The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), including dietary supplements, herbals, and special diets, continues to be popular for preventing or treating disease. Among these is the Budwig Diet, an alternative dietary approach that has been proposed for the self-management and treatment of cancer. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Budwig Diet, examining its origins, principles, potential benefits, risks, and the available research.
Origins and Principles of the Budwig Diet
The Budwig Diet was developed in the 1950s by German biochemist Dr. Johanna Budwig. She believed that cancer was a result of incomplete cellular division and that a combination of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese would improve cellular function. The core of the diet is a mixture of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese, based on Budwig's theory that the interaction between the highly unsaturated fatty acids in flaxseed oil and the sulphydryl groups in cottage cheese would enhance cellular respiration.
Budwig's theory was influenced by the work of Otto Warburg, who theorized that cellular respiration was dependent on substrate availability, specifically a sulphydryl group and a saturated fatty acid. Budwig believed that cancer patients required highly unsaturated fatty acids (now known as polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs), specifically linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (LNA), to act as raw materials for cell membrane formation and to drive cellular respiration. Flaxseed oil, which contains 18-20% LA and 58-60% LNA, is a key component of the Budwig Diet.
Components of the Budwig Diet
The Budwig Diet emphasizes a mostly vegetarian eating pattern. It involves the consumption of multiple daily servings of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese, as well as vegetables, fruits, and juices. The diet prohibits the intake of sugar, animal fats, shellfish, processed foods, soy, and most dairy products.
Here's a breakdown of the key components:
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- Flaxseed Oil and Cottage Cheese Mixture: This is the cornerstone of the Budwig Diet. The typical recommendation is to combine cottage cheese and flaxseed oil in a 2:1 ratio. Some people add fruit, nuts, or honey to improve the taste. The mixture should be consumed within 20 minutes of preparation to avoid oxidation.
- Fruits and Vegetables: The diet encourages a high intake of fruits and vegetables, emphasizing fiber-rich options.
- Restricted Foods: The Budwig Diet strictly avoids sugar, refined grains, processed meats, shellfish, and most dairy products.
Alleged Benefits of the Budwig Diet
Proponents of the Budwig Diet claim that it can slow the growth of cancer cells, improve immune function, and offer other health benefits. These claims are based on the following rationale:
- Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Budwig believed that high amounts of polyunsaturated fats from foods like flaxseed oil and cottage cheese could help slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.
- Antioxidants: Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which are believed to have cancer-fighting properties.
- Elimination of Processed Foods: The Budwig Diet eliminates processed foods, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health problems.
Scientific Evidence and Research
Despite the claims made by proponents, there is a lack of clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of the Budwig Diet. Most of the available evidence is anecdotal.
- Flaxseed Oil and Cancer: Some test-tube and animal research has indicated that flaxseed oil may possess cancer-fighting properties. For example, a study in mice found that administering flaxseed oil reduced the formation of lung tumors.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Flaxseed oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which may help reduce inflammation, decrease blood pressure, and protect against heart disease.
- Ovarian Cancer Prevention: A study on laying hens found that long-term consumption of flaxseed decreased the incidence and severity of ovarian cancer. The study also found that flaxseed consumption reduced COX-2 expression and PGE2 levels in the ovaries.
However, it's important to note that these studies do not provide conclusive evidence that the Budwig Diet can prevent or treat cancer in humans.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
The Budwig Diet is a restrictive eating plan that may pose several risks:
- Nutrient Deficiencies: The diet eliminates many food groups, which may lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients like protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins.
- Weight Loss: The diet is highly restrictive and may contribute to weight loss, which can be dangerous for people with cancer.
- Digestive Issues: The high amounts of flaxseed oil in the diet may cause digestive issues and diarrhea in some people.
- Interactions with Medications: Flax seeds may interact with certain medications, so it's important to talk to a healthcare provider before increasing intake.
The Bill Henderson Protocol (BHP)
The Bill Henderson Protocol (BHP) is a diet that is proposed to treat cancer and was first described in 2004. The primary daily components are raw fruits, vegetables, gluten-free whole grains, legumes, and a cottage cheese/flaxseed oil mixture. Similar to other popularized and prescriptive diets, the BHP recommends restriction of some foods (i.e., gluten and all dairy products other than cottage cheese) and inclusion of supplements. The supplement list is extensive; products containing beta glucan, barley grass, a multivitamin and mineral, and a nutrient combination of green tea, l-lysine, l-proline, and vitamin C. The BHP presents a dietary regimen with little evidence supporting its composition. The scientific background supporting the BHP is from 1950 and uses then-known biochemistry that led to the cottage cheese/flaxseed oil combination. Little evidence beyond testimonials exists at this time, but public interest persists.
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The Budwig Diet and Cancer Treatment
It is crucial to emphasize that the Budwig Diet should not be considered a cancer treatment. Cancer is a complex, multistep disorder resulting from a combination of factors, including DNA damage, infection, genetics, aging, immune function disorders, and lifestyle factors. Conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, are based on scientific evidence and have been proven to be effective in treating certain types of cancer.
Expert Opinion and Recommendations
Considering the lack of evidence of benefits from cancer diets and potential harm by malnutrition, oncologists should engage more in counseling cancer patients on such diets.
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