There is a claim on the internet that cancer can be prevented by consuming certain types of fruits.
One in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime. Although there are numerous therapies available today to combat this disease, millions of people still die from cancer: according to the WHO, 10 million worldwide in 2022 alone.
There are also constant claims that cancer can be prevented by consuming certain types of foods. The fact-checking team analyzed one of these claims in detail and investigated the role that diet plays in cancer prevention.
Claim: A user on social media claims that cancer can be prevented by consuming two types of fruits: raspberries and figs. He also shared a video that has been viewed over three million times.
A Deutsche Welle study shows that this claim is false.
In the video, Patrick Quillin, an American author and nutritionist, claims that black raspberries are a true medicine and protect against cancer. The video is actually part of a documentary series titled The Truth About Cancer, which presents supposed natural remedies for cancer, while also criticizing pharmaceutical companies as money-making entities.
Quillin claims that black raspberries are particularly rich in so-called anthocyanins and antioxidants, which are said to ensure the self-destruction of cancer cells.
Do black raspberries kill cancer cells?
There are many different secondary plant substances in fruits, vegetables, and salads that are healthy, explains Jutta Hibner, a professor of integrative oncology at the University of Jena in Germany, for DW. However, it is extremely difficult to assert that certain types of foods can reliably prevent cancer.
Moreover, there is a lack of scientific research on humans. Studies that are conducted exclusively in laboratories, where, for example, certain artificial concentrations of ingredients may be used, as well as animal experiments, show that raspberries have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can destroy cancer cells.
But these studies cannot be replicated one-to-one on the human body, says Hibner.
We have a different metabolism and excretion processes, the German professor adds, noting that a specific, tolerable dose of each active ingredient must first be determined. Additionally, it is very difficult to conduct adequate research on humans.
