Our bodies need sugar, specifically glucose, for energy. Every cell of our bodies, especially the brain, needs glucose to live. The sugar that we need comes from 2 places. One is from the carbohydrates that we eat. When we eat carbohydrates (either complex carbs, like whole grains or simple carbs like syrups), our bodies digests them and breaks them down into glucose for the body to use.
The second source of glucose actually comes from our own body. Our body will make the sugar we need if we don’t get enough from our food. Therefore, even if you cut out all intake of sugar or other forms of carbs, your body will make the sugar you need from fat and protein. This is not the ideal situation for your body, as it can cause your body to go into a stressful state. There is a certain amount of carbohydrate necessary for healthy cell function.
Cancer cells use sugar for energy just like the rest of our cells do. Cancer cells do have a higher metabolism, which is why they take up sugar at a faster rate. But there’s nothing scientifically proven regarding cancer that “feeds” on sugar more than any other cell in our body.
At this point, it has not been shown that eliminating dietary sources of sugar and carbohydrate actually results in slower growth of tumors but, it does result in your body having to work extra hard to make the glucose that it needs to function.
When we digest and absorb sugar from different types of foods, our bodies produce insulin to process the sugar. This is a normal and essential part of metabolizing food. However, if you eat too much sugar or carbohydrates, it results in a large amount of insulin being produced.
Insulin tells our cells to grow. Too much insulin can tell our cells to grow too much. Some people think that too much insulin could cause cancer cells to grow more. There’s not enough research right now to fully understand how insulin and cancer are related, but we know that too much sugar, and too much insulin are not good for our health.
Simply put, sugar does feed cancer. BUT, sugar (glucose) also feeds the rest of your body. For those who are going through treatment, remember that your healthy cells need energy especially during this time. Avoiding sugar completely will not help treatment, but it could leave your healthy cells low on energy. So, should you avoid sugar? According to the medical team at M.D. Anderson, the answer is no. “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.”
So, how much sugar is safe to eat? Women should have no more than six teaspoons per day (25 grams), and men should have no more than nine teaspoons per day (37 grams), says the American Heart Association. This equals to about 100 calories for women and 150 for men. If you’re like most Americans, you actually eat more than double that much sugar in a day — about 22 teaspoons. That’s 260 cups or 130 lbs. of sugar each year. Even worse, all that extra sugar breaks down to about 500 calories per day. That’s hundreds of calories with absolutely no nutritional or cancer-fighting benefit.
And, it’s not just sweets that are loaded with sugar. Pasta sauce, salad dressings and canned vegetables also have hidden sugars. Canned and processed foods are some of the biggest offenders.
It's very important to look for hidden sugars in foods. Your first clue that a product is high in sugar is if the word “sugar” is listed as the first ingredient. Beware, though. Some sugary foods don’t include “sugar” on the ingredient list. That’s because sugar is often disguised under different names. Here are some hidden “sugar” words to look out for:
fructose (natural sugar from fruits)
lactose (natural sugar from milk)
sucrose (made from fructose and glucose)
maltose (sugar made from grain)
glucose (simple sugar, product of photosynthesis)
dextrose (form of glucose)
Natural sugars are best. Natural sugars, like molasses, agave nectar, honey and maple syrup, are packed with antioxidants that protect your body from cancer. Even though these sweet options are natural, they still have about the same amount of calories as regular sugar. So, it’s important to stick to the recommended daily serving for sugar.
Avoid artificial sweeteners! Some studies done with laboratory animals have found links between artificial sweeteners and cancer. But, no proof exists that says artificial sweeteners definitely cause cancer. Until more is known, your best bet is to avoid or limit artificial sweeteners.
Bottom line: sugar, when eaten in small amounts, can fit into a balanced diet. And, if you have a sweet tooth, it’s better to get your sugar fix from naturally sweet fruits than processed foods. That way, you’ll satisfy your craving and get more of the nutrients your body needs to fight off diseases like cancer.
