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Macrobiotic Diets and Colon Cancer

Although eschewed in medical circles, proponents of the macrobiotic diet continue to sing its praises as a possible alternative cure for many types of cancer. Although no official studies directly link the macrobiotic diet with curing cancer, an interesting amount of anecdotal and tangential evidence exists. While this does not conclusively prove any claims, it does make macrobiotic diets a possibly viable option for dealing with otherwise untreatable forms of colon cancer.

  1. About the Macrobiotic Diet

    • Invented in the 1930s, the macrobiotic diet was the brainchild of a Japanese philosopher-researcher who was aiming to combine the tenets of Buddhism, Christianity, and Western and Eastern medicine into one holistic approach for curing disease. Since then, numerous individuals have used the macrobiotic diet to prevent and purportedly cure cancers, including cancer of the colon.

    Following the Macrobiotic Diet

    • The three main tenets of the macrobiotic diet are: Consume a diet that is largely vegetarian, low in fat and high in fiber. Specifically, consume the following foods: whitefish, grains, miso, beans, seeds, nuts, pickles, tomatoes, beets, spinach, zucchini, potatoes and avocados. Avoid the following food types: eggs, dairy, stimulants, sugar, coffee, poultry, processed food and red meat.

    Macrobiotic Rules

    • Another main principle of the macrobiotic diet derived from Chinese medicine is the following: Only eat fruits and vegetables that are grown locally. Thus, if you live in a cooler climate, do not eat anything that comes from a tropical climate, and vice versa. For example, if you live in the tropics, you should stick to your locally grown fruits: coconuts, bananas and pineapples. Additionally, only cook with natural materials: steel, wood, ceramics, enamels and glass items--no plastics. Finally, refrain from using the microwave or cooking with electricity.

    Macrobiotic Diet and Cancer-Fighting Benefits

    • The overall principles of the Macrobiotic Diet are sound. Low-fat, high-fiber diets that are rich in fruits and vegetables have been consistently shown to have anti-cancer properties. Individuals at the Fox Chase Cancer Center concluded that diets high in whole grains, vegetables and fruit can reduce the overall risk of colon cancer by about 40 percent--a substantial advantage.

    Considerations

    • However, please note that while the tenets of the macrobiotic diet are firmly linked with cancer prevention, that's hardly the same as a cure. To date, no studies demonstrate that the macrobiotic diet can cure existing cancers--only anecdotal reports from individuals. On balance, there is little harm in attempting to use the macrobiotic diet to fight colon cancer, so long as it is balanced with an equally robust treatment plan consisting of proven cancer-fighting methods.

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