Does Sugar Feed Cancer Cells?

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Sugar is hiding everywhere these days. From commercial fruit juices, sodas, energy drinks to pastries, cakes, and processed foods. Healthy blood glucose levels in adults should be below 110 mg/dl. 126 mg/dl is considered to be diabetic.

“Your body’s cells use sugar to keep your vital organs functioning,” says Clare McKindley, clinical dietitian at MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center. “But too much daily sugar can cause weight gain. And, unhealthy weight gain and a lack of exercise can increase your cancer risks.”

Sugar feeds all cells in your body, including cancer cells. It is a source of energy, but sugar does not provide lasting energy because it gets stored as fat in your body easily. Therefore, most people consume more than the recommended caloric intake. This obviously leads to weight gain. But how does sugar feed cancer cells?

Cancer, Glucose Levels and pH

The body of a person with cancer is usually more acidic. According to the German physiologist Otto Warburg PhD, high concentration of glucose (blood sugar) in the body serves as a food or fuel to cancer cells. The acidic nature of sugar disrupts the body’s natural pH balance. Thus, the body works hard to keep the pH levels normal by depositing the acidic substance into the cells.

It was in 1931 when Dr. Warburg discovered that cancer cells metabolize differently. Cancer cells have a high rate of anaerobic glycolysis or metabolism of glucose without oxygen. Normal cells can metabolize glucose, as well as fat while cancer cells cannot. Tumors are therefore more sensitive to blood glucose levels.

It is not surprising that holistic health approaches advise cancer patients to stop consuming sweets and processed foods. What’s more alarming is that cancer cells can produce their own supply of glucose in order to survive. By supplementing your body with a lot of sugars, you’re encouraging the growth of cancer cells and making your body more acidic (lower pH).

Also read: 10 Easy Ways To Alkalize Your Body And Improve Overall Health

Lowering Your Sugar Intake

Aside from pastries, candy, soda and commercial fruit juice, bread and yoghurt contain at least 2 tablespoons of sugar. Always check the nutritional facts of prepackaged foods. Also, avoid eating fast food at all cost. Even salad dressing is loaded with sugar.

Start consuming a lot of vegetables to increase your body’s pH. Be moderate in eating sweet fruits, like bananas and mangos, because they are high in sugar as well. Whenever possible, choose organic goods to prevent artificial hormones and pesticides from speeding up the growth of cancer cells. If you are diagnosed with cancer, eliminate refined sugars from your diet as soon as possible.

For more info read: 15 Easy Ways To Fight A Sugar Addiction

How Much Sugar Should We Consume

According to the American Heart Association, men should have no more than 37 grams (or 9 teaspoons) and women no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons). Most Americans, however, consume about 22 teaspoons a day.

In low to moderate amounts, sugar is beneficial to the body. However, high amounts of sugar cause a host of problems including tumor growth. Cancer patients should source most of their sugar intake from fresh fruits and natural sources like raw honey, molasses and agave nectar.

Sources: MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Center, ncbi, and Science Daily

 

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Amy Goodrich
Amy is a life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach. She is the founder of the healthy lifestyle website www.Body-in-Balance.org and creator of the online program, www.ThinForever.me. After successfully changing her family’s health and happiness, she’s on a mission to help other people achieve the life and body they want. You can find here on Facebook or Google+ or get her free clean, whole food recipe eBook here: http://www.body-in-balance.org/amys-home-kitchen-recipe-book/