In a shock announcement, former cricketer-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu revealed that his wife Navjot Kaur overcame stage-4 cancer within 40 days thanks to a simple diet and lifestyle. Claiming that his cancer treatment had cost him “nothing”, Sidhu said at a press conference, that his diet consisted of turmeric, neem water, apple cider vinegar, lemon water and strict avoidance of sugar and carbohydrates. Abstinence was involved. He emphasized his practice of intermittent fasting, with his last meal at 6.30 in the evening and his first meal at 10.30 in the morning, starting with lemon water. Sidhu also noted his personal benefits from this diet, saying he lost 25 kg and addressed his fatty liver.
While Kaur’s story is inspiring, medical experts caution against “viewing lifestyle changes as a stand-alone cure for cancer.” Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Shalby Sanar International Hospital, Gurugram, says, “Mrs Sidhu received all the treatments available as per the diagnosis. Stage 4 cancer with limited metastatic sites can be cured with current standard care. Several studies show the benefits of curcumin (a component found in turmeric) in cancer treatment/prevention, but there is no clear evidence to support the benefits in humans. Dr. Puneet Gupta, Chairman of Oncology, Asian Hospital, says, “Cancer cannot be cured by diet alone. However, dietary interventions are important for overall anti-cancer care, as patients are likely to suffer from anemia, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalance.
Dr Debjani Banerjee, Head of Dietetics at PSRI Hospital, says, “The anti-cancer properties of turmeric make it an important component of the supportive diet for cancer patients. Lemon water can help maintain electrolyte balance. During chemotherapy, when the immune system is weakened, neem can strengthen cells, improve gut health and reduce inflammation.
Some research has proven that intermittent fasting improves cancer risk by correcting fluctuations in glucose, insulin, leptin and high adiponectin levels, which are the real predictors of cancer. The reason is, says Nisha Mandal, clinical nutritionist at Motherhood Hospital, Gurugram. “One needs to ensure that fasting does not exceed 8 hours, and also that they balance all the essential nutrients and calorie intake during eating periods,” says Mandal.
Benefits of what Kaur ate
Turmeric: It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial. It helps manage inflammatory skin disorders and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Neem Leaves: Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant – these properties of Neem protect against oxidative damage. Its regular consumption strengthens the immune system. Apple vinegar also has similar properties.
Lemonade: Rich in Vitamin C, it boosts immunity, helping the body fight infections. It detoxifies the body by removing toxic substances.
