What is the 'Budwig diet' Robert Alejandro talked about on 'The Howie Severino Podcast'?

After being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, Robert Alejandro made the decision to live only his best life and that includes eating right.

In an episode of “The Howie Severino Podcast, the award-winning artist and Papemelroti owner shared how his cancer diagnosis actually inspired him to love himself and enjoy life to the fullest.

"[When I got cancer I said] 'Okay. Enough of this self-hatred thing. I'm going to love every bit of myself, all the bad and the good stuff'," he said.

"And then, nangyari pa 'yung December, sabi ko, 'Okay. Hindi ko na alam kung gaano na ako katagal dito, talagang mag-enjoy na ako," he added.

Robert was referring to a very painful experience last December when he felt as though he had what he described as a "basketball inside his bottom." 

"And obviously ‘yun ‘yung tumor na lumaki talaga nu’ng December," he sad adding "naging buto’t balat din ako."

Robert shared he consulted the doctor to ask about his unusual weight loss, when he eats a lot. "Ang sabi ng doktor, 'ganyan talaga ‘yung cancer. Napaka-aggressive. Kinakain niya lahat ng nutrients.' So buto’t balat ako nu’ng December."

By then, it's been several years since his cancer diagnosis and refusal to undergo chemotherapy, which he called "a personal choice" and clarified not recommending to anybody.

However, there was a particularly "miraculous" incident that December that made Robert commit to a non-medical anticancer treatment called the "Budwig Protocol."

He recalled waking up at the hospital one day, pain-free, then went home. He could only attribute it to the “one little bowl” of the Budwig concoction he had the night before.

"It's a miracle. I am a walking miracle right now,"

Developed by the German biochemist Dr. Johanna Budwig in the 1950s, the "Budwig Protocol" requires a menu of vegetables, fruits and juices accompanied by a daily serving of flaxseed oil and cottage cheese.

It also meant Robert would have to stay away from meats, sugar and most dairy products every day, but he remains focused on improving his health through food and exercise.

"May schedule ako na sa umaga nagpapaaraw ako, nagwo-workout ako nang kaunti, hindi ako nagpapa-stress. So malaking bagay 'yung mindset nga na gusto mong mabuhay, mayroon kang purpose in life," he shared.

You might know Robert Alejandro from GMA-7’s “Art Is-Kool" and "Probe Team."

Recently, the award-winning artist has been holding free online workshops for art lovers stuck at home in isolation amid the pandemic.

Robert is also the owner of the papercrafts store Papemelroti, while his longtime partner, Jetro Rafael, is the man behind the popular Quezon City restaurant Van Gogh is Bipolar, which has a spin-off menu for cancer patients who are looking to incorporate healthy eating into their treatment. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News