The Gerson diet for cancer directly tackles the roots of the disease, namely nutritional deficiencies and toxic buildup in your body, explains the website of the Gerson Institute. Developed by Dr. Max B. Gerson, it is a controversial cancer treatment program that relies on a strict organic diet, biological medications and regular detoxification with coffee enemas. According to the National Cancer Institute, or NCI, if you have cancer, speak with your physician before embarking on this or any other complementary or alternative program.
Max B. Gerson
Dr. Max B. Gerson was a German medical doctor born in 1881. He developed a nutritional regimen to treat his migraine headaches. One of his migraine patients following the diet noticed that his skin tuberculosis had vanished. Eventually, Gerson founded a clinic in a Munich hospital and treated hundreds of patients with cancer, according to the Gerson Institute. The state of New York granted Gerson a medical license in 1938. He died in 1959 after practicing medicine and treating cancer in the U.S. for 20 years.
Gerson Cancer Therapy Overview
Gerson therapy is based on the theory that cancer is caused by toxic buildups in your body that affect cell metabolism. Gerson believed imbalances in potassium and sodium levels influenced cellular health, further contributing to the development of cancer. The decline in healthy cells causes malfunctions in your liver, your body's main detoxifier. The NCI explains that Gerson anti-cancer therapy consists of an organic vegetarian diet, which he believed would repair unhealthy tissue and cleanse the liver. Gerson also thought that removing toxins that contribute to cancer by way of enemas would cure the disease. According the NCI, scientific studies do not conclusively support the therapy's purported benefits for cancer patients.
Gerson Diet for Cancer
The anti-cancer diet aims to inundate your body with nutrients and enzymes that support healthy metabolic functioning. This is accomplished by consuming approximately 20 lbs. of fruits and vegetables each day, according to the Gerson Institute. The anti-cancer regimen's cornerstone is drinking 13 glasses of fresh juices prepared from organic vegetables and fruits each day. You must prepare the juice on an hourly basis and drink it immediately. In addition, you are allowed three organic vegetarian meals daily, which might consist of soup, salad, vegetables and baked potatoes. You can nibble on fresh fruit any time during the day. Prohibited foods include meat, alcohol, salt, sugar, cheese and nuts.
Dietary Supplements for Cancer
Gerson anti-cancer therapy relies on biological supplements, which the Gerson Institute defines as supplements obtained from organic sources. These include thyroid hormone, pancreatic enzymes, liver extract and vitamin B-12, extracted from cows or pigs. In addition, Gerson clients take Lugol's solution, also known as Lugol's iodine, which is an amalgam of potassium iodide and elemental iodine, as well as vitamin B-12 and potassium compound salts. Castor oil also speeds up the detoxification process by increasing the flow of bile, or digestive juices, according to the Gerson Institute. Although it is illegal in the United States, Gerson cancer patients in Mexico are given laetrile, a purported chemotherapeutic agent.
