Sugar is a carbohydrate that can be found in a variety of meals. The human body primarily derives its energy from carbohydrates. It's critical that everyone maintains healthy blood sugar levels, especially for those who have diabetes, as it can cause serious health complications. However, does sugar cause cancer? This article analyzes whether sugar promotes cancer to develop and spread faster.
Sugar actually feeds every cell in the human body, including cancer cells. However, studies suggest that sugar consumption does not always directly result in cancer. Sugar's effect on your waistline is what can lead to cancer. Overconsumption of sugar calories might lead to weight gain, and being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing cancer.
Sugar consumption has been linked to weight gain in a growing body of evidence. It may play a role in obesity, defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater makes you more likely to develop cancer and other complications. Being overweight or obese throughout adulthood is linked to an increased risk of at least 10 different complications. This includes cancers of the pancreas, breast, kidney, colon, prostate, etc.
Maintaining a healthy body weight is critical when considering reducing your cancer risk. Regular exercise, eating nutritious foods in appropriate portions, and paying attention to hunger and fullness cues will help you maintain a healthy body weight.
To promote optimal health, registered dieticians and other health care experts generally suggest reducing added sugars. Sweetened beverages like soda are the top source of added sugar in the US, followed by desserts and sweet snacks. You should consume less than 10% of your daily calories from added sugars and avoid foods and drinks that include added sugars.
Myth: Sugar should be avoided by cancer patients because it hastens the progression of the disease.
Fact: More research is needed to link sugar consumption and cancer. However, giving cancer cells more sugar does not cause their faster growth. Similarly, starving cancer cells of sugar does not affect their growth rate. This mistake may stem from a misunderstanding of positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Therefore, some people might believe that cancer cells grow quicker when fed sugar.
However, cancer risk can be linked to the way your body responds to sugar. If insulin-resistant people eat sugar-rich foods all by themselves, the resulting blood sugar spike can cause an increased release of insulin-like growth factor (IGF). IGF can increase cancer cell growth. However, controlling blood sugar can minimize IGF release and reduce cancer growth.
Sugar consumption can cause weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, both of which can increase cancer risk. Sugary drinks, such as soft drinks and sports drinks, should be consumed in moderation or not at all. Instead, consume naturally occurring sugar in moderation as a part of a healthy diet to minimize your cancer risk. Also, watch out for food labels because if your food is labeled containing maltose, dextrose, glucose, fruit nectar, corn, honey, molasses, etc., then the food contains sugar.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer and have high blood sugar levels, schedule an appointment with our Chesapeake Hematology and Oncology Associates team. We provide world-class cancer treatment and can suggest a plan of action to tackle your cancer diagnosis. Visit our website today!
Also Read: Can Immunotherapy Help with Lung Cancer Treatment?
