This article first appeared in our Earth Day 2025 issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 22 April. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
12 years ago, Johann Ilgenfritz received a diagnosis no one wants to hear: aggressive, terminal cancer.
With no viable treatment options remaining, Johann’s future seemed all but certain – but instead of surrendering to despair, he chose a different path, one rooted in self-empowerment, nutritional science and an unshakeable will to live.
Today, Johann is not only cancer free but thriving. His remarkable recovery and the method behind it are now captured in his forthcoming book, Reversing Cancer: You Caused It, You Can Reverse It, launching 07 May 2025.
During his battle, Johann faced months of frustration searching for reliable health information online.
The overwhelming amount of conflicting advice inspired him to create something radically different – a trusted platform where people could access expert-led, integrative health knowledge in one central place.
From this vision, UK Health Radio was born. Today it’s the world’s largest internet-based health radio station, with over 1.5 million monthly listeners, and Johann continues to serve as its CEO and founder.
At the heart of Johann’s transformation lies a discovery that changed the course of his life.
During his search for answers, he came across the pioneering work of Dr Otto Warburg, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who famously stated, ‘Cancer cannot survive in an oxygenated, alkaline cellular environment.’ These words became the foundation of Johann’s healing journey.
Motivated by this insight, Johann radically shifted his lifestyle; he moved away from processed foods, refined sugars and acidic animal proteins and towards a diet rich in whole, plant-based, mineral-dense and alkaline-promoting foods.
Johann recently founded the Alkaline Collective Mastermind, creating a practical guide that speaks to anyone looking to regain control of their health.
More than a memoir, Reversing Cancer is a science-backed blueprint for wellness. It’s rooted in the latest research on nutrition, inflammation, pH balance and disease prevention.
The book begins by demystifying the body’s acid-alkaline balance, clarifying how dietary and lifestyle choices influence systemic pH.
It delves into the dangers of chronic acidosis, a condition that fosters inflammation, oxidative stress and tumour proliferation – biological pathways increasingly recognised in cancer research.
Johann doesn’t tell readers what to do, he simply shows them how he did it.
The book includes accessible food charts, meal plans and nutrient-rich recipes to help readers implement the alkaline lifestyle.
Reversing Cancer also covers hydration, sleep, stress management and movement – critical yet often neglected pillars of long-term health.
A unique and empowering feature of the book is its chapter-end summaries, with bite-sized recaps and prompts such as: What can I shift in my routine this week? What emotion or belief might be fuelling unhealthy choices? These questions make the content actionable, so readers can personalise their healing journey and create lasting change.
Despite the bold title, the book is not about blame but about empowerment.
Johann points to research showing that only 5–10% of cancers are due to inherited genetics, while up to 95% are influenced by diet, lifestyle, environmental toxins and stress.
For Johann, that’s not alarming – it’s liberating. If our choices helped create the problem, then our choices can help resolve it.
Ken D Foster, host of Voices of Courage, calls it ‘a comprehensive, practical, and inspiring approach to healing.’
Reversing Cancer is more than a book, it’s a movement. Johann envisions it as a daily guide, a family resource and a countertop companion – always close to support, encourage and educate.
Whether you’re navigating cancer, supporting a loved one or simply seeking a preventative lifestyle rooted in vitality, Reversing Cancer is your map.
With its combination of lived experience, sound science and step-by step guidance, Johann Ilgenfritz offers readers not just hope, but the tools to act on it.
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