Fact Check: Sidhu's video claiming neem leaves, turmeric, apple vinegar, lemon vinegar and intermittent fasting can cure cancer is false and misleading

A viral video on Instagram in which Navjot Singh Sidhu, a former cricketer is seen claiming that neem leaves, turmeric, apple vinegar, lemon vinegar and intermittent fasting can cure cancer is false and Misleading.

Claim

In a viral Instagram reel, Navjot Singh Sidhu is seen claiming that neem leaves, turmeric , apple and lemon vingear can cure cancer. He further claims that if you stop giving food to your body, cancer cells start dying off naturally. The reel is posted by trolls_official and Singh says, "I really feel proud because Noni, has been declared clinically cancer-free. A friend's son, who is an oncologist from the U.S., told me there was no chance. But I had done my research and identified the common denominators. I told my daughter, "We will start this and you won't believe it—this press conference is the biggest testament to that."

As per the post, the former cricketer is stating it was stage 4 cancer with metastasis, and doctors had given a mere 3% chance of survival. Yet, as per him in just 40 days, she bounced back. He further says, "People often say that cancer treatments cost crores, but let me ask you: do neem leaves cost anything? Does raw turmeric cost anything? Do lemon and vinegar cost anything? I will talk about she came back and the diet we gave her."

He continues to say, "The key is to leave gaps between meals, avoid sugar, and cut down on carbohydrates. If you stop giving these to your body, cancer cells start dying off naturally. We ensured the last meal was eaten before sunset, around 6:00–6:30 PM, and didn’t eat anything again until the next morning at 10:00 AM. Then started the day with lemon water, and half an hour later, 10–12 neem leaves were consumed. And all of this cost almost nothing."

He further says, "I seriously want to tell everyone that from grade 4 stage 4, she came back within 40 days. Believe me, brothers and sisters, cancer can be defeated if you change your lifestyle. The cancer treatment is the same as for fatty liver."

He also stated in the reel that coconut works like a miracle. As per him, Anyone struggling with weight or other health issues should try this. He says he followed the same diet plan, and my fatty liver completely healed and lost 25 kg people now say he looks much younger. 

Following the press conference, Several media portals reported the claims in the video. Hindustan Times report was titled "Navjot Singh Sidhu shares wife's strict diet which helped her beat stage 4 cancer: ‘Started day with lemon water' " Similarly another report by The Indian Express was titled "How Navjot Kaur Sidhu got cured of Stage 4 cancer" Another report by India TV News was titled, "Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife defeats Stage-4 cancer by adopting THESE healthy lifestyle habits"

Many more articles are also there on social media, as well as the video also went viral on various social media including Instagram.

The viral reel can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The reel by the user is Misleading. Neem leaves, turmeric and intermittent fasting may help in the treatment and management of cancer but they alone cannot cure cancer.   

It is worth noting that while the reel focuses solely on diet and its potential role in curing cancer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, in his press conference from the reel has been pocked up, stressed the indispensable role of the healthcare system and accessible medical treatments in managing critical illnesses like cancer. He shared his wife’s journey of overcoming Stage 4 cancer, highlighting the significant contribution of government hospitals in her treatment. Sidhu also advocated for a holistic approach to health, emphasizing the importance of a disciplined lifestyle and healthy eating habits as vital complements to medical care.

The detailed press conference video can be accessed here on this link 

Can neem leaves, turmeric, apple vinegar, lemon vinegar and intermittent fasting cure cancer?

While neem, turmeric and intermittent fasting have been explored for their potential health benefits, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to support the claim that they cure cancer. It is also important to note that there is no scientific evidence to support the benefits of apple and lemon vinegar in the management of cancer.

There have been, indeed, various scientific studies that have focused on these herbs and ingredients, analyzing their role in the management of cancer. 

Neem extract, a natural and readily available resource, has garnered attention for its potential as a safe and cost-effective agent in anticancer therapy. Fang Hao et. al.'s study concludes that neem extract shows great potential as an affordable and safe anticancer agent. Preclinical findings emphasize its capacity to inhibit tumor proliferation, trigger cell death, suppress angiogenesis, restore redox balance, and strengthen immune responses. Nevertheless, additional research is required to isolate and identify its active components, elucidate its anticancer mechanisms, and confirm its effectiveness through animal studies and clinical trials.

Similarly, Sagun Tiwari et. al.'s study highlights intermittent fasting as a promising, affordable, and low-risk strategy for cancer prevention and management, primarily due to its influence on metabolic, biochemical, and immunologic pathways. However, its clinical significance in regulating hormonal and inflammatory markers of carcinogenesis remains uncertain, given the limited available research. Despite challenges in dietary modifications, intermittent fasting offers potential as a tumor-agnostic approach with minimal side effects, warranting further investigation.

All the studies categorically point out that ingredients such as neem and turmeric help in the management of cancer as an adjunct to traditional medical therapy On the other hand apple and lemon vinegar lack scientific backing for cancer management.

Further, there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus to back that any of the ingredients can cure cancer or put it back in remission 

Leading Experts Come out with the Warning

In response to the viral statement made by the former cricketer in the reel, several doctors in the medical fraternity have come out calling these statements as misleading and cautioning general public against solely relying on these measures, or abandoning their current medical treatment in favour of these. 

262 Oncologists, present and past from Tata Memorial Hospital collectively released a statement against these measures and calling these claims as false 

"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. While research is ongoing for some of these products, there is no clinical data currently to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents. We urge the public to not delay their treatment by following unproven remedies, but rather to consult a doctor, preferably a cancer specialist, if they have any symptoms of cancer. Cancer is curable if detected early and proven treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy," the official statement from the hospital stated

Medical Dialogues Final Take

Neem leaves, turmeric, and intermittent fasting have been studied for their potential health benefits in cancer treatment and management but, it is crucial to note that there is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of apple and lemon vinegar in cancer management. Additionally, while neem leaves, turmeric, and intermittent fasting may assist in the supportive management of cancer, there is no medical consensus or scientific evidence to substantiate the claim that neem leaves, turmeric, apple vinegar, lemon vinegar and intermittent fasting can cure cancer.

Hence, the claim by the user is False and Misleading.