Can consumption of ‘hot coconut water’ or ‘soursop’ cure cancer?
Claim
Tips:Cut 2 to 3 thin coconut flakes & add hot water, it will become alkaline water, drink every day, it is good for anyone.
Hot Coconut water releases an anti-cancer substance, which is the latest advance in the effective treatment of cancer in the medical field.
flakes=துருவல்
Rating
Explanation
Social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are inundated with numerous health tips for diseases including cancer. They are never ending and seem to resurface again and again even after several doctors warned about spreading misinformation related to health issues. The recent claim is about consumption of ‘hot coconut water’ and ‘soursop’ to get rid of cancer. Such claims can be seen here, here and here.
What is the truth?
When searching for keywords ‘hot coconut water’ and ‘cancer’, Google threw us several links related to the claim. This claim was an old misinformation that was spread in the name of Dr Rajendra Badwe, Director of Tata Memorial Centre. And the claim was denied through a statement dated 16, May 2012 by Dr Badwe. It is mentioned in the press release that ‘this is a fake message and there is no data to suggest that hot coconut water can provide cures for any type of cancer’. This press release can be seen published by the Facebook pages ‘CHD Group’ and ‘Campaign against Nutrition Quacks and Courses’.
The claim seems to be never ending albeit it was all over the news about Dr Badwe denying the claim. Media outlets including ‘Times of India’, ‘The Hindu’ and ‘Hindustan Times’ published this news.
Hosp denies hot coconut water a cure for cancer https://t.co/Tq9uWXd95x
— TOI Mumbai (@TOIMumbai) May 17, 2019
When searching for soursop/Graviola’s role in curing cancer, ‘Cancer Research UK’ website published about alternative therapies in which it is said that Graviola is used in research to treat cancer cells but only in laboratory and that it lacks human trails.
It is mentioned on the website that “Many websites promote graviola as a cure for cancer. But no reputable scientific cancer organisations support any of these claims.”
Cancer Research UK also mentions about using sugar, lemon juice, baking soda, apricot kernels, coffee enemas, tropical fruit, “alkaline” foods, even bleach in treating cancer.
It is clearly mentioned that usage of these items to cure cancer lacks investigation even though in some cases lab studies suggests it has anti-cancer effect, because, things that kill cancer cells in lab test or even in animal models can be ineffective when dealt with humans.
‘Africa Check’ fact-check article dated 7, June 2019 says there is no role of coconut oil in treating cancer in humans.
When we checked the claim with Dr Praveen Kumar, “it is fake, coconut is not alkaline. No latest medicine mention this as treatment and no anti-cancer effect is proven till date”, he clarified.
Scientists are still working on finding a lasting cure for cancer. Though most of the above mentioned foods are undoubtedly good for health, consuming more of any food item is not advisable. And that too as a replacement for treatment of illnesses like cancer is not suggested by doctors as it may cause adverse effects.
Conclusion
It is found that hot coconut water or soursop/graviola lack evidence in killing cancer cells in humans.
Proof Links
