Alternative diets are used by cancer patients, especially among those who are not treated with conventional methods. Due to worrying data published by the World Health Organisation and its Agenda, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the International Cancer Union, as well as epidemiological data from all over the world, it has been concluded that cancer will be the main cause of death in the world and that, therefore, the popularity of alternative diets among cancer patients may increase. The paper reviews the scientific literature and assesses the legitimacy and safety of selected alternative diets, as well as the description of research in terms of assumed anticancer efficacy in the following diets: ketogenic, Dr. Budwig and macrobiotic. The article also contains a summary of the analyzed scientific research and conclusions concerning the legitimacy of their use by cancer patients.
Keywords: cancer; alternative diets; ketogenic diet; dr Budwig diet; macrobiotic diet; glucose metabolism.
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