This is about as "hot" as it gets when talking about "hot topics" in the world of nutritional oncology. This summary will help to clarify the mystery surrounding this topic, and will help you understand the controversy, the risks, and the benefits of sugar intake as it relates to cancer growth.

What is the controversy?
The problem is this: People read (in magazines and newspapers), hear (on the TV and radio), and discover (on the internet) that sugar feeds cancer. Their immediate conclusion is to cut down sugar intake and thus cut the food supply chain to the cancer. The controversy stems around the idea that reduced sugar intake will reduce the cancer cells ability to grow.

What do cancer cells feed on?
Dr. Otto Warburg, who was awarded the Nobel Prize, discovered the main biochemical cause of cancer: cancer cells replace normal oxygen metabolism, and convert sugars through fermentation to an acid or an alcohol. This allows cancer cells to grow at a much faster rate than normal cells. But it is the sugar that is used to allow for cancer growth. Okay…so if we just cut the sugar we can cut the cancer growth, right???

What is the answer?
It is imperative to understand that sugar doesn't just feed cancer cells; rather, sugar feeds ALL the cells of the body, including cancer cells. The body needs sugar to function, and if sugar is cut out of the diet, the body will then produce sugar from other sources of dietary intake, including proteins and fats. So cutting out sugar won't really help. Cutting down may not be a bad idea because when one eats a lot of sugar, it causes the body to produce more insulin. Insulin promotes cellular growth, including cancer cellular growth. While insulin is necessary for normal healthy cells, too much of it can have undesirable effects, including increased cancer cell growth.

What can I do?
Increase protein, fiber, and fat (good fat) intake—these can help the body produce less insulin and still provide the necessary required nutrients for healthy bodily functioning. Eating sugar with protein and/or fat and fiber will help slow down the sugar metabolism process, thus helping your body process sugar in a healthier manner. Too much sugar, without enough protein, fat, and fiber, will cause imbalance of nutritional intake which in turn will lead to insulin overproduction. The key, of course, is moderation which includes the following ideas.

Sugar in its natural form, such as in fruit, is the best form of sugar intake. This is far better than sugars found in sweets, candy, and baked goods. Definitely stay away from sodas and fruit drinks, especially those that do not contain any significant amount of real fruit juice. Fruit drinks with 100% real fruit juice may be okay in very limited amounts, but check the labels. Finally, limit intake of sugar treats and sugar snacks--consider almonds instead of a candy bar. Try to get your intake from whole grains, healthy nuts, beans, lentils, peas, and seeds rather than candy and artificially colored sodas.

It's impossible to completely cut out sugar intake. In fact, it's unwise. But understanding the truth behind the controversy, it is easy to comprehend the best way to ensure appropriate metabolic intake to allow the body to be as healthy as possible so that it can use its own metabolic functions to fight cancer.