Diet according to Dr. Coy

Diet according to Dr. Coy is a unique dietary treatment approach that specifically intervenes in the altered, TKTL1-controlled cancer metabolism. The aim of this special diet is to reactivate the “normal” energy metabolism in order to restore the sensitivity of resistant cancer cells to standard therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and thus support their treatment success.

Please note: It is important to me to emphasize that my nutrition concept does not replace the current therapies, but merely supports them and makes them more effective and more tolerable. Nutrition plays an enormous role in the prevention, treatment and relapse prophylaxis of cancer. Nevertheless, there is so far no scientific evidence that specific nutritional factors or a particular diet as the sole treatment method could cure cancer.

The nutritional approach is fundamentally based on 5 elements: a general carbohydrate reduction of the diet combined with various active substances that in studies inhibited the TKTL1-controlled cancer metabolism or activated the “normal” energy metabolism. The interaction of these 5 elements forces TKTL1-positive, resistant cancer cells to switch off the metabolism responsible for the resistance and to reactivate the “normal metabolism”.

The 5 elements

Carbohydrates

reduce to 1 gram per kilogram of body weight

Tocotrienols

take 100 mg unsaturated vitamin E a day

Secondary phytochemicals

take in sufficient quantities (especially polyphenols)

High-quality fat

take 10 g omega-3 fatty acids & 10 g MCT fat per day

Lactate

take 1,5 g spread over the day

The effect of each element

Tocotrienols:
take 100 mg a day

Tocotrienols are special, unsaturated representatives of vitamin E, which not only have a much stronger antioxidant effect than saturated vitamin E representatives (tocopherols). Scientific findings also attribute a number of effects to them, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, which cannot be observed in any other vitamin E form. In laboratory experiments, tocotrienols inhibit, for example, the transcription factor HIF1α (Hypoxia-inducible factor), which adapts cells to a low-oxygen environment and is a key factor in fermentation metabolism4. HIF1α also plays an important role in resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Tocotrienols play a subordinate role in many vitamin E-rich foods. Significantly high amounts occur in nature, especially in the oil of palm fruits, annatto seeds, cloves, cranberry and grape seeds.

Carbohydrates:
reduce to 1 gram per kilogram of body weight per day

Conventional sugar and starch provide the preferred energy sources for fermenting cancer cells and are vital for cells in the oxygen-poor interior of the tumor. By reducing the intake of carbohydrates, the supply of the important energy supplier can be greatly limited. Healthy body cells as well as brain cells, on the other hand, are able to obtain their energy from the burning of fats and partly from protein building blocks (ketogenic amino acids).

Secondary phytochemicals:
take in sufficient quantities

Studies have shown that secondary plant substances often prevent or inhibit cancer. Particularly valuable is the group of polyphenols, which occurs mainly in berries, red-violet vegetables and tea, but also glucosinolates such as in broccoli. Secondary phytochemicals improve the function of mitochondria, among other things, and thus stabilize energy production through respiration. Polyphenols (quercetin) also inhibit fermentation and promote fat burning in the mitochondria.

Omega-3 fatty acids + MCT:
take in combination

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are found especially in fatty sea fish and high-quality oils such as linseed, hemp and walnut oil. Fats with medium-chain fatty acids (MCT, median chain triglycerides) are mainly contained in coconut oil and are preferentially converted into ketone bodies by the body. In combination, both represent ideal energy sources for fat burning and optimize respiration in the mitochondria. On the other hand, fermenting cancer cells cannot use these for energy production.

Lactate:
take 1,5 g spread over the day

Fermenting cancer cells form high amounts of lactic acid, which are removed from the cell for their own protection. The acid destroys the tissue surrounding the tumor (matrix degradation) and facilitates the invasive spread of the cancer cells. Orally supplied lactate is broken down into bicarbonate in the liver and acts as a base to buffer the lactic acid formed by the cancerous tumor. Matrix degradation is reduced and metastasis is made more difficult.

Summarized

Inhibition of fermentation metabolism by tocotrienols

Limitation of the main energy source by reduction of carbohydrate intake

Inhibition of fermentation and activation of respiration by polyphenols

Optimization of nutrient burning through omega-3 fatty acids and MCT fats

Buffering of tissue-damaging lactic acid by added lactate

Nutrition according to Dr. Coy in practice

Food list according to the traffic light system

The food list classifies food according to the traffic light system and supports compliance with a low carbohydrate intake.

Note: The classification of the food takes place only on basis of their coal hydrate content, in order to offer to the users of the Coy Diet still as large a selection of food as possible and to avoid a malnutrition. Of course the selection can be reduced still after further criteria like a renouncement of red and/or processed meat, a renouncement of animal products or due to personal incompatibilities. However, it should be borne in mind that any further restriction increases the risk of a one-sided and inadequate diet. It is best to get support from a professional nutrition therapist in your area.

Green foods

Foods on the green list contain little or no carbohydrates and may be eaten in normal portion sizes at will. This primarily includes all types of vegetables (except legumes and root/tuber vegetables), at best unprocessed (additive-free) meat and fish products, eggs, cheese, fats and oils, herbs and spices as well as sugar-free drinks.

Yellow foods

Foods on the yellow list contain moderate amounts of carbohydrates and should only be consumed in the specified serving sizes. The indicated serving sizes correspond to about 5 g of carbohydrates, so that it is easy to calculate how many foods on the yellow list can be combined throughout the day.

Red foods

Foods on the red list contain high amounts of carbohydrates and are therefore not recommended as part of the Dr. Coy diet. This primarily includes starchy foods such as cereals and potato products, as well as sweetened foods and beverages.

Download food list Coy-Diet

Supporting phytopharmaceuticals and valuable active ingredients

Since a carbohydrate reduction alone does not influence the TKTL1-dependent cancer metabolism effectively enough, further supporting active substances must be supplied with the diet.

Tocotrienols

Compared to tocopherols (saturated vitamin E), tocotrienols (unsaturated vitamin E) are usually only found in small amounts in foods. Rich sources are mainly exotic oils such as annatto oil, native palm oil or grape seed oil. Special oil extracts such as Tocomin^® (natural tocotrienol-rich complex of cold-pressed palm oil) enable a targeted supply of the valuable active ingredients.

Polyphenols & glucosinolates

Fresh plant foods such as vegetables, fruit, herbs and spices are rich in secondary plant substances. Substances of particular interest for cancer therapy as well as for prevention and aftercare mainly come from the group of polyphenols. These include, among others, salvestrole (plant repellents which, however, only occur in organically grown fruit and vegetables), resveratrol (red grapes), curcumin (yellow turmeric dye), quercetin (yellowish dye in onions and capers), ellagic acid (raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries) and EGCG (green tea). It is also advisable to regularly consume glucosinolates over cabbage vegetables and in particular sulforaphane contained in broccoli, green sprouts and Brussels sprouts.

Omega-3 and MCT

Recommended omega-3 sources are primarily marine foods such as salmon, tuna, plaice, herring and mackerel, as these already provide the body’s important representatives DHA and EPA. Omega-3 fatty acids from oils such as linseed, rapeseed or nut oil must first be converted into these. Fish or algae oils can also be used for targeted absorption.
A good food source for MCT fats is native coconut oil. In addition, I have developed special oil blends which, in addition to MCT, also have an optimum omega-3/omega-6 ratio and tocotrienols.

Lactate

Lactate is found in higher quantities above all in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut or Nattō.

For a simple daily intake of the necessary amount of lactate, I also developed a special lactate drink (Laktat-Drink). This is a special, highly fermented milk drink with a low carbohydrate content and enriched with valuable fats.

The bestselling book: The anti-cancer diet

In 2009 Gräfe und Unzer-Verlag published my first book “Die neue Anti-Krebs Ernährung – Wie Sie das Krebs-Gen stop” (“The new anti-cancer diet – how to stop the cancer gene”), which quickly reached bestseller status and has since been translated into numerous other languages. This gives a detailed insight into the scientific background of the special nutrition concept, explains in detail what has to be considered when putting it into practice and supports the introduction with many tips and tasty recipes.

Due to the large popularity of the book in the following years still two further books appeared to the nutrition according to Dr. Coy.