Misleading! Cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, not prostate cancer cure

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Babatunde Okunlola

Claim: An Instagram user posted that eating cucumber, onions, and tomatoes prevents and treats prostate cancer and diabetes.

Verdict: While cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes are nutritious and can be part of a healthy diet, relying solely on them to prevent prostate cancer or diabetes is misleading. 

Full Text 

Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, a walnut-sized organ in men that produces semen. While many prostate cancers grow slowly and may not cause harm, others are aggressive and can spread rapidly. Early detection through regular screenings is crucial for successful treatment.   

Diabetes, on the other hand, is a chronic condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. This happens because your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, a hormone that helps glucose (sugar) get into your cells, or can’t effectively use the insulin it does produce. There are two main types of diabetes ie Type 1 and type 2. 

Both prostate cancer and diabetes can lead to serious health problems, and over the years, there have been controversies about remedies for preventing cancer and diabetes.

On July 6, 2024, an Instagram user, @nwokoronetwork, claimed in a video post that eating cucumber, onions, and tomatoes prevents and treats prostate cancer and diabetes

Excerpts from the video reads: 

“If you are a man, and your father suffered from prostate cancer, or you are coming from a family of diabetic persons or high blood pressure, you need these things I’m chewing now.’

He then goes on to eat the cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes, demonstrating that they are to be eaten raw. He further emphasises that they can be blended before consumption, although he recommends chewing them raw to keep the fibre content as whole as possible. 

He further said: ‘If you are able to eat this, even if its three times a week, you won’t talk of the prostate in your life, no matter the type of prostate, because the tomato alone will cure you. Even if you don’t have them, why not use them to prevent it? I have used these (Tomatoes, Onion, and Cucumber) to cure someone,” 

As of August 14, 2024, the post had generated over 12,800 likes, over 560 comments, and over 480 shares on Instagram.

It has also generated other conversations and reactions from the platform users, who expressed support, disbelief, and scepticism at the post.

An Instagram user, @haywood.gerst, wrote, “Wow!!! This looks interesting. I’m going to start this immediately” 

Another user, @albert.justin.1422, wrote, “Thank you. What amount should be used? How many onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers? ” 

Expressing scepticism, @steveuyi posted, “Everyone is a doctor these days.” 

Having observed the controversial reactions and engagement generated by the post, DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claims made.  

Verification

There is no conclusive evidence that cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes prevent and treat prostate cancer and diabetes. While these foods are undoubtedly beneficial for overall health, the claim that they can prevent prostate cancer and diabetes is a bit oversimplified.

Tomatoes: 

Healthline opines that tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Cooked tomatoes, like in tomato sauce, actually increase lycopene absorption. Tomatoes are all good sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients can help protect your cells from damage and may help reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. However, no scientific evidence suggests that these vegetables can prevent prostate cancer or diabetes. While some studies suggest a potential link between tomato consumption and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, more research is needed.

Onions

Onions contain antioxidants that may contribute to overall health, including heart health. According to a study carried out to determine the potential effect of onion extract on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and acid phosphatase (AP) in Wistar rats,  the relevance of onions in prostate cancer is very scarce in literature as well as the mechanism in which it works. While some studies hint at a possible connection between onion consumption and lower diabetes risk, evidence is still inconclusive. Hence, there’s limited research specifically linking onions to prostate cancer prevention.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are low in calories and water content, making them a healthy choice. Populations that consume high amounts of allium vegetables have been reported to have a lower rate of overall cancer.6-9. A study by the University of San Francisco states that More research is necessary for a formal recommendation regarding their effects on the risk of prostate cancer. Still, evidence suggests regular consumption of these vegetables benefits overall health. 

Experts Opinion

Corroborating the aforementioned studies and also discrediting the one-size-fits-all approach, Dr Abdulrasheed Tijani, a consultant public health physician, said:

“Prostate disease isn’t treated by all that he said. However, eating fruits and vegetables is encouraged and helps the body, but it doesn’t mean it is a cure for prostate cancer.  The effect of dietary antioxidants on prostate cancer remains undefined and inconclusive, with different antioxidants affecting prostate cancer risk differentially. Further studies are needed and ongoing to clarify the relationship between antioxidants found in some foods and vegetables and how they relate to prostate cancer risk and delineate the underlying mechanisms.”

Dr Ahmed Olalekan, a trained doctor with Highland Hospital Ibadan, said:

“Chewing or eating cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes is not curative of prostate cancers. It also has no curative effect on diabetes please. This video is unfounded and should be ignored, as there are no conclusive studies to that effect.” 

Further discouraging the postulations in the video, Dr Azariah Lawal, a trained US medical practitioner who works in the healthcare field, said:

“These claims are misleading and dangerous. If someone sees it and doesn’t take it at entertainment value, then it becomes a problem. In some cases, you can’t just eat raw onions; what if there are toxins in the tomatoes or onions? You don’t just come out and make claims about diseases or the human body because the human body is an amazing machine.  

“For some people, there are drawbacks to eating onions, such as heartburn. Eating raw onions may cause or worsen pain and irritation in the stomach. Onions can aggravate irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, including bloating, passing gas, and stomach pains in others. This is especially true when you eat onions raw.  Some people may be allergic to onions and experience common symptoms like itchiness, runny nose, red eyes, nasal congestion, or a rash when eating onions. So there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this.”

Conclusion

While cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes are nutritious and can be part of a healthy diet, relying solely on them to prevent prostate cancer or diabetes is misleading. 

These conditions are complex and influenced by various factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall diet. It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice on preventing prostate cancer and diabetes.

The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Diamond 88.5 FM Nigeria, to enrich the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.