How many tablespoons of sugar per day may lead to cancer?

Does eating sugar lead to cancer?

How much is the maximum daily allowance?

Does abstaining from sugar help treat cancer in people with it?

These and other questions are answered in this comprehensive report.

We will divide our discussion into two parts: the first is about the relationship of sugar to the emergence of cancer, and the second is about its consumption by those who have already had cancer.

We confirm here that all information is for general guidance, and is not a substitute for consulting a doctor and following his instructions and treatments.

Diabetes and cancer development

The relationship between sugar intake and cancer is complex, not straightforward, and we start with the Mayo Clinic website, which says there is some evidence that high intake of sugar is linked to an increased risk of some types of cancer, including esophageal cancer.

He adds that eating a lot of sugar can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, which may increase the risk of cancer.

For his part, says the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, that research shows that eating sugar does not necessarily lead to cancer, in contrast, what it does to the circumference of your waist (i.e., gaining weight) can lead to this disease.

Eating a lot of sugar calories may lead to weight gain, which increases or obesity increases your risk of cancer and other diseases.

In response to the question, "Should sugar be avoided?"

"No, but eating a lot of sugar daily may lead to weight gain. And with less exercise, it can increase the risk of cancer," says Irma Levy, an expert at the center and a research nutritionist in behavioral sciences.

12 cancers

The American Institute for Cancer Research says that after quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight is the most important thing you can do to prevent cancer.

Excess body fat is associated with an increased risk of these 12 types of cancer:

On the other hand, the Canadian Cancer Society says that eating more sugar-containing foods means you are more likely to gain weight.

Research shows that obesity increases the risk of cancer.

They may cause changes in hormone levels that may also put you at a higher risk of developing cancer.

The association notes that a healthy body weight varies from person to person, so always talk to your doctor about your weight.

What is the right amount?

So how much sugar is safe to eat?

The MD Anderson Cancer Center says women should eat no more than 6 teaspoons a day (25 grams), and men shouldn't eat more than 9 teaspoons a day (36 grams), according to the American Heart Association.

And we don't just mean table sugar, other sources include sugar-sweetened beverages, cakes, cookies, pies and ice cream.

Pasta sauces, salad dressings, and canned vegetables also contain hidden sugars.

It is therefore very important to read food labels and look for hidden sugars.

Your first clue that a product has a high sugar content is if the word "sugar" is listed as the first ingredient.

MD Anderson Cancer Center says some sugary foods do not include "sugar" in the ingredient list.

That's because it is often hidden under different names.

Here are some hidden "sugar" words to look for:

• Fructose (fruit sugar).

• Lactose (milk sugar).

• Sucrose (made from fructose and glucose).

• Maltose (sugar made from grains).

• Glucose.

• Dextrose

So the bottom line in the relationship of sugar to the emergence of cancer is that there is no direct relationship in general, but eating a lot of sugar every day can lead to weight gain.

Unhealthy weight gain and lack of exercise can increase the risk of cancer.

Does cutting out sugar help cancer treatment?

We move on to the second part, which is the intake of sugar by people who have already had cancer.

The Mayo Clinic says, "People with cancer should not eat sugar because it may cause the cancer to grow faster" is a myth.

Indeed, she adds, more research is needed to understand the relationship between dietary sugar and cancer.

All types of cells, including cancerous ones, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy.

But giving more sugar to cancer cells does not make them grow faster.

Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar does not make them grow slower.

Although many believe that cutting out sugar helps treat cancer through what is called "starving cancer cells", the damages of this diet may be much greater than its benefits.

In a report published in the French newspaper Le Figaro, the writer Cecile Tebart said that cutting out sugar and following a diet that relies on fruit and vegetable juices of all kinds has become one of the methods promoted as an effective way to trap cancer cells and deprive them of the nutrients that stimulate their growth, but this has not been done. Scientifically proven.

The idea of ​​this diet is that cutting out all sources of sugar, such as fruits, bread, rice, pasta and others, deprives cancer cells of carbohydrates, the fuel that enables them to grow and multiply.

A system that worsens the patient's condition

However, is this proposition scientifically proven?

"There is no diet that can reduce tumors without concomitant treatment. This has never been proven," confirms Dr. Bruno Renard, head of the department of nutrition at the Gustave Rossi Institute for Cancer Research in Paris.

He explains that cancer cells "have at least 10 times the ability of the normal cell to absorb glucose," but these cells are not the only ones that feed on sugar. Rather, "all cells of the body need glucose, and some of them depend on it almost completely."

Therefore, Dr. Renard believes that following a diet that is completely lacking in sugar can cause great damage, as lack of nutrition and weight loss lead to a deterioration in the condition of a person with cancer. "Studies indicate that the less muscle mass, the less effective the treatment. Almost complete on glucose. "

The French expert explains that the muscles self-erode when they do not get glucose, which leads to muscular dystrophy or what is known as “sarcopenia” and therefore, “cutting out sugar gives the opposite effect” and increases the deterioration of the patient’s condition.

Eat normally

People with cancer automatically lose weight when disease invades their bodies, so a sugar-free diet leads to additional weight loss and makes the situation worse.

Cancer cells "are able to send signals remotely to other organs, such as adipose tissue and muscles, in order to obtain their resources," explains Alice Carrie, an expert at the French National Center for Scientific Research and project director at the Cancer Research Center in Marseille. For this reason, some patients suffer from loss. A lot of weight upon diagnosis: the fat in their bodies has worn off and their muscles lost. "

Dr. Renard goes back to explain that cancer cells have a very high ability to adapt. When they do not find enough sugar, they can quickly find other energy sources such as amino acids or free fatty acids circulating in the blood.

In turn, Carrie believes that cutting out sugar is not a feasible process to besiege cancer cells, because these cells derive their energy from their surroundings "and make the natural cells that surround them a source of energy from which they nourish and derive the nutrients they need."

Therefore, it is best for cancer patients, during the treatment period, to maintain a natural and balanced diet as possible, and to stay away from the idea of ​​cutting out sugar.

In this context, Dr. Renard returns once again ending his speech that "the more a patient eats normally, the greater his chance of preserving muscle mass, and the lower his risk of exposure to the risks resulting from the treatment."