Bust those diet and cancer myths

Microscopic picture of cancer cells. [Courtesy]

Myth 1: Acidic foods make cancer cells grow/spread faster

What is factual? An acidic environment increases risk of cancer and makes cancer cells grow faster. Some lab studies have shown that cancer cells thrive better in acidic environment. However these are cancer cells grown in petri-dishes and can’t be compared to what happens in the human body. Human blood is usually slightly alkaline regulated by the kidneys with a very narrow healthy range pH of between 7.35 and 7.45. If the blood’s pH was to fall out of this normal range it can be fatal because human body cells can’t survive in acidic environment.