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According to Dr Seyfried, these steps aren’t a substitute for treatment but may aid the body alongside therapy by creating an internal environment where cancer struggles to survive
Practices like meditation, deep breathing, spending time in nature, or journaling can help alleviate stress, Dr Seyfried said. (Representative/Shutterstock)
US-based biology professor Dr. Thomas Seyfried has claimed that cancer may be reversible through certain lifestyle and dietary interventions. His assertions present a controversial and unconventional perspective on the disease.
Dr. Seyfried, who has spent nearly three decades studying cancer, argues that the growth of cancer cells can be influenced by relatively simple changes to daily habits. He maintains that these approaches are not intended as replacements for medical treatments but could be considered complementary.
A report by The Economic Times quotes Dr. Seyfried as suggesting that cancer should be viewed not only as a genetic condition but also as a metabolic disorder. His research claims that cancer cells rely heavily on glucose for survival, and therefore, strategies that limit glucose availability might help control their growth.
He further asserts that changes to diet and lifestyle could create an internal environment that is less conducive to cancer cell proliferation. According to him, these changes might also reduce the risk of cancer in otherwise healthy individuals.
Below are six lifestyle practices that Dr. Seyfried proposes may contribute to cancer reversal, though these claims are not universally accepted or medically endorsed:
- Control Blood Sugar: Dr. Seyfried claims that reducing sugar intake may deprive cancer cells of their primary energy source. He recommends avoiding sweets, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates, and instead focusing on high-fibre vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats.
- Ketogenic Diet: He suggests that a low-carb, high-fat diet could force the body to use ketones for energy—an energy source he claims cancer cells cannot efficiently use. Foods he highlights include avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and leafy greens.
- Intermittent Fasting: According to Dr. Seyfried, limiting the eating window to 8 hours a day may help lower insulin levels, promote cellular repair, and increase ketone production, thereby creating an environment less favourable to cancer cells.
- Increase Physical Activity: Dr. Seyfried claims that light physical activity—such as walking, yoga, or stretching—can help improve blood flow and reduce inflammation, which he believes could make the body more resilient against cancer.
- Reduce Stress: He further claims that chronic stress weakens the immune system and increases inflammation, potentially accelerating cancer progression. Techniques like meditation, journaling, or spending time in nature are among those he says may help manage stress.
- Anti-inflammatory Diet: Dr. Seyfried argues that natural, unprocessed foods may reduce inflammation and promote overall health. He names foods like berries, turmeric, garlic, fatty fish, and leafy greens as having potential anti-cancer properties.
Dr. Seyfried has reiterated that these lifestyle measures are not cures or alternatives to established medical treatments. He advises that any such changes should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals.
His views have sparked interest and debate, especially regarding the idea that daily habits—such as managing stress, staying active, and maintaining a specific diet—could play a role in the body’s resistance to cancer. However, medical experts caution that such claims should be approached with critical scrutiny and evaluated within the broader context of peer-reviewed scientific research.
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