Many diets claim to cure or prevent cancer. One of the oldest is the Budwig diet. Keep reading to learn what it is, how it works, and potential risks.
What Is the Budwig Diet?
The Budwig Diet is a diet that claims to prevent cancer. It was introduced in the 1950s by Johanna Budwig, a German biochemist who held doctorates in physics and chemistry. The diet calls for eating a combination of cottage cheese, flaxseed oil, and milk several times each day. Budwig believed this could boost cell function and slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Understanding the Budwig Diet
But how does eating more fatty acids and dairy help prevent cancer? Budwig believed the secret was in how chemicals in flaxseed oil and cottage cheese interact.
Flaxseed oil and cancer
Flaxseed oil, also called linseed oil, is made from pressing the seeds of the flax plant. Flaxseeds are high in fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids can lower the levels of inflammation and chemicals in your body that may cause cancer.
Cottage cheese’s role
Cottage cheese contains chemicals called sulfhydryls that help protect cells from harmful molecules (free radicals). Budwig believed the sulfhydryls in cottage cheese could help the body better absorb the omega-3s present in flaxseed, creating an oxygen-rich environment where healthy cells could thrive.
How does the Budwig diet work?
Although there are studies showing that the compounds in flaxseed may fight cancer cells, there is no medical evidence that the Budwig diet prevents cancer. There have been no clinical studies to figure out how the diet affects the body.
Foods allowed on the Budwig Diet
The main staple of this diet is a mixture of cottage cheese, flaxseed oil, and low-fat milk eaten several times per day. It also calls for eating several high-fiber foods and vegetables, such as:
- Apples
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Leafy greens (spinach, kale, lettuce)
- Seeds (pumpkin or sunflower)
- Granola
Foods to avoid on the Budwig diet
This diet is extremely limited and excludes processed foods, meats, sugar, and most dairy products (except for cottage cheese and milk). Other foods to avoid include:
- Oils that are refined or hydrogenated
- Shellfish
- Pork
- Cold meats such as sliced deli meat
- Refined grains and cereals
- Coffee and tea
In addition to a strict diet, Budwig encouraged her patients to spend at least 20 minutes a day in the sun and take walks in nature. She believed the sun provides vitamins and boosts your body’s ability to regulate your blood pressure, cholesterol, and pH levels. Some versions of the Budwig diet permit coffee or oil enemas to relieve constipation.
Is the Budwig Diet Safe?
There haven’t been any clinical trials to see how the Budwig diet affects the body. And while it does call for eating high-fiber fruits and vegetables, you could miss out on essential B vitamins and nutrients that you’d get from certain meat and dairy products. This could cause nutritional deficiencies that could negatively affect your cancer treatment. Eating a limited diet could also cause you to lose weight, something you want to avoid if you have cancer.
Other side effects of the Budwig diet include:
- More frequent bowel movements
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Gas
- Pain in your abdomen
Other Considerations
Talk to your doctor about flaxseed oil if you take other medications, as it can affect how your body absorbs them. Don’t take flaxseed oil if you have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, as it can thin your blood. Also, avoid it if you’re pregnant. In animal studies, flaxseed oil has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer in offspring.
It’s also possible that you’re allergic to flaxseeds, have lactose intolerance, or have a dairy allergy. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid constipation or a bowel blockage caused by flaxseeds.
Because the Budwig Diet calls for at least 20 minutes of sun exposure each day, you have an increased risk of getting sunburn and skin cancer. Wear sunscreen and protective wear to protect your skin and lower your risk.
Finally, if you follow a milk- and plant-based diet like the Budwig Diet, you might not be getting enough Vitamin B12 from the foods you eat. Talk to your doctor before you begin any other cancer diet or treatment, including this one.
Takeaways
The Budwig Diet is a diet introduced by a German chemist in the 1950s. It claims that eating a combination of cottage cheese, flaxseed oil, and milk several times each day can boost cell function and slow the growth and spread of cancer cells. The Budwig Diet also incorporates fruits, vegetables, and juices but does not allow processed meats, sugar, and alcohol. There’s no medical evidence that the Budwig Diet prevents or cures cancer, and no clinical trials have been done to see how it affects the body.
Budwig Diet FAQs
What is the Budwig mixture?
To make the flaxseed mixture that’s part of the Budwig diet, add two parts of cottage cheese to one part flaxseed oil. For example, mix six tablespoons of cottage cheese with three tablespoons of flaxseed oil. Thin the mixture with low-fat milk. You can also use ground or whole flaxseeds in place of oil. Blend the mixture until smooth. For added flavor, add fruit, nuts, or honey. Eat within 20 minutes.
What foods should I avoid on the Budwig diet?
Avoid processed meats and cereals, shellfish, most dairy products, sugar, alcohol, tea, and coffee if you’re on the Budwig diet.
When should I eat the Budwig mixture?
The Budwig diet calls for several servings of the Budwig mixture throughout the day.
