Can Natural Remedies Help Treat Cancer?

Dr. Tony Jaslowski and Dr. Edgar Badine sit down to examine the popular diets, detoxes, and natural remedies frequently marketed to cancer patients. They unpack why the physiological reality of the human body disproves viral trends like the alkaline diet and extreme fasting, explain why high-dose antioxidant supplements can inadvertently protect tumors from chemotherapy and radiation, and highlight the critical distinction between complementary supportive care and unproven alternative treatments.

“We want to complement the standard of care rather than alternative, which is avoiding the standard of care and going alternative routes.” — Dr. Edgar Badine

In this episode, we cover:

• The myth of the alkaline diet: Why you cannot shift your body’s tightly regulated pH balance to “starve” cancer without shutting down normal cellular function and causing serious harm.
• Fasting, sugar, and malnutrition risks: How extreme calorie restriction during active chemotherapy or immunotherapy deprives healthy cells and the immune system of essential fuel, and why a balanced whole-food diet remains the gold standard.
• Why “natural” doesn’t equal safe: An honest look at the lack of regulation behind internet supplements and the evidence-based reasons why high-dose antioxidants (like vitamin C and CoQ10) or turmeric can actually interfere with standard cancer therapies.
• Complementary vs. alternative medicine: The clear difference between abandoning evidence-based medicine and using proven supportive therapies—such as yoga, acupuncture, massage, and structured exercise programs like Livestrong—to manage side effects and rebuild strength.
• The importance of open communication: Why having a completely transparent, judgment-free dialogue with your oncologist, oncology dietitian, and pharmacist about every supplement or diet you consider is essential to protecting your health during treatment.