Starving Cancer to Death by Removing One Food: Refined Sugar
In the constant battle to stay healthy, many of us know that too much sugar in the blood can lead to diabetes and that by controlling our diets we can both prevent and even reverse the disease. But, could the same be said for cancer? According to researchers, sugar and cancer are indeed connected.
In 2020, an estimated 1,806,590 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 606,520 people will die from the disease. In 2019, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3% of the population, had diabetes.
Can starving cancer possibly help these numbers dwindle down?
Sugar – Cancer’s Fuel
While all of our cells need glucose (a form of sugar which is turned into energy), cancer thrives on a body full of simple carbohydrates (which become sugar in the body) and refined sugars that come from processed foods and overly sweet goodies. If you or someone you know is suffering from cancer, one of the best things they can do is take away the disease’s favorite food – sugar.
The connection between sugar and cancer development is certainly not new.
Dr. Otto Wartburg and other health experts have been talking about how cancer loves sugar since the 1920s, but surprisingly many doctors don’t tell their cancer patients that as long as they continue to eat processed foods full of the stuff, they will likely have a more difficult time fighting this disease.
The German physiologist, leading biochemist, medical doctor, and Nobel laureate was convinced that you could starve cancer right out of the body. While it may not always be that easy, this is something that could significantly change the game.
His theory was that malignant cells and tumor growth was caused by cells that generated energy via adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a nonoxidative breakdown of glucose (sugar). The recycling of the metabolite from this process called glycolysis and the circulation of adhA back into the body caused anaerobic respiration. This is the reverse of what happens with healthy cells.
Healthy, non-cancerous cells generate energy for the body to use through the oxidative breakdown of pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis, which leads to oxidized mitochondria. He therefore concluded that cancer was really a mitochondrial dysfunction. The normal process of respiration of oxygen in the body is changed to the fermentation of sugar. If you remove the sugar, the body should not develop cancer.
Revealing the Connection Between Sugar and Cancer…Again
Obesity and high blood sugar are risk factors for diabetes. And diabetics have an estimated double risk of suffering a colon or pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Scientists say that the two facts are connected and that blood sugar could play a role in the development of cancer.
In one study published in the journal Molecular Cell, a team of researchers under Dr. Custodia Garcia-Jimenez, have identified how sugar could directly increase the cancer risk.
During digestion, cells in the intestine identify sugar and tell the pancreas to release insulin (the hormone responsible for blood sugar regulation). The sugars in the digestive system do this with the use of a hormone called GIP which assists in the insulin release.
Dr. Garcia-Jimenez found that a specific protein known as β-catenin controls the ability of the intestines to release GIP and this protein is dependent on sugar levels.
“Increased activity of β-catenin is known to be a major factor in the development of many cancers and can make normal cells immortal, a key step in early stages of cancer progression. The study demonstrates that high (but not normal) sugar levels induce nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and leads to cell proliferation. The changes induced on β-catenin, the molecules involved and the diversity of cancer cells susceptible to these changes are identified,” ScienceDaily reports.
Simplified: increased blood sugar levels could lead to increased production of this protein which is known to impact cancer risk.
“We were surprised to realize that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk,” said Dr. Garcia-Jimenez. “We are not investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk.”
Dr. Garcia-Jimenez went on to say something very simple and profound: “Changing diet is one of the easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money.” I’m sure everyone agrees with that one.
More Evidence that Sugar Causes and Fuels Cancer
In another study, scientists were able to clarify how the Warburg effect – “a phenomenon in which cancer cells rapidly break down sugars” – stimulates the growth of tumors.
The authors launched the study in 2008 with intent on examining how tumors convert significantly larger amounts of sugar into lactate compared to healthy tissues.
The Warburg effect has been studied extensively, and it has even been used to detect brain tumors. But for the longest time, scientists couldn’t figure out whether the Warburg effect is a symptom of cancer, or the cause of it.
Now they know.
Professor Johan Thevelein said:
“Our research reveals how the hyperactive sugar consumption of cancerous cells leads to a vicious cycle of continued stimulation of cancer development and growth.
Thus, it is able to explain the correlation between the strength of the Warburg effect and tumor aggressiveness.”
Read: Starving Cancer to Death by Removing One Food – Refined Sugar
He added:
“This link between sugar and cancer has sweeping consequences. Our results provide a foundation for future research in this domain, which can now be performed with a much more precise and relevant focus.”
For instance, doctors could potentially tailor diets to the specific needs of cancer patients.
What to Do
Experts agree, sugar is a health destroyer. And with the average person consuming 300% more sugar daily than recommended and kids taking in 7 trillion calories of sugar from sodas each year, it seems more important than ever to instill a new dietary lifestyle.
Most people can easily remove the obvious culprits that are full of refined sugar – cakes, candies, cookies, etc. The problem is that many foods which are packaged and sold in the US and in other countries are full of refined sugar, but just very sneakily hidden in the packaging labels. Things like ‘healthy’ yogurt, cereals, whole wheat or whole grain breads, and even ‘low-calorie’ items can be full of sugar.
Related Read: Kid Drinking 7 Trillion Calories of Sugar from Beverages
The easiest way to eliminate unwanted refined sugars is to stop buying ‘convenience’ or pre-packaged foods, and at least temporarily, don’t eat out at restaurants – many dining establishments source their food from big companies that ‘season’ their food with lots of sugar and salt to make it more palatable after being frozen and shipped across the country in trucks.
Even salad dressings can be loaded with sugar. To deal with cravings for sugary foods, increase your plant-based and healthy animal based proteins (no red meat) and eat more nutrition-packed foods.
It’s worth it to quit sugar, even if cancer isn’t on your radar. You’ll actually have more energy (that’s because sugar spikes lead to energy crashes). You’ll stop craving more sugar, and you’ll lose weight. Your digestive system will work more efficiently, and you’ll have less acne and fewer skin problems.
