CLAIM: 

Drinking lemons soaked in hot water can cure cancer

FACT: 

Drinking hot water in which lemons have been soaked, or consuming lemon juice, is no cure for cancer. At best, it could boost one’s immunity.

Cancer is a major concern in India, with the Indian Council of Medical Research saying that "approximately one in nine people in India is expected to face a cancer diagnosis during their lifetime." Currently, treatment for cancer primarily involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgical methods. Although, these treatments kill cancerous cells, they also destroy healthy cells and there is no guarantee of a permanent cure. There is also the question of the financial burden that these treatment options place on patients and caregivers- often expensive, cost of treatment could push individuals into lifelong debt as well.

So it is not surprising that many cancer patients look for alternative treatment and home remedies that could help them. Social media, your friendly neighbour or your nosy relative will all be ready with a myriad of alternate treatment plans that are all allegedly the miracle cure for cancer – from cancer curing 'juices,' to diet plans. One of our readers recently shared such a supposed cure for cancer that they had come across, lemons soaked in hot water, and asked us to verify it.

"Now a days there is a news in circulation that lemon soaked in hot water will eradicate cancer cells. Kindly enlighten me about this topic," our reader asked us in a message they shared over our official WhatsApp tipline.

To verify this claim, Team First Check looked up the existing evidence on the cancer-curing effects of lemon water. Here is what the team found:

Cancer is the uncontrolled proliferation of cells whose genes have been damaged due to exposure to cancer-causing substances termed carcinogens. Such cells clump together to form tumours. This uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells could be halted by treatment with drugs, and exposure to radiation under medical supervision. However, these treatments cause side effects and are unaffordable for many.

Lemon is a citrus fruit, which has high Vitamin C, a.k.a. Ascorbic acid, content. It is also rich in flavonoids, which are plant chemicals with potent anti-oxidant effects. Flavonoids help remove free radicals, unstable atoms that cause cellular damage and ageing, and as a result, minimize oxidative damage to our cells. Therefore, lemons are traditionally known to boost one’s natural immunity.

Claims that lemons possess cancer-curing powers are largely based on the presence of Limonene; a chemical found in the peel and seeds of lemon. Limonene has shown anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and anti-cancer properties in laboratory studies. In animal models, Limonene slowed the progression of different types of cancers such as stomach, skin, and liver. However, these anti-cancer properties have not been replicated among humans. Therefore, the use of lemon juice or drinking of hot water in which lemons have been soaked, cannot be recommended as a cure for any form of cancer.

Do you have a health-related claim that you would like us to fact-check? Send it to us, and we will fact-check it for you! 

You can send it on WhatsApp at +91-9311223141, mail us at hello@firstcheck.in, or click here to submit it online.