The Gerson Therapy is a holistic, alternative treatment system that aims to activate the body's self-healing capabilities. It was developed by Dr. Max B. Gerson in the early 1900s initially to treat his migraines. Over time, he discovered its effectiveness in managing other conditions, including tuberculosis and cancer. The therapy is rooted in the belief that chronic diseases, including cancer, stem from metabolic changes caused by the accumulation of toxins in the body. The Gerson Therapy seeks to restore health by detoxifying the body and boosting the immune system. This article delves into the specifics of the Gerson diet, providing recipes and insights into this controversial yet widely discussed approach to health and wellness.
Understanding the Gerson Therapy
The Gerson Therapy operates on the principle that the body can heal itself if given the right conditions. Dr. Gerson posited that cancer develops when the body is overwhelmed by toxins, leading to imbalances in cell metabolism. The therapy aims to correct these imbalances and stimulate the body's natural healing processes through a combination of diet, supplements, and detoxification methods.
Historical Context
Dr. Max B. Gerson's work led to the establishment of the Gerson Institute in 1978 by his daughter, Charlotte Gerson. The institute provides education and training in the Gerson Therapy, offering resources for both in-patient and at-home treatments. Certified Gerson Practitioners (GPCs) offer web-based treatment options for those unable to access in-patient care.
Core Components of the Gerson Therapy
The Gerson Therapy is composed of three main components: diet, supplements, and detoxification.
Diet
The Gerson diet is a cornerstone of the therapy, emphasizing organic, plant-based foods. It is low in sodium, fats, and proteins, with a strong focus on fresh, raw juices. Patients are instructed to consume approximately 15-20 pounds (7-9 kg) of organic produce per day, primarily in the form of up to thirteen 8-ounce (240-ml) glasses of raw juice, consumed hourly.
Read also: Is the Gerson Diet Effective?
Gerson Diet Guidelines
The Gerson Therapy has strict guidelines for making juice:
- All produce MUST be organic.
- Stick to the three main juice recipes and optional breakfast citrus juice recipe.
- If you are missing a recipe ingredient, do not substitute, just omit it.
- Use a “two-stage” or “two-step” juicer that grinds, then presses (with the exception of juicing orange).
- Juice oranges with a manual reamer-style citrus juicer.
- Make fresh juice every hour of the day.
- Consume juice as soon as it’s made, do not store it.
Supplements
Supplements in the Gerson Therapy are not primarily intended to provide additional nutrients, as the diet is already nutrient-rich. Instead, they aim to support the metabolic processes of the cells. Key supplements include:
- Potassium
- Pancreatic enzymes
- Lugol’s solution (potassium iodide and iodide in water)
- A thyroid hormone supplement
- Vitamins B3 and B12
The emphasis on potassium supplementation is based on Dr. Gerson's belief that diseased cells have an imbalance of sodium and potassium.
Detoxification
Detoxification is a critical aspect of the Gerson Therapy, aimed at supporting the liver in processing the toxins released by the diet and supplements. Coffee enemas are a central component of this process, intended to widen the liver’s bile duct to facilitate the release of toxins. However, scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of coffee enemas is limited.
Gerson Diet Recipes
The Gerson diet includes a variety of recipes designed to provide essential nutrients and support the body's healing processes. Here are some examples:
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Gerson Therapy Juice Recipes
Juicing is a fundamental part of the Gerson Therapy, with patients consuming up to 13 glasses of fresh juice daily. The therapy emphasizes the use of a two-step juicer that grinds and then presses the produce to maximize nutrient extraction.
Carrot Juice Recipe
- Yield: About one 8 oz serving
- Ingredients: 5-6 carrots
- Directions: Wash the carrots. Cut the tops and bottoms off of the carrots. Grind and press.
Carrot-Apple Recipe
- Yield: About one 8 oz serving
- Ingredients: 3-4 medium carrots and 1 Granny Smith (green) apple
- Directions: Wash the produce. Cut the tops and bottoms off of the carrots. Core the apple, removing the apple seeds. Grind the carrots and apple together and press.
Gerson Green Juice Recipe
- Yield: About one 8 oz serving
- Ingredients: ¼ head romaine, Small wedge of purple cabbage (1″x1″x2″), 1 granny smith apple, ¼ medium green bell pepper, 6-8 leaves watercress, 2-3 leaves escarole or endive, 1-2 leaves swiss chard (no stem, mostly fiber), Red or green leaf lettuce, 2-3 beet top greens (small, inner leaves)
- Directions: Wash the produce. Core the apple, removing the apple seeds. Grind the ingredients together and press.
Gerson Holiday Recipes
The Gerson Therapy also includes recipes for holiday meals that adhere to the diet's strict guidelines.
Lentil Loaf Recipe
- Yield: 6-8 Servings
- Ingredients: 1 cup dried green, brown or French lentils, 4 cups purified water or Hippocrates Soup stock, 1 bay leaf, 3 cups Rye Bread crumbs, 1 small yellow onion, diced, 3-4 ribs celery, diced, 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- Directions: Add lentils, 3 cups purified water (or Hippocrates Soup stock) and bay leaf to a small pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower to a gentle simmer and continue to cook uncovered for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F Combine all remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Once lentils are cooked add them, along with any liquid left in the pot, and mix well.
Additional Gerson Diet Recipes
The Gerson diet also includes a variety of other recipes that adhere to the diet's guidelines.
Homemade Vegetable Broth
This recipe utilizes vegetable peels, healthy off cuts, stems and roots that are not used to make vegetable broth to be used in Gerson cooking.
- Ingredients: Vegetable peels and healthy vegetable cuts and scraps, stems and roots of herbs like parsley, dill and cilantro, a clove of garlic and any Gerson approved herbs you like.
- Directions: Accumulate and reserve vegetable peels and healthy vegetable cuts and scraps in a container in your fridge. Make a broth every few days with the scraps and peels to have on hand for cooking. Save and accumulate all vegetable peels, scraps and cuts as you go along. Be sure to also save the stems and roots of herbs like parsley, dill and cilantro. Once you have enough place the vegetable peels and scraps in a pot and cover with 2-3 times the amount of filtered water. Make sure to add parley root and fresh parsley, cilantro and dill stems and a clove of garlic. Or, any Gerson approved herbs you like. Bring to a boil then turn the heat down and place the lid on. Simmer gently for 2 hours. Let the broth stand to cool down. When cool, strain the broth into mason or recycled glass jars. Store in you fridge to use for cooking or drinking.
Creamy Potato and Parsnip Mash
A delicious variation on regular mashed potatoes. When following the Gerson Therapy diet potatoes are eaten with lunch and dinner since they are high in potassium and protein.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Ingredients: parsnips and potatoesDirections: Wash and scrub parsnips and potatoes with a natural bristle vegetable brush.Cut the parsnips and potatoes in cubes.Crush the garlic clove with skin lightly with the flat of a knife and the heel of your hand.Put the unpeeled vegetables and garlic clove in a thick bottom stainless steel pot.Add enough filtered water to cover the vegetables.Cover the pot with lid and bring to a boil on high heat.Once water is boiling, turn the heat down and cook for 12-15 minutes (until soft through but not mushy).Pass the vegetables through a food mill using the finest sieve to remove skins, into a serving bowl. Keep the cooking water. You can replace the parsnip with butternut squash or carrots.
Mashed Potato and Celeriac
Another great recipe to vary regular mashed potatoes. In this recipe we use celeriac also called celery root which is a root vegetable harvested in the late fall.
Ingredients: potatoes and celeriacDirections: Wash and scrub the vegetables with a natural vegetable brush.Remove the roots from the celeriac. Leave it whole.Leave the potatoes whole as they are.For best results, use two pots and cook the potatoes and celeriac root separately. Cover with enough filtered water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook for about 30 minutes or until cooked through.Once cooked, press the vegetables through the food mill using the finest sieve. Add vegetable stock as needed to get a creamy consistency. NOTE: This is a Gerson Therapy diet recipe that's why there is no salt added.
Mashed Potato with Onions
Onions contain the phytochemical or antioxidant, quercetin which is a powerful flavonoid with anti-cancer properties and boosts the immune system.
Ingredients: potatoes and onionsDirections: Wash and scrub the potatoes with a natural vegetable brush and peel the onions.Bring filtered water to a boil in a pot. Add the potatoes with the jackets to the boiling water. Put the lid on. Turn the heat down and cook slowly for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through.While the potatoes are cooking, chop the onions and gently cook them in a pan with lid in 3-4 tablespoons of homemade vegetable stock. Keep adding vegetable stock as needed to make sure the onions don't burn. When the potatoes are ready, process them through the food mill using the finest sieve.
Irish Potato Puree
This recipe is a Gerson Therapy version of the traditional Irish dish colcannon.
Ingredients: potatoes, green cabbage, green onions and parsleyDirections: Wash and scrub potatoes with a natural vegetable brush. Don't peel them.Place in a heavy saucepan with filtered water and bring to boil. Cover with a lid and turn the heat down. Cook slowly for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. While the potatoes are cooking, wash and chop the cabbage, green onions and parsley.Saute onions and cabbage in the vegetable broth for 15 minutes and set aside together with the chopped parsley.Once the potatoes are cooked through, pass them through a food mill using the finest sieve. This will also remove the skins. Add a few tablespoons of homemade vegetable broth to the potatoes to get a nice soft, fluffy consistency.Stir the chopped parsley, flax oil and cooked cabbage and green onion into the mashed potatoes. Keep some parsley to sprinkle over the dish once finished.
Perfect Mashed Potato for the Gerson Diet
Potatoes are one of the staple ingredients of Dr. Max Gerson’s cancer diet.
Directions: We recommend using a food mill to obtain a fluffy and creamy potato puree. Do not use a food processor or blender that will turn the potatoes into a glue-like mixture. Cook the potatoes in their skins, do not peel. Add flax oil at the end by stirring the oil into the finished mashed product.
Omega-3 Vinaigrette
Gerson Therapy Green Juice
Directions: Wash all thoroughly and put in spinner to remove excess water. Cut off bottom of stems of chard or any fibrous leaves. Pass through your juicer accordingly. Drink immediately. Try to consume within 20 minutes for optimal benefit and to avoid oxidation.
Red Pepper Dressing
Foods to Avoid
The Gerson therapy bans foods that are high in protein, sodium, and fat. Additionally, you cannot eat foods with certain compounds that the Institute claims interfere with the healing process. Foods in the Gerson therapy should be prepared without:
- salt
- spices
- oils
- aluminum cooking utensils or pans
Spices and fruit - such as pineapples and berries - are often prohibited because they contain aromatic acids, a plant compound. However, this is currently determined on a case-by-case basis.
Permitted Foods
The Gerson therapy mandates an organic, plant-based diet. You may be encouraged to consume:
- Fruits: all fresh fruits except berries and pineapple, which harbor aromatic acids
- Dried fruits (stewed or pre-soaked only): peaches, dates, figs, apricots, prunes, and raisins - all unsulphured
- Vegetables: all except mushrooms, hot peppers, carrot greens, radish greens, mustard greens, and raw spinach (cooked spinach is fine)
- Lentils: allowed only at certain times if you’re in good health
- Grains: rye bread (unsalted, non-fat), brown rice (if prescribed), and oatmeal
- Dairy: only non-fat, plain, organic yogurt - and only after six weeks
- Spices (in small amounts): allspice, anise, bay leaves, coriander, dill, fennel, mace, marjoram, rosemary, sage, saffron, sorrel, summer savory, thyme, and tarragon
- Condiments: vinegar - either wine or apple cider
- Fats: flaxseed oil - only if prescribed
- Beverages: freshly pressed juices (as prescribed), caffeine-free herbal teas
In addition to the above foods, certain items are permitted occasionally:
- Bananas: typically half a banana per week
- Breads: only whole wheat rye (unsalted, non-fat) - generally 1-2 slices per day
- Quinoa: usually once a week
- Yams and sweet potatoes: typically once a week (regular potatoes are unrestricted)
- Popcorn: air-popped, usually as a holiday treat only - a few times per year
- Sweeteners: maple syrup (grade A dark color - formerly grade B), honey, brown sugar, or unrefined blackstrap molasses - 1-2 teaspoons (15-30 ml) of any per day, maximum
Potential Benefits and Risks
While the Gerson Therapy emphasizes a nutrient-rich, plant-based diet, it is essential to consider both its potential benefits and risks.
Potential Benefits
- Higher in many nutrients: Plant-based diets tend to provide more fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than typical Western diets high in processed foods.
- May reduce your risk of heart disease: Diets high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
- May improve kidney function: Plant-based diets may protect against kidney disease and kidney stones.
- May help relieve constipation: The Gerson therapy and other plant-based diets are high in fiber, which may help relieve constipation and keep your digestive system healthy.
Risks and Downsides
The Gerson therapy has several serious risks and downsides.
- flu-like symptoms
- foul odor with perspiration
- loss of appetite
- fever
- tumor pain
- cold sores or fever blisters
- dizziness or weakness
- diarrhea, vomiting, or intestinal cramping
Coffee enemas can also lead to electrolyte imbalance.
Scientific Evidence and Expert Opinions
The Gerson Therapy remains a controversial topic in the medical community. While some individuals claim to have experienced positive outcomes, scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness is limited.
Lack of High-Quality Studies
No high-quality studies support the benefits of the Gerson Therapy. Older research and reviews have found little evidence to support the claims that the therapy can help treat cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that there is limited scientific evidence to support the claims from the Gerson Institute on the treatment of cancer through the Gerson therapy. They also note that the FDA has not approved the Gerson therapy for the treatment of cancer or any other condition.
Expert Recommendations
The NCI recommends that you speak with a healthcare professional about nutritional needs during cancer treatment. It’s advisable to discuss proper treatment with a healthcare professional before committing to this diet. Using unapproved alternative treatment methods can lead to dangerous side effects and may worsen your health.