Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Claim
Strict diet and Ayurveda cured Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife of stage-4 cancer.
Fact
Claims are recurring myths, misinformation based on no evidence, clarify doctors.
Former cricketer-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu had recently announced in a press conference outside his residence in Amritsar that his wife, former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu, was now clinically cancer-free after overcoming metastatic (stage-4) breast cancer. Several social media users are now sharing a 1:47-minute excerpt from the press conference, where Sidhu purportedly spoke about how his wife beat the odds of just a 3% chance of survival with the help of a “strict diet and Ayurveda” that included a daily routine of lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, and tulsi.
“This diet made her Cancer FREE in just 40 days,” read one such viral X post, which has amassed 1.7 million views so far. Sidhu can be further heard speaking about how cancer can be beaten with simple lifestyle changes, stressing on how coconut was a miracle food.
“Siddhu said her daily routine included lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, and tulsi. Sidhu said ‘She defeated cancer as she was disciplined and followed a strict routine’. As per Sidhu, she also consumed anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer foods, with cooking restricted to coconut oil, cold-pressed oils, or almond oil. ‘Her morning tea featured spices like cinnamon, cloves, jaggery, and cardamom’ – SIDHU,” read a similar X post, which has clocked 2.4 million views so far.
We received this claim on our Whatsapp tipline (9999499044), too, requesting us to fact-check it.
Fact Check
Newschecker noticed that several users had criticised Sidhu in the comments for peddling half-truths, misinformation, and promoting alternative medicine as the sole form of treatment that would put many patients at risk. We also noticed that the viral video seemed edited, raising our doubts whether it was misleadingly clipped to push a false narrative.
Newschecker then ran a keyword search for “Navjot Singh Sidhu wife cancer”, which led us to this Indian Express report, dated November 22, 2024, headlined, “Navjot Singh Sidhu shares wife’s stage IV cancer recovery journey; here’s why experts advise caution on diet claims.”
“Sidhu pointed out that his wife underwent the majority of her treatment at government hospitals, including Government Rajendra Medical College in Patiala, with the total cost amounting to just a few lakhs. ‘She defeated cancer not because we had money but because she was disciplined and followed a strict routine. Cancer can be treated effectively even at government hospitals,’ he mentioned,” read the report, which clearly shows that he spoke about his wife undergoing treatment at multiple hospitals, adding that alongside her medical treatment, Sidhu emphasised her discipline and lifestyle changes, including a strict diet that played a crucial role in her recovery. Similar news reports, seen here, here and here, confirm that Sidhu’s wife was treated at government hospitals.
Newschecker reached out to Dr Devavrat Arya, cancer care specialist and director, medical oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket (Delhi), who said that while a good diet certainly helps in improving outcomes, there is insufficient data that diet alone can replace cancer treatment.
We decided to fact-check each one of Sidhu’s viral claims. Sidhu said that his wife’s daily routine included lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, and tulsi.
Do lemons and lemon juice help in curing cancer?
Newschecker found multiple reports stating that the claim is a mixture of true and false information, inspired from studies indicating that citrus fruits, including lemons, contain compounds that may be beneficial in preventing or combating some types of cancer.
“The beneficial compounds in lemon juice have shown promise in recent studies, but the levels found in foods may only enhance the body’s ability to fight off cancer. In the end, there is no proven scientific replacement for radiation therapy or chemotherapy,” read a UAMS (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) report, dated March 8, 2019. Similar reports can be seen here and here, reiterating that while a few studies indicate that lemons and other citrus fruits have naturally occurring substances that may have cancer fighting properties, namely modified citrus pectin and limonoids, these properties have not been tested in humans.
Newschecker had earlier debunked a similar myth that drinking hot pineapple water would cure cancer, finding that while the enzyme in pineapple may inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis (death) in different cancers in test-tube settings, it may not necessarily be used as a cure for cancer
What’s the truth about turmeric?
Newschecker reached out to Dr Jojo V Joseph, senior consultant surgical oncologist, Caritas Cancer Institute in Kerala, who directed us to a Youtube video uploaded by his channel on November 24, 2024 in response to Sidhu’s claim, where he pointed out that supporters of naturopathy capitalised on reports that a Thiruvananthapuram-based institute earned a US patent by introducing a method to treat cancer by using curcumin, a compound found in turmeric.
“A patent does not mean that the treatment has been recognised or acknowledged. It just means that only they [the institute] have the right to a particular form of treatment,” clarified the doctor.
We also came across this medically-reviewed article, updated on November 3, 2022, stating that while some studies suggest the curcumin in turmeric has a variety of health benefits, including fighting cancer cells, most evidence about turmeric and cancer comes from studies on animals or cells in the lab. “With those studies, it’s not clear what these studies mean for people who have cancer or those who are trying to avoid getting it…There’s some evidence curcumin may interfere with certain cancer drugs,” read the write-up.
“Curcumin is being looked at in clinical trials and some of the results have been promising. Larger studies are needed. At the moment there is no clear evidence in humans to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer,” read a Cancer Research UK article, last reviewed on May 9, 2022, cautioning that while many websites promote turmeric as a cure for cancer, no reputable scientific cancer organisations support any of these claims, while also hinting that curcumin might interact with other medicines.
Can apple cider vinegar treat cancer?
Newschecker found multiple articles clearly stating that there is limited research to support the claim that apple cider vinegar can help treat cancer or to confirm the role of alkalinity or acidity in cancer in general. According to the articles, apple cider vinegar is a safe product that may be a beneficial supplement to a healthful diet, however, it is not a replacement for cancer treatment or any other serious medical treatment.
“A few studies show that vinegar may have anti-cancer properties. Most of these studies involved culturing cancer cells and exposing them to vinegar or acetic acid. The limitation of these studies is obvious; we can’t directly pour ACV on cancers inside of people. Further, you definitely can’t give someone an ACV IV infusion without causing serious harm or death,” read a University of Chicago Medical Centre article from August 23, 2018.
Busting the coconut myth
Consuming coconut oil to fight cancer has been a popular recurring myth, which has no scientific basis. The most popular online theory of three tablespoons of organic coconut oil morning and night causing cancer to disappear was found to have originated from a 2017 study into the effects of lauric acid (found in coconut oil) on certain types of cancer cells. “There is not enough credible scientific evidence to claim that coconut oil available for daily consumption can kill cancer cells or prevent risk of cancer,” Dr Bimalka Senevirathna, a senior lecturer with the University of Sri Jayawardenapura’s Faculty of Medicine told AFP Sri Lanka on May 17, 2023, adding that, “Oversimplifying a research result to mean that spoonfuls of coconut oil a day will prevent cancer is extremely misleading.”
Dr Jojo V Joseph stated that Sidhu’s statements have been twisted by certain users to push a misleading narrative that intermittent fasting and a fully natural diet helped beat cancer, categorically stating that there is no scientific evidence that the “special” diet as claimed by Sidhu can prevent, control or cure cancer.
“First of all, saying that a PET scan of a stage-4 cancer patient following 40 days of treatment showed no trace of the disease is foolishness and misinformation. It is a known fact that it takes three-four years for a patient to be completely free of cancer cells. Navjot Kaur was diagnosed with stage-2 breast cancer in 2023, following which she underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other forms of treatment. We can see that he shared this information in his social media accounts, proving that his wife did avail of modern medicine,” the doctor said, adding that there is also confusion on whether Kaur was diagnosed with stage-3 as said by some doctors, and not stage-4 as claimed by Sidhu, while also rubbishing the claims of starving cancer cells to death through fasting.
“The mainstay of cancer treatment remains surgery radiation in early stages. For more advanced stages, sometimes we have to take free course of hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapies, and targeted therapies. Diet certainly plays a very important role in maintaining good health, especially for people who been diagnosed with certain diseases. The advice to most of our patients is to minimise sugar intake and have good source of antioxidants that include fruits and green leafy vegetables. We also advise our patients to avoid red meat and avoid processed food,” said Dr Arya.
Meanwhile, Sidhu, too, posted on X on November 22, 2024, stating, “Treatment + Diet – Great combination for Cancer cure!”. In another post on the same day, Sidhu thanks Dr Vikoo Batra from Waryam Singh Hospital, saying that he was the main doctor responsible for Navjot Kaur’s entire treatment, taking care of her 24X7, providing her the best treatment and emotional support, which contradicts the viral claims that it was just the strict Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle changes, including fasting, which were solely responsible for Navjot Kaur’s recovery from cancer.
Dr Prashant Mehta, medical oncologist at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, reportedly described Sidhu’s claims as “misinformation that is based on no evidence”, where he highlights how, in the digital age, social media influencers and celebrities often promote practices they follow personally, which may not be scientifically validated or appropriate for public dissemination.
Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, a renowned hepatologist who has gained recognition for combating medical misinformation on social media, also took to X on November 22, 2024, to criticise the viral claims, stating,” …There is absolutely NO EVIDENCE that any specific diet or herb or Ayurvedic balderdash can prevent, control or cure cancer.” TheLiverDoc, as he is popularly known online, cited studies that found that cancer patients who opt for alternative treatment are at greater risk of death.
“This could form part of the supportive treatment in managing stage IV cancer. However, there is no large-scale study that suggests herbal medicine and diet alone can control metastatic cancer. Any findings in this area are typically based on his subjective results, such as those from individual experiences,” Dr Sushama Sumeet, BAMS, MD, Ayurveda physician and senior research fellow at ICTRC Pune Integrated Cancer Treatment & Research Centre, told Times Now, adding, “Furthermore, the specific diet and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory foods recommended in such cases may not necessarily be effective for other patients, as each patient differs in disease stage, body constitution, physical and mental strength, and other factors.”
Also, the director of Tata Memorial Hospital reportedly joined over 260 oncologists in refuting Sidhu’s claim that a strict diet helped his wife beat stage-4 breast cancer, sharing an open letter, dated November 23, 2024, urging the public not to delay treatment by opting for “unproven remedies” after Sidhu’s statements.
“A video of a former cricketer describing his wife’s treatment for her breast cancer has been circulating widely on social media. Parts of the video imply that ‘starving the cancer by not eating dairy products and sugar’, consuming haldi (turmeric) and neem helped cure her ‘incurable’ cancer. These statements have no high-quality evidence to support them,” the letter stated, adding that while research is ongoing into certain natural products, there is currently no clinical data to recommend their use as anti-cancer treatments. “Cancer is curable if detected early and proven treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy,” clarified the oncologists.
Also Read: ‘Ram Bhajan’ At CPM Event? No, Viral Video Is Digitally Altered
UPDATE ON 26/11/2024: The article was updated to include Dr Devavrat Arya’s response to Newschecker’s queries regarding the viral video.
Conclusion
Viral claims that a strict Ayurvedic diet and intermittent fasting cured Navjot Singh Sidhu’s wife of stage-4 cancer found to be false.
Result: False
Sources
Conversation with Dr Jojo V Joseph, senior consultant surgical oncologist, Caritas Cancer Institute
Youtube video, Dr Jojo V Joseph, November 24, 2024
Indian Express report, November 22, 2024
Times Now report, November 22, 2024
X post, theliverdr, November 22, 2024
X post, Navjot Singh Sidhu, November 22, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
