Acid, sugar, diets

The body maintains the blood's pH level within a very narrow range. The lungs and kidneys constantly adjust it minute by minute. It cannot be significantly altered through diet – this is not a matter of opinion, it is measurable and the same for everyone.

Where the idea still comes from

It contains a kernel of truth, only with the arrow reversed. Tumor tissue makes its mark. immediate surroundings It's actually more acidic because it releases a lot of lactic acid. But that's the Consequence of tumor metabolism, not its cause. The idea that "it's acidic inside the tumor" was mistakenly interpreted as "acid causes tumors." This is the same fallacy as: fire trucks are often at fires, therefore they cause fires.

What is still good about an alkaline diet

Look at what's on an alkaline-forming diet: vegetables, herbs, salad, fruit, potatoes, nuts. And what's omitted: sausage, white flour, soft drinks, ready-made meals. That's good food. It doesn't work via the acid-base balance, but rather via what is in it and what is not in it.

We recommend the same foods. We just explain them differently – and that's the difference between a page that holds up and one that collapses at the first sign of scrutiny.

Your stomach should be highly acidic. It needs the acid to break down proteins, to make iron and calcium soluble, and to release vitamin B12 from food. Without it, some of what you eat passes through your body unused.

What happens when there is too little of it?

Exactly what you're describing – only in reverse. Protein isn't properly broken down, iron and zinc are absorbed less efficiently, and B12 deficiency develops over time. This manifests as fatigue, paleness, brittle nails, a feeling of fullness after protein-rich meals, or as residue visible in the stool.

In the case of cancer, this is doubly important: those who already consume too little protein lose muscle faster - and muscle mass plays a crucial role in how well the treatment is tolerated.

The misunderstanding behind it

Heartburn is almost reflexively translated as "too much acid." Often, however, it's not about the amount at all, but rather that the sphincter to the stomach is weakened or that the timing of the meal was unfavorable. In these cases, the stomach is suppressing what it actually needs.

What really helps digestion

• Bitter substances before meals. Ten to fifteen minutes beforehand, as a tea or drops. Bitterness is the starting signal for gastric juices and bile – see Gentian root, Vermouth, artichoke and dandelion in the archive.
• Chew until it's a mush. The first part of digestion happens in the mouth, and it is almost always skipped.
• Silence at the table. Digestion needs a state in which the body is not in a state of alarm. It works less efficiently when standing, walking, or sitting at a screen.
• Don't drink liters of it. One glass is fine, half a liter dilutes the workshop.
• Stay upright Wait at least half an hour after eating. This relieves the pressure on the sphincter, which is the real cause of heartburn.

Otto Warburg observed in the 1920s that tumor cells ferment sugar even when sufficient oxygen is present. This is true, and so reliable that medicine now uses it to… diagnosis Uses: In PET-CT, a labeled sugar is injected, and the tumor lights up because it absorbs a particularly large amount of it.

Why "starving" doesn't work

Because you can't simply stop the sugar supply. Every cell in your body lives on glucose, and if you don't eat any, your liver produces it—from protein, and if necessary, from your own muscle tissue. Your blood sugar remains constant. The tumor continues to get what it needs. What you lose is muscle mass, and that's exactly what you need to tolerate the treatment.

Sugar and tumors: how it really works

There is a proven pathway from sugar to tumor – only it doesn't go directly from the plate into the cancer cell, but via a hormone. Sugar drives the Insulin levels. Insulin is a growth signal, and tumor cells have receptors for it. Prolonged elevated insulin levels have been shown to increase the severity of colon, breast, pancreatic, and uterine cancers. In addition, there is a second growth hormone, IGF-1, which increases with body fat.

People with diabetes are more likely to die from an additional cancer diagnosis, and cancer mortality is 50 to 60 percent higher in cases of severe obesity. This is a persistent correlation.

The honest statement is therefore not "The tumor is eating your sugar," but rather: Your sugar levels drive the hormone that tells the tumor to grow. The conclusion is the same – refined sugar must go. Only the reason is different, and it is more compelling.

Two other things come into play, quite practically speaking: refined sugar is almost always found in products that otherwise offer nothing good. And he suppressed - Those who are full from sweets no longer eat the protein and vegetables they urgently need.

And why a zero-calorie diet doesn't follow from this

Eliminating all carbohydrates doesn't lower the insulin signal at the tumor—blood sugar remains stable because the liver produces it. What does decrease is muscle mass. That's why the ketogenic diet is listed in the guidelines as "should not." The approach is: no refined sugar, no sweets, no soft drinks—but vegetables, legumes, fruit, and whole grains remain on the plate.

The four you encounter most often

• Ketogenic. Carbohydrates almost completely eliminated, but plenty of fat. This idea stems from the Warburg misunderstanding mentioned above. The German guideline states that it "should not".
• Alkaline fasting and juice cleanses. Hardly any solid food for days or weeks. Protein is completely lacking, weight drops, muscles first.
• Strict raw food diet. Difficult to digest, low energy density - and when white blood cell counts are very low during chemotherapy, there is an additional risk of bacterial infection.
• Radically sugar-free. Usually, that means removing an entire food group: no fruit, no grains, no potatoes. It makes no difference to the tumor, but a big difference to the person.

Why they still feel so good

Because they give you something to do. A cancer diagnosis takes away your control, and a strict diet gives you back a bit of it – every day, with every meal. This need is understandable, and you shouldn't blame anyone for it.

This gap is best filled with something that doesn't cause harm: exercise, good food in sufficient quantities, sleep, conversations. It's less dramatic, but it helps.

Two things are resilient, and they are of different strengths.

Processed meat: assured

Sausages, ham, bacon, salami, all cured and smoked meats are in Group 1 The WHO cancer agency uses the same evidence group as tobacco smoke. The important difference, which is almost never mentioned, is that the group states how secure the connection is not how strong The risk. For every 50 grams consumed per day, the risk of colon cancer increases by around 18 percent – this is different from smoking, but it is still real.

Ultra-processed: a strong indication

A French study followed almost 105,000 people for eight years. Those whose diets consisted of a higher proportion of ultra-processed foods had a higher incidence of cancer – for every ten percentage point increase, there were approximately ten percent more cases.

And now for the honest part: This is an observation. People who eat a lot of processed food also differ in other ways – exercise, smoking, income, sleep. The researchers factor this out as best they can, but a degree of doubt always remains. They themselves write that the causal relationship still needs to be proven.

This information, along with everything else that is already known about these products, is sufficient for us. He doesn't have to be enough for you. - that's why it says here how strong it is and where it ends.

There's often a world of difference between "I know what would be good" and "I can manage it" these days. So here's the practical advice, just like a friend would tell you.

If nothing tastes good

• Cold instead of warm. Cold foods smell less, and the smell is usually the real problem.
• Herbs instead of salt. Parsley, dill, basil, and thyme bring back flavor where salt is no longer effective.
• Not on the day of treatment The favorite food. Otherwise, the mind associates it with nausea, and it's tainted for years.

When the appetite is gone

• Small plates. A full small plate is manageable, a half-full large one is daunting.
• Something every two hours, Even without hunger. A handful of nuts, an egg, a spoonful of quark with linseed oil.
• Sneaking in energy: A drizzle of olive oil, a little cream, ground nuts. Big impact, small volume.
• Eating in company, If possible. It works better for almost everyone than going it alone.

When the gut goes haywire

• In case of diarrhea: Grated apple, banana, rice, clear broth. And drink more than feels right.
• For constipation: Ground flaxseed with plenty of water, prunes, exercise. Ask for advice before taking painkillers.
• Low blood values: Wash and cook everything thoroughly. Ask your team if raw ingredients are okay at this time.

And if you don't reach your target weight for weeks: That's not a failure, that's a case for a nutritionist. There are nutritional drinks specifically designed for this.

Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells. This includes the tumor cells, but also the cells in the bone marrow that produce white blood cells. In the days following a cycle, these cells drop off – and with them, the immune system that normally fights off even the slightest threat.

If fever develops during this phase, that means febrile neutropenia. It is life-threatening because the body can no longer fight off the infection on its own. What matters then is the time until treatment – not hours for consideration, but immediate action.

Warning signs that apply even without fever

Sometimes a fever is absent because the body is no longer able to produce one. Other symptoms to take seriously include: chills, sudden weakness, confusion, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, severe pain, redness around the port, or burning during urination.

Protection during the low phase

• Wash your hands, Before every meal and after every trip outside. It sounds trivial, but it's the single most effective measure.
• Avoid crowds, as long as the values are low - bus during rush hour, waiting rooms, parties with people who have colds.
• Wash and cook the food thoroughly. During this phase, no raw meat, no raw eggs, no unpasteurized cheese, no sprouts. Peel fruit.
• Take minor wounds seriously. Clean, cover, observe. Even a torn nail bed is enough to provide an entry point.
• Gentle tooth care. Use a soft brush and avoid using dental floss, which can cause bleeding. The mouth is the most common entry point.
• Take your temperature if you feel unwell. - not just when you're sure.

And what helps with the reconstruction

Bone marrow needs building blocks. Enough protein, enough sleep, and exercise within your limits. There's no food or supplement that will bring back white blood cells faster – anyone who tells you otherwise is just trying to sell you something. What does exist are medications that stimulate bone marrow production. Whether they're right for you is a good question to discuss at your next appointment.

• She promises healing or says she is "getting to the root cause".
• She advises against the treatment. - explicitly or implicitly, for example with figures on chemotherapy without specifying the type of cancer.
• She'll sell you something and is also its own source.
• She cites cell experiments. and calls it effect. „Inhibits tumor cells“ almost always means: in a petri dish.
• She's canceling entire groups regardless of what you can still eat.
• She is urging. „"The sooner, the better, every day counts" - reputable medicine does not operate under time pressure.

And a sentence for your next doctor's appointment

„"I've read that X is supposed to help with my condition. What do you know about it, and is there any reason not to use it during treatment?" This question opens almost every door – and it doesn't put you in a corner where you have to justify yourself.