed of a variety of allowed organic fruits and vegetables. Your nutrition for the day comes from 13 glasses of freshly-squeezed organic juices, which you drink hourly, as well as three vegetarian meals. There are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables allowed on the Gerson Diet including oranges, apples, pears, peaches, plums, lemons and cherries. The vegetables allowed on the diet include broccoli, kale, carrots, peppers and green beans. Other permissible foods are tomatoes, flax oil, vinegar and organic yogurt. Once a week, you can have a serving of sweet potatoes, brown rice, honey and one-half a banana.
Banned Foods
On this diet, you must eliminate all salt and sodium-containing products from your meal plan. The Gerson Diet prohibits all animal fats, alcohol, black tea, Epsom salt, seafood, white flour and white sugar. You may not consume fruits such as coconuts, berries and pineapples, or vegetables such as raw spinach, avocados, cucumbers and alfalfa sprouts. Dairy products, including butter and cheese, are not allowed, along with nuts, oils, margarine, mushrooms, legumes, mustard, soft drinks, baking soda and chocolate. You are not allowed to use fluoride toothpaste, deodorants, cosmetics, hair dye or aluminum pans to prepare meals. In contrast to many other diets, you may not drink water by itself on this diet.
Dietary Supplements
Along with the hourly juices and vegetarian meals, Dr. Gerson's diet also includes taking several dietary supplements including potassium, flaxseed oil and vitamins A, C and B-3, or niacin. Gerson Therapy includes enzyme therapy with pepsin and pancreatic enzymes, along with an injection of coenzyme Q10 with vitamin B-12. You also take a dose of Lugol's solution, which includes potassium iodide, iodine and water.
The Coffee Enema
One of the most controversial aspects of the Gerson Diet is the coffee enema. Dr. Gerson felt that detoxification should be a large part of the treatment process and developed a detoxifying enema for just that purpose. Although you are not allowed to ingest coffee by mouth, the Gerson Institute states that when delivered rectally, coffee acts to stimulate enzymes in the liver and digestive tissue, increasing bile flow to help eliminate toxins. You can also use a chamomile enema to help remove toxins.
Member Comments