Starchy, processed carbohydrate diet linked with colon cancer recurrence

Saturday, November 24, 2012 by: John Phillip
Tags: carbohydrates, starches, colon cancer

(NaturalNews) Newly diagnosed cases of colon cancer continue to rise in the U.S., affecting more than 150,000 people each year. Many of these incidences may be avoidable by altering diet and other pertinent lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and using household chemicals and cosmetics that contain potentially hazardous chemicals that are "generally regarded as safe."

Many prior studies have concluded that colon cancer risk can be reduced by adhering to a low glycemic diet void of hydrogenated fats and low heat cooking methods. Researchers from the Dana Faber Cancer Institute have determined that colon cancer survivors whose diet is heavy in complex sugars and carbohydrate-rich foods are far more likely to have a recurrence of the disease than are patients who eat a better balance of foods.

In one of the first studies of its kind, medical researchers publishing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute examined how diet can affect the chances that the disease will recur. They found that eating a high-carbohydrate diet is a potential hazard for those already suffering from colon cancer. Study author, Dr. Jeffrey Meyerhardt commented "Our study certainly supports the idea that diet can impact the progression of colon cancer, and that patients and their doctors should consider this when making post-treatment plans."

Highly processed carbohydrate diet fuels the growth of colon cancer over the course of years

Past research studies have shown that colorectal cancer survivors whose diet and activity patterns lead to excess amounts of insulin in the blood have a higher risk of cancer recurrence and death from the disease. Diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugar-laden foods boost insulin levels and feed cancer cells. A typical western diet marked by high intakes of meat, fat, refined grains, and sugary desserts has been shown to triple the risk of colon cancer recurrence.

In this study, the researchers reviewed the diet of 1,011 colon cancer patients. They tracked total carbohydrates consumed and reviewed the glycemic index of all foods eaten. Each participant was analyzed for a statistical connection between diet and the recurrence of colon cancer. They found that participants with the highest glycemic load and carbohydrate intake had an 80 percent increased risk of colon cancer recurrence or death compared with those who had the lowest levels.

Dr. Meyerhardt concluded "We theorize that factors including a high glycemic load may stimulate the body's production of insulin... that, in turn, may increase the proliferation of cells and prevent the natural cell-death process in cancer cells that have metastasized from their original site." Many cancer lines develop over the course of years and decades until they become discernible as a tumor. During this time, a diet high in processed carbohydrates that rapidly break down into dietary sugars fuels this growth. Eliminating refined carbohydrates, trans fats and dietary sugars can significantly lower the risk of colon cancer, and many other forms of the disease as well.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121107161551.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/jotn-hdg110512.php
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/11/02/jnci.djs399

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.