The original Dr. Johanna Budwig anti-cancer program did not include any synthetic vitamins or minerals (or supplements). Why?
She commented: “Vitamin pills are fragmentized nutrients and they are in most cases synthetic. …[they often contain fillers], one of them is Talc which is akin to asbestos. High doses or levels of antioxidants(antioxidant supplements) [might] reduce the effectiveness of or interfere with the Budwig Protocol.”
Scientists finally appreciate what Dr. Budwig discovered some 50 years ago. In a study reported in Cancer Research, two groups of lab rats with cancer tumors were given lycopene. One group received it via several types of food that contained the substance, and the other group was given lycopene supplements. Those taking the supplements had no significant reduction in tumor growth, but those eating the foods did.
Synthetic Vitamins and Minerals – Lessons Learned
What can we conclude from this study? Wholefoods, the way God made them, contain many other phytochemicals that work together with lycopene. When man manipulates these ‘foods’ and puts them into a supplement, they are fragmented and do not provide all the benefits.
Our body is intelligently designed, and it knows the difference between ‘real food’ and ‘manipulated foods’. It’s no wonder then that real foods often have many times more healing power when compared to an equal amount of synthetic vitamins and minerals.
Real, live foods have also been called ‘functional foods’ as they go far beyond just providing basic nutrition. They perform specific medicinal healing actions within the body. For example, one component found in cruciferous vegetables called sulforaphane is biologically active and offers many benefits.
Although we may have hated eating our greens when we were young, our parents love prevailed when they urged us to eat cruciferous vegetables such as:
- Arugula
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collard Greens and Kale
To make these types of vegetables more palatable, it’s definitely worth the effort of putting together tasty recipes that the whole family will enjoy.
Sulforaphane Benefits
A new research study has shown for the first time how sulforaphane is a helpful food to consume for good health.
The French have a very thought-provoking expression: “We dig our own grave with our teeth.” Could deficiencies in nutrients be the real cause of the beginning of many chronic diseases because we are eating too many ‘processed foods’ instead of ‘real functional food’?
Flavonoids, the “On-Switch” to Genes
Consider another example, flavonoids. They are remarkable natural compounds that have a wide range of healing effects on our bodies. In vitro tests show that flavonoids have up to five times the antioxidant power of vitamin C. Free radicals cause untold damage to our cells, whereas, flavonoids hunt down and absorb free radicals before they cause aging and disease.
The Linus Pauling Institute in Oregon, USA, uncovered some breakthrough research when they found that flavonoids change the way genes are expressed in the body. They cause the body to “switch on” in ways that can help you stay healthy.
They discovered that flavonoids force the body into producing enzymes.
Top Flavonoid Food Sources
- Almonds
- Romaine lettuce
- Blueberries and Strawberries
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Peaches, Pears, Oranges, Apples, and Watermelon
- Garbanzo beans
In light of these discoveries, we can see why Dr. Budwig did not favor synthetic vitamin supplements but instead included herbs and herbal remedies to complement the therapies she recommended. Keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by following the wisdom of Dr. Johanna Budwig, replace synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements with ‘real live foods’ and if possible, always choose organic.
Tip: Wash all fruits and vegetables, including organic, in pure water and white vinegar at a ratio of 1 parts vinegar to 5 parts water for 10 minutes, rinse and enjoy!
I am allergic to all fruits and raw vegetables which makes it very hard for me to follow cancer diet. Everything has to be cooked so I steam my broccoli, spinach and kale. I can’t eat any fruits or nuts.
However, I eat lots of salmon stew with flax seed meal, prepared on fire. I also eat the cottage cheese blended with flax seed oil and I really enjoy that.
I take vitamin D and calcium, turkey tail mushroom pills as I can’t eat them raw. I hope those wont interfere with the budwig diet for lung cancer.
Dear Tola, thank you for contacting us with your questions. It could be that there is a condition in your gut that also needs addressing from the situation you are describing. Dr. Budwig discouraged animal fat and protein so the salmon is the biggest concern. If you need help following the Budwig protocol, please sign up to receive the E-book we have put together, as a guide as well as emails to us directly: [email protected]
When one has a diagnosis like lung cancer, we need to look at more than just the diet to address all the contributing factors for this disease.