If You’re Focused on Cancer Prevention, Then Sugar is NOT Your Ally (Lung Cancer Edition)

Cancer Prevention (Lung Cancer Edition)

A recent conversation with a friend I have not seen in over a year brought sad news about her sister, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer seemingly out of nowhere. Her sister wasn’t a smoker and was considered the family’s ‘health nut” so to speak. My friend wanted my book on cancer prevention for her sister. They couldn’t understand what else she could have done for cancer prevention. So what gives?

The lung cancer prevention checklist has often been pretty easy to complete:

• Don’t smoke…check!

And that’s it. You shouldn’t get lung cancer right? Well, the statistics estimate that about 65% of people with no tobacco (or only past tobacco exposure) make up the newly diagnosed lung cancer cases. And about 12% of newly diagnosed people have not had any tobocco exposure.

So if you’ve stopped being exposed to tobacco or have never smoked, then what is your cancer prevention game plan for preventing lung cancer? The answer may lie in the amount of sugar in your body, specifically the amount of glycogen.

Glycogen Is NOT Your Cancer Prevention Ally

Glycogen is a molecule that stores sugar (i.e., it stores glucose, which is a sugar molecule) in the body. Glycogen is made to help us survive times of fasting, or when food is NOT readily available. Well, welcome to the 21st century, where food is abundant, cheap, and easily accessible. Most people in the U.S. have an abundance of glycogen, as seen by the high incidence of fatty liver disease and metabolic disease occurring now.

And while the research is minimal and new, the science is showing that glycogen in the body may fuel lung cancer development. A recent study in a lung cancer model that was in lab rats showed the following:

• Glycogen is oncogenic, which means it acts like a cancer promoter
• The higher the glycogen concentration, the larger the lung tumor
• The Western Diet that was fed to the lab rats, which is high in fat and fructose, increased lung tumor growth
• When the glycogen was removed, the lung tumor growth decreased

The Final Word

The Western diet, with its high fat and sugar, is not your ally in your cancer prevention game plan. It may be fueling the new cases of lung cancer in people who have had no or very limited tobacco exposure. Get the assistance you need to stop the yo-yo dieting, end the sugar addiction and kick start your cancer prevention game plan. Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.

Thanks for reading this article, “If You’re Focused on Cancer Prevention, Then Sugar is NOT Your Ally (Lung Cancer Edition)” in honor of National Cancer Prevention month. If you have any thoughts or comments, share them below.

 FREE RESOURCES

Have more cancer prevention questions? We may have the answers in our free resources. Read or download them now:

1. Download the FREE eBook “HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS” if you’re ready to ditch processed and ultra-processed foods (which are linked to chronic inflammation) with healthier snack options. You’ll also get a list of healthy snacks according to weight and health goals (heart, brain focus, energy)
2. READ about the 10 foods that prevent cancer and our article on 6 Foods for Cancer Prevention

3. Read the article 4 Tips to Improve Breast Cancer Survival along with The Breast Cancer Diet that Increases Survival, then DOWNLOAD the FREE breast cancer survival kit that includes questions to ask your doctor, 8 tips to help lower your risk of a new or recurring breast cancer diagnosis, and 3 days of easy plant-based recipes.

4. Read the article Prevent a Colon Cancer Recurrence and The Optimal Colon Cancer Diet

ABOUT THE CANCER DETOX

Hi! I am Dee Grace Ph.D., scientist, author, and health coach based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Cancer Detox helps cancer patients, survivors, and those wanting to stay ahead of the curve prevent a new or recurring cancer with science-based health coaching.

Is the fear of cancer keeping you up at night? Is what you’re eating putting you at risk for cancer? What if you’re doing everything wrong and don’t even know it? Schedule a complimentary 15-min call with me to get clear on what modern, science-based cancer prevention looks like.

Purchase my book “Cancer Prevention: Diet and Lifestyle Factors that Reduce Your Risk” on Amazon. Pulling from over 100 science-based studies, I provide the case for why cancer isn’t always random and often preventable. You’ll get 24 Prevention Habits that hold you accountable for implementing a cancer prevention lifestyle. along with over 40 cancer prevention guidelines for fighting breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers.

DISCLAIMER

The information in this article is for educational purposes and is not meant to treat, diagnose, or prescribe medications or herbs. For questions on the information contained in this article, please consult with your healthcare provider. This information is intended for educational purposes only, and you should consult with your healthcare provider and a licensed dietician or certified nutritionist for additional information related to the content of this article.

REFERENCES

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