A social media message has been widely circulating on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, claiming that hot coconut water can destroy cancer cells. The original post attributes this claim to Dr. Rajendra Badwe, director of TATA Memorial Hospital, one of India’s leading cancer treatment centers. Another version cites Dr. Abbas Hussain Kazmi of Sheikh Zaid Hospital. These messages continue to gain attention and concern among the public.
Social Media Posts
The original message, circulating since 2019 on WhatsApp and Facebook, claims that adding hot water to coconut water can kill cancer cells, attributed to Dr. Rajendra Badwe of TATA Memorial Hospital.
Another version of the claim, which mentions Dr. Abbas Hussain Kazmi of Sheikh Zaid Hospital making similar assertions, has been shared across WhatsApp recently. We also found this version spreading on Facebook since 2019 as well.
Fact Check
We investigated whether Dr. Rajendra, director of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in Mumbai, India’s leading cancer institute, had made any statements about this purported cancer treatment.
In response, TATA Memorial Hospital issued an official statement addressing the social media post. Indian media reports on this are here, here and here. (Archive, Archive)
Dr. Rajendra Badwe, the hospital’s director, clarified that he never made such claims and that the information in the circulating note lacks scientific basis.
The statement emphasized that there is no scientific evidence supporting hot coconut water as a cancer cure. The statement is below.
For the claim involving Dr. Abbas Hussain Kazmi and Sheikh Zaid Hospital, no verifiable information was found to confirm the existence of Dr. Kazmi or any such statement from Sheikh Zaid Hospital. The claim appears to be another version of the original misinformation, with no supporting evidence.
Indian oncologists have warned against the widespread sharing of unproven cancer treatments on social media. They emphasize that social media platforms are not appropriate venues for discussing medical treatments and solutions. Here is a news report from The Hindu regarding this issue.
Expert Comment
Dr. L.P.A. Karunathilaka, a senior expert in Indigenous Medicine at the University of Colombo, explained to Fact Crescendo team that coconut water is generally safe in Ayurvedic medicine, but requires careful consideration.
He pointed out that certain forms of coconut water, particularly when sour, can irritate the stomach. Despite coconut water’s potential health benefits, combining it with hot water does not make it an effective cancer treatment.
While both coconut water and hot water are safe for most people to drink, there is no evidence in Ayurvedic medicine showing they can fight cancer cells.
Most importantly, Dr. Karunathilaka cautioned that believing in such unproven treatments could prevent cancer patients from getting the medical care they actually need.
Moreover, Dr. Nishant Gaurav from Medanta Hospital emphasizes that coconut water has no scientific backing as a cancer treatment, though more research could help understand its general health benefits. While coconut water is safe and beneficial for hydration, particularly during chemotherapy, it should not be viewed as a cancer treatment.
Conclusion
Claims that hot coconut water can kill cancer cells are false. Dr. Rajendra Badwe and TATA Memorial Hospital have denied making such statements, and no scientific evidence supports this as a cancer treatment. Another version involving Dr. Abbas Hussain Kazmi of Sheikh Zaid Hospital lacks verifiable evidence. While coconut water is beneficial for hydration, especially during cancer treatment, promoting it as a cure is dangerous misinformation that could prevent patients from seeking proper medical care.
Title:Experts Confirm Hot Coconut Water DOES NOT Kill Cancer Cells
Fact Check By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: False
