A popular video on Instagram, with about 20,000 likes and over a million views, claims that consuming acidic foods can raise the risk of cancer.

 

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"Do you know that the cancerous tumours that occur in your body, they are made of acid? And acid is the what is dearest to cancer cells. They like acid even more than sugar," a man says in the video, which was posted by a verified Instagram user who has over 400,000 followers.

"Whoever has more acid in their body, they need to be more aware. In such situations, you should not eat any such item that will create acids (in your body)," the man, presumably the user, says while adding that alkaline water is the "enemy" of acids, and that people should consume more alkaline substances like "cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and radishes." He also prescribes alkaline water to those who have already been diagnosed with cancer.

"As I said, cancerous tumours are made of acid. So alkaline water is the best in such situations," he says.

Considering the popularity of the video, and that India faces over 1.4 million new cancer cases annually, we took a closer look at the claims in the video to sift the facts from the fiction.

CLAIM #1:
Acidic foods increase cancer risk

FACT:
There is no conclusive scientific evidence to support the claim

Cancer is not a single disease but an umbrella term for over 200 diseases caused by genetic mutations, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures. Simplistic claims such as those linking “acidic foods” or microplastics directly to cancer misrepresent the complexity of the disease.

Experts dismiss the theory that the acidity of foods alone can influence cancer development. While there is some research on cancer cells thriving in lower pH or acidic environments, such findings have been dismissed by experts, as they were done in laboratory settings. The American Institute for Cancer Research says "Your body is very good at maintaining its pH levels, without dietary influence. It would be nearly impossible to alter the cell environment to create a less-acidic environment in our bodies," while rubbishing claims of acidic cancers.

CLAIM #2:
Alkaline water is good for cancer patients

FACT:
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim

This is a corollary of the claim that cancer is acidic- as alkalines neutralise acids.

However, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that alkaline water, or an alkaline diet by extension, could be beneficial to cancer patients.

"Despite the promotion of the alkaline diet and alkaline water by the media and salespeople, there is almost no actual research to either support or disprove them. A systematic review of the literature revealed a lack of evidence of an association between a diet acid load or alkaline water for cancer risk and no studies alkaline treatment for cancer. Promotion of alkaline diet and alkaline water to the public for cancer prevention or treatment is not justified," according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Also read: FACT CHECK: Medical experts debunk Sidhu’s claim of curing his wife’s Stage-4 cancer through diet

These findings are a part of the high level, insight-based report titled 'Health Misinformation Vectors in India,' which was prepared by Spotlight in collaboration with First Check.

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