Essential
- Added sugars promote inflammation, insulin peaks and microbiota imbalances, all factors related to cancer development.
- Cancer cells use glucose to grow, but completely remove sugar also harms healthy cells.
- It is better to aim for moderate consumption, by favoring raw foods and rich in nutrients.
Difficult to escape: sugar is omnipresent in our diet. Between 20 and 30 % of French adults and adolescents consume more than 100 grams per day, more than official recommendations, according to ANSES. What if this excess was one of the silent fuel for the progression of cancer? Without a doubt, but either should not be completely banished sugar, according to experts in oncology and nutrition interviewed by the American media Eating Well.
The danger of sugars added in excess
Sodas, cookies, candies, but also cereal bars, sauces, flavored yogurts and even industrial breads: added sugars slip everywhere. However, unlike sugars naturally present in fruits or milk, they are not accompanied by fibers or antioxidants. “The sugar of whole foods like the fruits is absorbed slowly, which stabilizes blood sugar”, explains Pam Hartnett, dietician and coach in cancer remission. Added sugars cause insulin peaks, promote inflammation and disrupt our metabolism.
Does sugar really nourish cancer cells? Yes and no, according to specialists. Admittedly, cancer cells absorb glucose faster than normal cells to support their rapid growth – a phenomenon called “warburg effect”. “But completely depriving the body of sugar would also amount to weakening healthy cells”warns Jamie Baham, nutritionist and cancer prevention expert. The danger lies rather in the excess of added sugars, in particular in the form of corn syrup rich in fructose. “Unlike glucose, fructose is metabolized in the liver, where it promotes the accumulation of fat, resistance to insulin and inflammation”, alerts Dr. Steven Quay.
Inflammation, blood sugar and microbiota
Chronic inflammation is one of the first links: “The sugar metabolism generates pro-inflammatory by-products. However, the higher the inflammation, the more tumor growth is stimulated”explains Dr. Daniel Landau, oncologist. Then, the blood sugar peaks disruption the production of insulin, a hormone whose high forms stimulate cell proliferation. Finally, an overly sweet diet unbalances the intestinal microbiota, making it more difficult to detect and eliminate abnormal cells.
Should the sugar on your plate be banished? Not at all, answers Hartnett: “Eliminating it often leads to frustration, compulsions and unhealthy relationship to food.” The key remains moderation: favor whole fruit to juices, read the labels and gradually replace sugary drinks with water or infusions.
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