What is the Budwig Protocol or Diet?
[Article updated: May 2020]
The Budwig Diet or the Budwig Protocol is a diet originally designed to aid in the treatment of cancer.
Many people with cancer are turning to alternative therapies to complement their traditional treatments like chemotherapy.
And among these complementary therapies, we find the Budwig diet, a diet simple to follow and which promises wonders.
In this article, we take a detailed look at what the Budwig diet is. We'll also take a look at the science and check if there is any evidence to support it, along with its possible risks and side effects.
What is the Budwig diet?
It also includes fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Johanna Budwig, the creator of the diet, argues that consuming a diet very high in polyunsaturated fats from these specific sources helps prevent the spread of cancer cells.
In addition to eating many servings of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese, people on the Budwig diet can eat many other foods as normal, including:
- Fruits;
- Vegetables;
- Foods very high in fiber.
However, they should also avoid the following foods:
- Meat, in particular processed;
- Sugar;
- Butter and margarine;
- Certain oils.
Dr. Budwig also encouraged those following the diet or protocol to frequently expose themselves to the sun to increase the amount of vitamin D produced by their bodies.
What is the Budwig diet for?
The Budwig diet was developed as an alternative approach to treating cancer.
However, it has also been used as an alternative treatment for other health complications, such as:
- Arteriosclerosis;
- Heart attack;
- Stomach ulcers;
- Prostate problems;
- Eczema;
- Arthritis;
- Immune deficiencies.
Budwig diet: How to proceed?
The basis of the Budwig diet is a mixture of linseed oil and cottage cheese or cottage cheese (which is another bland cheese).
To make this mixture, just mix 1 tablespoon of linseed oil for every 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese or cottage cheese until the oil is no longer visible. </ p >
People on this diet can consume up to 6 tablespoons of flaxseed oil and 12 tablespoons of cottage cheese or cottage cheese per day and can consume them at different times of the day. </ p >
Scientific evidence
The medical community considers the Budwig diet to be scientifically unproven.
However, some research suggests that flax seeds may actually fight cancer.
For example, a study published [ 1 ] in the Cancer Prevention Research Journal shows that mice that were fed flaxseed had a reduced number of new lung tumors compared to mice that were fed a flaxseed diet.
Other research [ 2 ] has also shown that hens with ovarian cancer consuming a greater quantity of seeds flaxseeds had fewer tumors and better results after a year than those who did not eat flaxseed.
While there is some evidence that flaxseeds can fight cancer in animals, there is not a lot of research available on the effect of flaxseed in humans with cancer.
There is a case study [ 3 ] which followed a person with breast cancer and who followed the Budwig diet in parallel in addition to traditional treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Her cancer has gone into remission, but researchers couldn't determine if it was due to the Budwig diet or traditional therapies.
Another small trial [ 4 ] carried out on 25 men with prostate cancer showed that flaxseeds could reduce levels of the male hormone testosterone.
This reduction is known to help reduce tumor size.
While these results are encouraging, randomized studies must be conducted in humans with cancer to come to any conclusion about the effectiveness of flaxseeds and before scientists can categorically say that the Budwig diet is a real one. cancer treatment.
Side effects
The Budwig diet is a predominantly healthy lifestyle with limited side effects.
However, it can have side effects related to high consumption of flax, or consumption of dairy products for people who are intolerant to it.
Possible side effects of eating a lot of flaxseed, or flaxseed oil, include excess gas, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
Similar side effects are also seen in those who have an intolerance to dairy products or / and eat cottage cheese.
Risks and considerations
There is little risk in attempting the Budwig diet as a supplement to traditional medicine for cancer or any other disease, as it is based on a healthy diet.
However, there are some risks associated with high intake of flaxseed oil. For example, some people have reported allergic reactions that may be due to the consumption of flax seeds.
That said, flaxseed allergies are still rare, so most people following this diet have a low risk of experiencing side effects.
However, if a person has a flax allergy, they might experience the following side effects:
- Tingling in the mouth;
- Urticaria on the skin;
- Difficulty breathing.
If this is the case and the person is suffering from one or more of these symptoms, they should stop the diet and consult a healthcare practitioner.
People on the Budwig diet should also increase the amount of water they usually drink.
Eating flax seeds without drinking enough water can lead to an increased risk of developing intestinal obstruction.
Finally, and because the Budwig diet encourages people to spend more time in the sun, they should be aware of the risk of damage that can be caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, the most common of which is skin cancer.
Who shouldn't follow the Budwig diet?
Even though the Budwig diet is touted as a safe and risk-free solution for most people, there are times when it is strongly advised not to resort to this diet.
This is particularly the case with:
- Anyone with diabetes;
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women;
- People with hyperglycemia;
- Women with certain hormonal conditions;
- Person with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The last word…
Apparently flax seeds represent a promising way to fight cancer.
However, there is not yet enough scientific research to prove that this is an effective treatment.
Pending further research in this direction, the Budwig diet should not be considered a treatment for cancer.
We advise anyone who wants to supplement their classic treatment by following the Budwig diet to consult their doctor before doing so.