Can hot coconut water 'kill' cancer cells?

Hyderabad: A viral WhatsApp message, attributed to Dr. Rajendra A. Badwe from the Tata Memorial Hospital, claims that hot coconut water releases an "anti-cancer substance" that can kill cancer cells.

It recommends adding hot water to 2–3 thin coconut flakes and says "it will become 'alkaline water'." People are advised to drink it every day.

The viral message further reads, "Hot Coconut water releases an anti-cancer substance, which is the latest advance in the effective treatment of cancer in the medical field. Hot coconut juice has an effect on cysts and tumors. Proven to remedy all types of cancer. This type of treatment with coconut extract only destroys malignant cells, it does not affect healthy cells. In addition, the amino acid and coconut polyphenol in coconut juice can regulate high blood pressure, effectively prevent deep vein thrombosis, adjust blood circulation and reduce blood clots."

WHO describes cancer as a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs.

Can hot coconut water kill cancer cells? Let's find out.

FACT CHECK

NewsMeter found that Dr. Rajendra A. Badwe from Tata Memorial Hospital whose name is on the viral message has refuted the claim. Also, Tata Memorial Hospital shared a press release issued by Dr. Badwe categorically refuting all claims mentioned in the message. "Neither Dr. Badwe nor the Tata Memorial Centre subscribe to this view," it said. (Read the statement here and here.)

We contacted an expert, Dr. Palanki Satya Dattatreya, director and chief of medical oncology services at Renova Soumya Cancer Centre, who said the claims made in the viral message were "inaccurate."

He told NewsMeter, "Let me be loud and clear that this is an inaccurate and inappropriate health message and in fact it prompted the country's premier cancer care hospital, Tata Memorial Centre in Parel, to issue a statement that the message was unscientific and was never uttered by its director Dr. Rajendra Badwe."

He further said there is no scientific data to suggest that hot coconut water can cure cancer. "I urge the public to not be misinformed by such messages shared on social media. It does more harm than good and many cancer specialists are battling such misleading miracle cures for cancer shared widely on various social media platforms. Such messages are extremely damaging and there are absolutely no validations for such remedies," he said.

Coconuts do have many health benefits, but curing cancer is not one of them.

Hence, the claim is false.