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Can a Macrobiotic Diet Help Treat Cancer?

Nutrition Diva: Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous

Scientific American presents Nutrition Diva by Quick & Dirty Tips. Scientific American and Quick & Dirty Tips are both Macmillan companies.

There are some miracle stories out there about people who cured themselves of incurable, end-stage cancer with a macrobiotic diet. Not surprisingly, people facing cancer often find these stories very compelling. One of the many things that makes cancer so difficult is the feeling of helplessness that this disease can engender in patients and loved ones. Diet and nutrition is something we can take control of—but we need to be realistic about the role that nutrition plays in cancer treatment.

Although a well-balanced and nutritious diet of wholesome foods would benefit any cancer patient, there is no credible evidence that a macrobiotic regime has any miraculous powers to cure cancer. Believe me, if there were, I’d be the first to tell you. Like so many of you, I’ve lost too many people I love to this disease and I, too, have felt desperate enough to believe or try just about anything.


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