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 MoreIn 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.
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