A few basic facts to remember are that sugar is extremely toxic to the body and must be kept in a very narrow range within the blood. This is why diabetes is such a dangerous disease! Also, glucose metabolism leads to greater oxidative stress than fat metabolism. It’s like putting racing fuel in your Honda Accord. It burns a little too hot and can wear out the motor! This oxidative stress can directly damage the DNA of the cell leading to potential cancerous change. It also damages the mitochondria of the cells. The mitochondria are the little powerhouses of the cell that use glucose and fat and turn them into energy. Damage to the mitochondria leads to further metabolic damage and potentially higher insulin to deal with excess sugar! Insulin also drives a hormone called Insulin Growth Factor. High IGF leads to greater cell division. This is great if you’re a toddler looking to grow, but in us adults it’s not so great. I think we can all certainly recognize how signaling greater cell division could be a problem for cancer and cancer risk. There are several important markers on the Organic Acids Test that allows us to directly measure how the body is dealing glucose as a fuel, insulin resistance, and overall oxidative stress to the body. It’s like getting a snapshot of your metabolism. This information allows us to steer the whole ship back on course through lifestyle change and targeted therapeutic supplements. If you’d like to know more please reach out to us!
“OP-ED It’s getting clear – the diet-cancer connection points to sugar and carbs”
In Health,
Duncan Macdonald, L.Ac.
