Apple cider vinegar for cancer: Myths and research

In recent years, apple cider vinegar has enjoyed a boom in popularity due to its potential as a home remedy for various health problems.

While some people support the use of apple cider vinegar to help treat cancer, there is no direct evidence that it is effective. In this article, we look at the claims and consider what the research says.

What are the claims about apple cider vinegar and cancer?

Many of the claims about apple cider vinegar and cancer originated from the work of scientist and Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg.

Warburg believed that cancer was a nutritional problem and that it could not develop in people who ate a correct, natural diet. As a result, he claimed that 80 percent of cancer cases were avoidable.

Warburg also suggested that high levels of acidity and low levels of oxygen in the body caused cancer. He based this hypothesis on the fact that cancer cells produce acid as they grow, even in environments that are not usually acidic.

This hypothesis caused some controversy in the scientific community, but it was not a popular theory.

People who do believe Warburg’s theory think that making the body less acidic will kill cancer cells. The proponents of this thought say that regularly ingesting apple cider vinegar can make the body’s overall pH more alkaline. However, the body’s ability to manage its pH balance is excellent, so ingesting apple cider vinegar is unlikely to have much effect on it.

Apple cider vinegar is a strong acid, which may erode the enamel of a person’s teeth. People who take apple cider vinegar orally should take care to rinse out their mouth with water afterward.

Apple cider vinegar may also cause adverse effects in people with kidney disease. Affected kidneys may struggle to process acid, so additional acid in the form of apple cider vinegar could cause problems.

Apple cider vinegar may also not be suitable for people with low potassium or those taking medications to amend their potassium levels.

Some people find that drinking apple cider vinegar causes acid reflux or makes existing acid reflux symptoms worse.

Other possible side effects may include:

  • burning throat
  • bad breath
  • nausea
  • allergic reactions
  • low blood sugar

Takeaway

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.

The theory that creating an alkaline environment in the body can prevent cancer is hard to prove. The body can adjust its pH in many ways, and it continually does so without any external help.

Anyone who has cancer or is going through cancer treatment should talk to their doctor about all the possible treatment options.

Source: Read Full Article