‘I’m a nine-year cancer survivor – I sip one drink daily to ward off disease’
A women’s health coach – who has been cancer free for nine years – says there is one beverage he drinks daily to prevent the disease.
Dilan Patel, founder of DNA Fitness UK, was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4b Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 25. After focusing on his nutrition, fitness and daily habits and undergoing chemotherapy, he managed to overcome cancer.
He has shared his journey on social media – where he gives nutritional advice and workout tutorials. Dilan posted a reel on Instagram explaining how he believes drinking an alkaline juice daily can prevent cancer.
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The reel, posted on December 10, 2024, is a short clip of him drinking a glass of green juice with the on screen text: “I’m a 9 year cancer survivor and this is what I drink daily to help prevent cancer.” In the caption of his Instagram post he said he is “stronger and healthier than ever” nine years on from having cancer but he said that it is “not just about surviving; it’s about thriving.”
He claimed: “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.
“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.
“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 ingredients Dilan puts in his alkaline juice are a handful of spinach, two carrots, two celery stalks, a quarter of a cabbage, a tablespoon of wheatgrass powder, a teaspoon of turmeric and one lemon. He warned that the concoction “doesn’t taste amazing but it helps alkalise and balance your body’s pH levels.”
Dilan stressed that he juices the ingredients, he doesn’t blend them. He explained why: “Juicing extracts the liquid from the ingredients while removing the fibre, allowing your body to absorb the nutrients more quickly and efficiently.
“The downside is you lose some fibre but the nutrient density is higher. Blending keeps all the fibre however the blending process can destroy some of the nutrients, making juicing a more potent method. If you want to boost your body’s alkaline state, I highly recommend juicing.”
Dilan’s Instagram reel has garnered an impressive 5.1 million views and 13,300 comments. One user said: “Thank you for sharing!” and another added: “Thank you for the recipe.”
But is there any science to back-up these claims? After all, there is no miracle cure that prevents cancer. Even though Dilan believes the juice has helped him, there are no peer-reviewed studies or clinical trials have demonstrated that consuming alkaline water, drinks, or foods has any direct effect on cancer prevention or treatment.
The British Nutrition Foundation states: "Following healthy eating guidance, including plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active helps to reduce the risk of many types of cancer. However, we don’t have evidence that any specific foods or nutrients can prevent or cure cancer. The balance of acid and alkaline in our bodies is tightly regulated and the foods we choose do not change the level of acidity in the body."
Ways to reduce your cancer risk
The NHS website says making simple changes to your lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of developing cancer. It recommends...
not smoking
keeping to a healthy weight
eating a healthy, balanced diet
doing regular exercise
not drinking too much alcohol
protecting your skin from too much sun