A women’s health coach and cancer survivor has revealed his daily drink of choice for ‘keeping the disease at bay’.
Dilan Patel, the founder of DNA Fitness UK, was diagnosed with stage 4b Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 25 years old. After a regime of nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle changes, alongside chemotherapy, he successfully beat cancer.
Dilan has taken to social media to share his story and offer advice on nutrition and exercise. In an Instagram reel posted on December 10, 2024, he is seen sipping a glass of green juice, accompanied by the text: “I’m a 9 year cancer survivor and this is what I drink daily to help prevent cancer.”
His post’s caption reflects his journey, stating he feels “stronger and healthier than ever” nine years after his diagnosis, emphasizing that his goal is not merely to survive but to thrive. He believes in the power of being mindful about one’s diet to combat and prevent cancer.
He explained: “And part of that is being intentional about what I put in my body – especially when it comes to fighting cancer and preventing its return. Our modern diets are too acidic.”
Highlighting the dangers of a typical modern diet, he added: “Fast food, processed snacks, sugary drinks, you name it – these all create an acidic environment in our bodies. And guess what? Cancer thrives in an acidic environment.”
Dilan, through his journey post-chemotherapy, asserts the significance of an alkaline state for health and immunity. He continued: “On the flip side, our bodies function optimally in an alkaline state, which is so important for overall health and immunity. From when I started chemotherapy, I made sure I drank an alkaline juice daily to ensure my body stayed in this optimal state and cancer free.”
The blend constituting Dilan’s juice includes spinach, carrots, celery stalks, cabbage, wheatgrass powder, turmeric, and lemon. Despite admitting the taste is less than desirable, he asserts: “It doesn’t taste amazing but it helps alkalise and balance your body’s pH levels.”
Favouring juicing over blending, Dilan explicates his preference: “Juicing extracts the liquid from the ingredients while removing the fibre, allowing your body to absorb the nutrients more quickly and efficiently.” He mentions there’s a trade-off as juicing sacrifices some fibre for a higher nutrient density, contrasting with blending which retains fibre but might lose some nutrients.
Still, he encourages others seeking to promote their body’s alkaline state to try juicing. Dilan’s Instagram reel sharing his alkaline juice has exploded, amassing 5.1 million views and sparking a fervent conversation with 13,300 comments.
One viewer expressed gratitude saying: “Thank you for sharing!” and another echoed appreciation with “Thank you for the recipe.”
But how much scientific evidence supports these claims? It’s important to remember that there is no magic bullet for preventing cancer.
Despite Dilan’s belief in the benefits of the juice, no peer-reviewed studies or clinical trials have shown that consuming alkaline water, drinks, or foods has a direct impact on cancer prevention or treatment. The British Nutrition Foundation explains that while “some laboratory-based studies suggest cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment”, attempting to alter your diet with more acid or alkali through certain foods and drinks may not be effective.
This is because “any extra acid or alkali is removed through urine so food choices may affect the pH of your urine but will not change your body acidity.” The foundation further notes: “The alkaline diet promotes fruit and vegetables, and it is possible that a diet high in these may have cancer protective effects due to their nutrient and bioactive compounds rather than their acid/alkaline promoting qualities. However, the alkaline diet also promotes exclusion of many foods, several of which contribute beneficial nutrients to most people’s diet.”
How to reduce your cancer risk
According to the NHS website, simple lifestyle changes can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer. It recommends…
- not smoking
- maintaining a healthy weight
- eating a healthy, balanced diet
- doing regular exercise
- not drinking too much alcohol
- protecting your skin from too much sun