Sugar and breast cancer

Speculating about the causes of cancer is indeed a delicate path: the disease strikes people of all ages and lifestyles, leaving trauma and fear for many. However, It would be an untruth to say that we don't know a bit about what causes cancer, because research is giving us some strong information which can cumulatively help us to make wiser lifestyle choices. Of course we need to know a lot more; but we can start to make use of the knowledge we have so far.

People diagnosed with the disease, and their loved ones, should receive this information to help empower their decision making and hopefully optismise their potential for recovery. I do sometimes feel that information such as what I outline below, is slow in reaching the public through mainstream medical professionals (oncology dietitians, for example) and that is frankly, sad and a bit scary. I appreciate that professionals are worried about offering 'false hope', but it is up to the patient to decide how they wish to approach their diagnosis - empowerment and hope are incredibly strong immune boosters! And we're not speaking about a weird practice here - what we see in the study below is great science!

A study has just been published in the journal of Cancer Research which highlights the potential role of sugar in causing both breast cancer and its potential to metastasise to the lungs. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre fed mice sucrose (a simple sugar) in comparable levels to a typical Western diet. They found that this intake led to increased tumour growth and metastases when compared to a non sugar starch diet. Previous epidemiological studies have shown the impact that simple sugar intake can have on tumour growth.

To put it simply - a high sugar intake, especially high glycaemic (fast absorbing) carbohydrates are not good for our health in any way, shape or form. It simply cannot hurt to aim for a diet rich in low glycaemic carbohydrates such as intact barley, brown rice, beans, lentils, fruits and vegetables. Not only is it more nutrient dense, more tasty and more satisfying; it helps to minimise the impact of almost any disease process. This is not about eliminating grains from your diet - it is about limiting the way in which you take in those grains or their derivatives - eat them as close to the way they were harvested as possible!

Not sure if any of you remember my rant on here about Macmillan coffee mornings and how as much as I love and appreciate the charity, I wish the message they were giving about cancer was clearer. Cupcakes and cakes are not the way forward for cancer prevention; plant foods are! Can we have an organic farmers market morning to raise money instead?

More info here: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-01-sugar-western-diets-breast-cancer.html

Have a lovely week everyone :-)