The idea that following a mucus-reducing alkaline diet can benefit cancer patients is rooted in the late Dr. Sebi’s theory that lowering the body’s pH levels can remove toxicity and eliminate cancer cells.
While the medical world does not yet have evidence to support Dr. Sebi’s claims entirely, some research indicates that following a plant-based diet can improve outcomes for anyone living with an illness or disease, including cancer patients.
Who is Dr. Sebi, and What is the Alkaline Diet?
Dr. Sebi was born Alfredo Bowman. He adopted the title of doctor even though he never earned a Ph.D. or medical degree.
Instead, Dr. Sebi was self-taught. After being unsuccessfully treated for his ailments, including obesity, asthma, and diabetes, he went to an herbalist in Mexico who Dr. Sebi believes healed him using natural methods. After this experience, Dr. Sebi thought Western medicine was incapable of curing diseases and started learning about herbal remedies.
This is where he developed what’s now referred to as the Dr. Sebi alkaline diet. There are eight published Dr. Sebi books on the topic, which detail the importance of an alkaline diet.
A Dr. Sebi documentary was being developed when the documentarian, Nipsey Hussle, was unexpectedly murdered in 2019. Nick Cannon picked up the project and released a trailer
in 2020. However, as of November 2021, the documentary has still not been released.
The Connection Between Acidity and Cancer
According to Dr. Sebi, cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. On the pH scale, anything less than 7 is considered acidic, while anything between 7 and 14 is considered alkaline.
Our bodies naturally try to regulate a pH level between 7.36 and 7.44, which is considered slightly alkaline. Dr. Sebi’s program claims that eating naturally alkaline foods can make the body less acidic, thereby decreasing the risks of getting diseases.
Importantly, research does not show that eating alkaline foods can change pH levels in the blood.
Do’s and Don’ts for the Dr. Sebi Diet
Dr. Sebi’s alkaline diet is intense and includes eating specific foods, taking proprietary supplements, and avoiding addictive sources (such as alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes).
Here is what you should do to follow Dr. Sebi’s diet.
- Follow a plant-based diet
- Only eat foods from Dr. Sebi’s food list
- Drink one gallon of natural spring water per day
- Drink herbal teas, such as ginger or chamomile
- Add supplements
These are the things to avoid if you want to follow Dr. Sebi’s diet.
- Alcohol
- Hybrid foods
- Animal products
- Using a microwave
- Eating canned and seedless fruits
Does Dr. Sebi’s Diet Work?
This is the most important question cancer patients have when they hear about Dr. Sebi’s alkaline diet. Will giving up meat and following a strict regimen of supplements help cancer patients feel better and beat cancer faster?
There is some evidence to suggest a connection between acidity and cancer. However, these same researchers also state that there is not enough evidence to determine whether dietary habits alone are enough to reduce cancer risk or eliminate cancer from the body.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attempt Dr. Sebi’s diet, though. Dr. Sebi’s dietary guidelines can still help cancer patients feel better and stay strong throughout their treatment. For example, eliminating processed foods is known to improve a person’s overall health, which can be beneficial when treating cancer and other illnesses.
Dr. Sebi Diet Risks
What can you eat on the Dr Sebi diet? The Dr. Sebi diet encourages you to eat whole foods and avoid processed foods. This is generally good for your health. However, this strict diet can exclude certain essential nutrients. Such as:
Protein
Dr. Sebi diet foods include brazil nuts and sesame seeds, which are rich in protein. However, these are not considered a good source of protein, unless consumed in large quantities.
B-12 & Omega 3
B-12 deficiency can lead to tiredness, depression, and tingling sensations in the hands, feet, and fingers. Pernicious anemia is another possibility. This prevents the body from making enough healthy red blood cells.
Doctors often recommend that people who don’t eat animal products take B-12 supplements.
Patients who decide to try Dr. Sebi’s diet should consult with their care providers to ensure they still meet their nutritional needs. People with iron deficiency, osteoporosis, and osteopenia may experience worsening of these conditions by Dr. Sebi’s diet that may lack key micronutrients.
Discuss with your doctor if there are any serious conditions, if you’re pregnant, have an eating disorder, or have kidney disease.
Some adaptations may be necessary to ensure you are still getting enough essential nutrients to keep your body strong as you continue your treatments.
Thinking about utilizing this diet? Click here to get professional guidance from an integrative oncology nurse.
Dr. Sebi Food List:
Here is what you can eat on the Dr. Sebi diet
Vegetables:
- Avocado
- Bell peppers
- Chayote (Mexican squash)
- Cucumber
- Dandelion greens
- Kale
- Lettuce (all, except Iceberg)
- Mushrooms (all, except Shitake)
- Okra
- Olives
- Onions
- Sea Vegetables (Wakame/dulse/arame/hijiki/nori)
- Squash
- Tomato (Cherry and plum only)
- Tomatillo
- Turnip Greens
- Watercress
- Purslane (Verdolaga)
- Wild arugula
Fruits:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Berries (all varieties, no cranberries)
- Elderberries (in any form)
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Currants
- Dates
- Figs
- Grapes (seeded)
- Limes (Key limes, with seeds)
- Mango
- Melons (seeded)
- Orange (Seville or sour preferred, difficult to find)
- Papayas
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Prickly Pear (Cactus fruit)
- Prunes
- Raisins (seeded)
- Soft Jelly Coconuts
- Soursops
- Tamarind
Natural Herbal Teas: 
- Burdock
- Chamomile
- Elderberry
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Raspberry
- Tila
Grains:
- Amaranth
- Fonio
- Kamut
- Quinoa
- Rye
- Spelt
- Tef
- Wild Rice
