What do we know about the relationship of diet to cancer? We don’t want a person with cancer to feel guilty about what they eat, and suspect their diet history is what landed them with a diagnosis. So it’s important to note that what scientists call “the totality of the evidence” does not support the conclusion that one food or one way of eating caused anyone’s cancer.
However, there is some evidence relating diet to cancer risk. Heavy alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk of a number of cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important to keep in mind. Obesity has been linked to several cancers as well. And since our Western diet has led to our current obesity epidemic, it’s a good idea to maintain a diet that incorporates more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar.
Sugar itself has attracted a lot of attention for a possible role in cancer. Medical literature is not conclusive regarding this topic. While some previous studies suggest that sugar alone will not cause someone’s cancer, high sugar intake is directly linked to obesity — and obesity is an important risk factor when it comes to cancer development. A recent study performed with more than 7,000 patients found a correlation between simple sugar intake and an increased risk of overall cancer and cancer mortality.
However, the popular claim that sugar causes cancer to grow faster has been largely debunked. Researchers from renowned institutions such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, and medical studies agree that sugar, when eaten in small amounts, can fit into a balanced diet.
The issue with sugar and the Western diet is mainly that the average American eats twice the amount of sugar recommended by the American Heart Association. This amount usually comes from sugar that is added into foods we eat on a daily basis, like sweetened beverages, cakes, pies, cookies, pastas, and salad dressings.
In the medical community, there are some who believe sugar plays a larger role in the progression of cancers, such as Dr. Brian Berman, the Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland. His views are presented here not because they hold equal scientific weight to the sources cited above, but because these sorts of views often get a lot of press and attention.
Of note, Cancer Research UK, an organization similar to the American Cancer Society, has a different take from Berman on whether cancer cells need sugar.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Brian Berman is Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Read More
What do we know about the relationship of diet to cancer? We don’t want a person with cancer to feel guilty about what they eat, and suspect their diet history is what landed them with a diagnosis. So it’s important to note that what scientists call “the totality of the evidence” does not support the conclusion that one food or one way of eating caused anyone’s cancer.
However, there is some evidence relating diet to cancer risk. Heavy alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk of a number of cancers. Maintaining a healthy weight is also important to keep in mind. Obesity has been linked to several cancers as well. And since our Western diet has led to our current obesity epidemic, it’s a good idea to maintain a diet that incorporates more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar.
Read More Sugar itself has attracted a lot of attention for a possible role in cancer. Medical literature is not conclusive regarding this topic. While some previous studies suggest that sugar alone will not cause someone’s cancer, high sugar intake is directly linked to obesity — and obesity is an important risk factor when it comes to cancer development. A recent study performed with more than 7,000 patients found a correlation between simple sugar intake and an increased risk of overall cancer and cancer mortality.
However, the popular claim that sugar causes cancer to grow faster has been largely debunked. Researchers from renowned institutions such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, and medical studies agree that sugar, when eaten in small amounts, can fit into a balanced diet.
The issue with sugar and the Western diet is mainly that the average American eats twice the amount of sugar recommended by the American Heart Association. This amount usually comes from sugar that is added into foods we eat on a daily basis, like sweetened beverages, cakes, pies, cookies, pastas, and salad dressings.
In the medical community, there are some who believe sugar plays a larger role in the progression of cancers, such as Dr. Brian Berman, the Director of Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland. His views are presented here not because they hold equal scientific weight to the sources cited above, but because these sorts of views often get a lot of press and attention.
Of note, Cancer Research UK, an organization similar to the American Cancer Society, has a different take from Berman on whether cancer cells need sugar.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Dr. Brian Berman is Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Read More
