Excessive consumption of sugar from foods with a high glycemic index (GI), such as sweets, cakes, and wheat-flour baked goods, promotes cancer. When the body burns simple carbohydrates, it creates free radicals that damage our DNA and can lead to cancer over time. It is worth emphasizing, however, that the formation of cancer itself is only partially dependent on the diet, and also results from environmental factors and, of course, genetic makeup. To limit the negative impact of sugar on our health, we should not consume more than 5% of daily energy requirements. For example, for a healthy adult man who needs about 2500 kcal a day, the demand for simple sugars should not exceed 125 kcal, which corresponds to 2 average apples.
Unfortunately, the daily consumption of sweets leads to an imbalance in the amount of insulin produced in the body, which is manifested by the need for more and more sugar. It is best to introduce the rule of eating something sweet 1-2 times a week instead of, for example, a second breakfast or afternoon tea, which allows you to eat simple carbohydrates in moderation. Before you sweeten your tea, you better think carefully. Sugar stimulates cancer cells and fuels the development of cancer. The discovery is of preventive importance, but it could also contribute to the development of a diet for cancer patients.
Researchers have therefore observed that sugar linked to cancer and stimulates the growth of cancer cells. This link has far-reaching consequences, not only in relation to prevention. It can also become the basis for the development of special diets for patients with cancer. Of course, research must also be carried out on higher-order organisms.
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Does sugar cause cancer?
In fact, the latest studies rule out a direct association between sugar and cancer. The correlation exists for weight gain. Excess sugar causes overweight, and this considerably increases the risk of several types of cancer (so far an association between being overweight and 13 types of cancer has been found ). After tobacco, obesity is the most important risk factor for cancer.
Also, excess sugar in the body increases the activity of a protein called beta-catenin. This protein is closely linked to the proliferation of cancer cells. Likewise, it is known that one of the most serious effects of excess sugar in the body is the development of insulin resistance, which can trigger type 2 diabetes.
This type of diabetes has been linked to some types of cancer such as bladder, pancreas, colon, breast, and uterus because excess insulin and insulin-like growth factor allow the development and growth of cancer cells.
How do cancer cells work?
Cancer develops thanks to a mutation in the DNA of normal cells that incapacitates them from performing their functions normally, turning them into cancer cells.
These cells need more sugar than normal cells to function. Therefore, once they are able to establish themselves in the body, their energy depends almost exclusively on the glucose reserves in the body. Reducing the consumption of sugar is required in natural cancer treatment.
These types of cells have receptors called insulin growth factors, which they can use to spread cancer in the body. That is why, since sugar is one of the main causes of overweight, it is considered a high risk factor that causes cancer.